He’s raced in the Tour de France, won gold on the world’s biggest stage, and now — through his business, Leading Edge Cycles — he’s urging everyday riders to take helmet safety seriously.
“I remember riding around the Boulevard with my dad as a kid,” Brett said.
“I had a stack hat on and the cops pulled me over.
“I thought I was in trouble, but they actually gave me a reward for wearing a helmet,” he said.
“It’s something I’ve never forgotten.”
Now based in Shepparton, Brett is passionate about educating the community about cycling safety.
“Helmets save lives — I know cyclists who wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t been wearing one.”
He’s also quick to bust a common myth: helmets aren’t a one-time purchase.
“Once you’ve had a crash, your helmet needs to be replaced,” Brett said.
“They’re made to crack and absorb impact.
“If it’s damaged, it won’t protect you again.”
He also recommends replacing helmets every five years, even without a crash, as the foam can degrade over time.
Helmet fitting 101
- Your helmet should sit level and snug, with no more than a two-finger gap above your eyebrows.
- Straps should form a ‘V’ just below your ears and fit firmly under your chin.
- Always check for an approved safety standard label.
At Leading Edge Cycles, Brett and his team include helmets in bike bundles and have seen a surge in helmet purchases since fines increased.
“We get asked about helmets with most bike sales,” he said.
Despite being in place for over 30 years, Victoria’s mandatory helmet laws are still being ignored by some riders.
Helmet laws still matter
Victorian law requires all bike and e-scooter riders to wear approved, correctly fitted helmets.
Even passengers on a bike (such as a child in an approved child seat attachment or bike trailer) are legally required to wear a bike helmet.
If you do not wear an approved helmet while riding, police have the power to stop you and issue either a warning or a fine.
Fines for failing to wear a helmet or carrying a passenger who is not wearing a helmet range from $231 to $925, depending on whether you decide to take the matter to court.
In 2024, more than 2300 people were fined for helmet non-compliance, totalling over $528,000 in penalties.
That’s more than 12,000 fines in the past five years — while an average of four cyclists die each year on Victorian roads.
Two have already lost their lives in 2025.
RACV general manager of mobility Julia Hunter said it was time for a cultural shift.
“Wearing a helmet should be second nature, like putting on a seatbelt,” she said.
“It can be the difference between a minor fall and a catastrophic injury.”
According to Transport Victoria, helmets reduce the risk of serious head injury by nearly 70 per cent.
Whether you’re riding to the shop or racing for gold, one thing stays the same: a helmet could be the best investment you ever make.
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