When to Replace a Helmet?
 

Back in October, I was turning onto a path via a curb cut, but I was going too fast and my front wheel slid out from under me. I scraped my hand and chin, and my knee was bruised and swollen. As I landed on my shoulder, my head flopped to the side and gently *tapped* the concrete.

If I hadn’t been wearing a helmet, my head would not have touched the ground. The force with which my head and helmet touched the ground felt equivalent to bumping your head on a desk as you bend down to pick up a pencil--you’re surprised, but not hurt. I didn’t lose consciousness or have neck pain, and my helmet has no visible scratches or scuffs.

I’ve heard and read helmets should be replaced after a crash--but what’s the degree of severity? Are there any rules-of-thumb e.g. if the helmet was scuffed from the impact, get a new helmet? The force with which my head touched the ground didn’t feel hard or severe, but is that because the helmet absorbed the impact? Do I need a new helmet?

It is your head, if you think a helmet you have crashed in is safe, then that is on you. I wouldn't wear a helmet that has been impacted. If I had an x-ray machine I might change my tune but I don't have that kind of money or need for radiation.

While there's no gaurranty, one should feel free to use some common sense and judgement. For example, I wonder how many people who drop their helmets, immediately replace them.

Obviously, if there's visible damage, like a crush zone in the foam, or a crack or deep scratch in the shell, one would err to the side of caution. However, absent some evidence of damage, one should be able to assume that whatever happened falls within the area of general wear and tear that helmets are built to withstand.

If you see damage, replace it. As for anything else, assess whether you think it worth risking. There are some good helmets out there for not a lot of money. Well worth it compared to the cost of a visit to the ER.

If your head is in the helmet when it hits the ground, replace it. It’s done its job. If you drop your helmet and your head isn’t in it, keep it. If your drop your helmet with your head in it…well you have a whole different set of problems.

how's your shoulder?

Better, thank you for asking. My knee took most of the impact and nearly eight months after the fall, my knee is still stiff and l have a pea-sized lump on my kneecap.

Excellent advice. I'm going to write this on the side of my helmet.

go get it drained & maybe get advice about physical therapy, meaning certain stretches & exercises
I had my elbow drained twice last year & now it's fine. fun, fun

I know I'm opening a can of worms here, but does anyone have recommendations on this? Of course, it depends on what you consider "not a lot of money." And, I'm nowhere near helmet shopping soon, as far as I know, but the day will come again...

A lot of people seem to trust these people. At least they go to a good length to discuss how they test and things to look for. Or at least they did years ago when I read their stuff. Haven't looked at them in quite a while. As well they seem to be independent of any particular company that could lead to bias. But the difference between the helmets they rate as low isn't that much compared to the helmets that rate high IMO.

https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html

There are quite a few that are 5 star rated helmets at $80 or even less. And likely a lot of 4 star for less. As I said before and IMO, the difference between the high and low ratings isn't really much and the difference between a 4 star and a 5 star much less.

Regardless, any helmet is better than no helmet. I see people riding bikes with their helmets hanging on their bars. I'm not sure why, but I guess they intend to put them on just before they decide to have an accident. I've never known about when I'm going to have a accident until I'm already in the process of having one.

What about when your helmet is dangling from the handlebar when the wind knocks the bike over? J/k, it was very visibly cracked on both sides; took it yesterday to the LBS I bought it from, and the owner kindly gave me a great deal on a new one. First time I ever actually destroyed a helmet, despite several (low speed minor) crashes, and my head wasn't even in it. I'm so lucky.

The last few falls I don't think my head had actually touched the ground. A few times I was in the snow and the last time it was in a bike lane. I have review my video to see if it did.

You can see that video too.


I've had that helmet for over nine years. But on father's day, my family got me a new helmet. So I transferred my camera to it and now have to do several test runs to adjust its aim.

at about the :46 mark, what caused the fall?

If the helmet is obviously damaged, replace it. If you suspect that the helmet is damaged, replace it. Simply dropping it on the ground likely won’t damage it but, if it does, replace the helmet. Honestly if you are still rocking a Bell Biker, please, please, please, replace it.

Oh my giddy aunt! No Target Bell helmets in our house. Mine's a Bontrager Solstice in very hi-viz yellow (as much as I'd prefer purple, give 'em no excuses). I replaced the helmet before last precisely because I'd dropped it a few too many times over the years and I no longer trusted it. I also understand that the helmet is for when I fall over (which I've done a number of times, with no head impact, luckily) not for getting plastered by a RAM 1500. Now, if I can just remember to park properly in the wind...

Lumps of sand.

Bell makes several helmets that are just as good as your Bontrager and several that are more expensive. They aren’t “Target” helmets…not that there is a problem with a helmet from Target as they all have to meet the same safety standard as do the Bontrager.

That said, the Bell Biker I was referring to was the 1975 Bell Biker bicycle helmet, which was one of the first, if not the first, bicycle helmet. Some people are still riding either it or the Biker II. Those need to be replaced.

Ah! That makes more sense, thanks. No, I don't keep helmets for half a century. :bike2:

I had that from 1978 to 1993, when it was stolen in Cambridge, UK. I think I had never cleaned the pads or straps in that time period, and was amazed someone would go to the trouble to swipe that festering thing.

About every five years or when the pads wear out.

None of my helmet ever lasted that long. I usually bashed them in every 3 to 5 years so they get replaced fairly often. My head, on the other hand…

Just replace a helmet that I tried to use as a brake. I don’t recommend it.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...46663378f.jpeg

Here is an "ethics" question:

I have the helmet (and bike) of my kid's 18yo friend in the garage. He crashed. I went over the bike fairly thoroughly and paid to have it inspected and the wheel re-trued. His helmet has a big crack in the (replaceable) jaw guard. He was out cold, and spend 6 or 8 hours in the ER, before being discharged. He is in total denial that he was out cold, and we are all fairly sure he will keep riding with the same helmet, rather than replacing it. The helmet itself (as opposed to the jaw guard) appears intact (Giro Switchblade MIPS).

Do we give it back to him as is, or lose it, or cut the straps, or what? He is 18, but his judgement perhaps is lagging in development. I don't want to be too heavy-handed, but I also don't want to see a repeat, or worse. I could go buy him a new one, but I think it goes for $250 to $300, and I would rather he gets a new one via crash replacement (if applicable) or something different (hopefully better).

If he was out cold, I’d suspect that something more than just the jaw guard got hit. Hollywood may put someone’s lights out with a right hook to the jaw but real life doesn’t work that way. If he hasn’t seen the helmet yet, I’d “find” another crack in the top of the helmet. Perhaps if you used it as a step stool, that might help. Just sayin’

RATS!... Its "RAVEL"...

https://pavementinteractive.org/refe...sses/raveling/