Helmet causing headaches

I get nasty headaches that come on gradually after I get home from rides, and I’m fairly sure now that it’s my helmet causing them. I’ve tried drinking and eating more/less without any noticeable change, the only correlation I can think of is the length of the ride. I’ve done a few shorter rides without helmet before and not really thought about it, but yesterday I felt fine after 5 hours out in the sun with no helmet.

Current helmet is a Giro Chronicle, the padding is quite snug over the temples and it tightens with a band around the back half of the helmet. It also tends to tip forward if I loosen the band much so I always end up tightening it back up even if I try not to.

So this was a longwinded way of asking for suggestions for a better fitting helmet. Most of them seem to have a similar fitting system from what I can tell in pictures, but I suppose I’d want one with more adjustment that can distribute the pressure around my head better instead of clamping down on my temples and the back of my skull.

By way of a controlled experiment have you tried doing the same ride without a helmet?

Weirdly I have experienced the same issue when wearing my Giro Chronicle helmet but not on every ride. I’ve found the ‘problem’ to be with the dial adjuster at the rear and cranking it up too tight, loosen it off and all is well except it isn’t… The problem then is that the helmet is too loose and moves around on my noggin too much.
Maybe I just have a weird shaped head but I find the the fit around the base of my skull uncomfortable when the dial is tightened to a point where is feels secure, obviously not a good combination.
I have two other brands of helmet and haven’t experienced the headache issue with either of them so as the poster above has suggested try another helmet as a control to rule the Chronicle in or out.

Already been done

Man circumcised by mistake!

Already been done

Seems like a drastic solution but OK.

People are getting used to my rants about bicycle helmets not being fit for purpose for various reasons but one of them is that helmet manufacturers are always going to tend towards the middle of the bell curve when it comes to head shape. The harnesses can do so much but you’re relying on the shape of rigid EPS with no padding.

There are various threads on here about helmets for people with funny shaped heads but I’ve not found any to really solve the problem. My solution is to keep it loose on the flat sections and only tighten it up for the downhills.

Not an ideal solution but I’m still waiting for someone to make a helmet for cycling.

I’ve found loosening the ratchet slightly stops an oncoming headache. I guess it’s something to do with pressure points on your scalp.

Sounds like your helmet doesn’t fit you properly if you have pressure points.

I always thought that’s just how helmets are until I got rid of Giro and bought Catlike. Now fits with no pressure points and actually feels more secure.