<p>I’m lying on the ground in the middle of the park, feeling a bit like a crash test dummy. My ears are ringing and my head is held in the vice-like grip of safety gear more suited to a spaceship. But what I’m actually wearing is a cycling helmet. It’s a Hövding, an ‘airbag for cyclists’, invented in Sweden and billed as the helmet for people who don’t like wearing helmets. The Hövding promises superior protection in a crash without the need to actually put anything on your head.<br /><br /></p>.<p>My ‘crash’ was simulated for the camera’s benefit, but still I’m surprised by the drama of it all. The Hövding incorporates a lot of scientific research and a sophisticated algorithm that stops it going off unnecessarily, so to activate it I had to throw myself at the ground, headfirst. Moments before impact there was a loud bang, then there I was on the ground, stunned, wrapped in a hard white balloon.<br /><br />The Hövding fits round your neck a bit like a scarf. It’s heavier than it looks, with a battery, airbag and all that Swedish technology inside. You need to keep it charged and switch it on when you set off. It’s a bit cumbersome off the bike, pulled backwards by the weight at the back, but when you’re cycling and leaning forward it’s fairly unobtrusive. I was expecting looks of admiration and envy at the traffic lights as other cyclists noticed my sophisticated piece of kit — but no one seemed to pay it any attention.<br /><br />I wouldn’t want to wear it off the bike, though, so it doesn’t really solve the problems I have with helmets. It’s a bit easier to carry around than a bog standard one as it can be folded and put in a (largish) bag, but not much. And at £249 you certainly won’t be leaving it on your bike. Then there’s the heat — it might keep you warm in winter but having a chunky scarf around your neck in hot weather is not going to be pleasant.<br /><br />I did notice I felt safer with it on, though. I have a rule about not wearing headphones when cycling, but with the Hövding I broke that a few times, listening to music on my way home from work. It was great, but perhaps confirms those suggestions about taking extra risks if you think you’re protected.<br /><br />And since the Hövding cannot be reused once activated — although if you’re involved in an accident they will sell you a replacement for £99 — I probably won’t be splashing out any time soon. If, however, the crash hadn’t been simulated and the device had saved my life, £249 might seem cheap at the price.</p>
<p>I’m lying on the ground in the middle of the park, feeling a bit like a crash test dummy. My ears are ringing and my head is held in the vice-like grip of safety gear more suited to a spaceship. But what I’m actually wearing is a cycling helmet. It’s a Hövding, an ‘airbag for cyclists’, invented in Sweden and billed as the helmet for people who don’t like wearing helmets. The Hövding promises superior protection in a crash without the need to actually put anything on your head.<br /><br /></p>.<p>My ‘crash’ was simulated for the camera’s benefit, but still I’m surprised by the drama of it all. The Hövding incorporates a lot of scientific research and a sophisticated algorithm that stops it going off unnecessarily, so to activate it I had to throw myself at the ground, headfirst. Moments before impact there was a loud bang, then there I was on the ground, stunned, wrapped in a hard white balloon.<br /><br />The Hövding fits round your neck a bit like a scarf. It’s heavier than it looks, with a battery, airbag and all that Swedish technology inside. You need to keep it charged and switch it on when you set off. It’s a bit cumbersome off the bike, pulled backwards by the weight at the back, but when you’re cycling and leaning forward it’s fairly unobtrusive. I was expecting looks of admiration and envy at the traffic lights as other cyclists noticed my sophisticated piece of kit — but no one seemed to pay it any attention.<br /><br />I wouldn’t want to wear it off the bike, though, so it doesn’t really solve the problems I have with helmets. It’s a bit easier to carry around than a bog standard one as it can be folded and put in a (largish) bag, but not much. And at £249 you certainly won’t be leaving it on your bike. Then there’s the heat — it might keep you warm in winter but having a chunky scarf around your neck in hot weather is not going to be pleasant.<br /><br />I did notice I felt safer with it on, though. I have a rule about not wearing headphones when cycling, but with the Hövding I broke that a few times, listening to music on my way home from work. It was great, but perhaps confirms those suggestions about taking extra risks if you think you’re protected.<br /><br />And since the Hövding cannot be reused once activated — although if you’re involved in an accident they will sell you a replacement for £99 — I probably won’t be splashing out any time soon. If, however, the crash hadn’t been simulated and the device had saved my life, £249 might seem cheap at the price.</p>
