rommer25

Today, while riding, my tire got stuck in a road rut. I was slowing for the stop light and was going about 7 to 8 miles per hour. The bike (and me) fell over and I hit my shoulder and head. The attachment shows a rock that penetrated my helmet where I hit the ground. My shoulder really hurts. My head is fine. If I still hurt this bad on Monday morning, I'm going to the doctor. I've already ordered another helmet. I see nothing wrong with this one except the hole that the rock made.

fietsbob

Yup. Its done its job, get a new One. thank it for it's service sacrifice.

Doohickie

It's funny... the one time I took a spill and hit my head, I checked the helmet afterward and it looked fine. I took a second look a couple days later and saw the foam was cracked.

Anyway, best not to take chances.

Nermal

Aw, what are the chances of landing on your head twice?

I did have a catastrophic encounter with a Toyota. I hit every thing from pelvis to collar bone and missed the head. Got a new helmet anyway. By the time I could ride again, I was tired of the color.

Jed19

Had exactly the same experience. Took a spill, looked helmet over, nothing. Got home, looked more carefully, there was a dent on one side of helmet. And to top it all, I did not remember hitting my head.

Nermal

Jed, I think there's something about sudden trauma that can knock a critical minute or two out of our memories. I've had two such lapses, and neither involved a head injury.

Mark Stone

OP -- I'm glad you're ok! I agree with @fietsbob - toss it. Don't thank it for its service, though. It's an inanimate object and won't understand.

Stucky

Meh...it's just foam that surrounds the noggin. If the foam is intact and not going to split or fall away, it'll still do it's job. A puncture is not going to affect it in the least.

flatlander_48

No, the helmet has been stressed. Whether or not you can see a crack may not be relevant. And remember, it's not just the shell or the liner. The straps and mounts are an integral part of how it is designed to work. Further, hemets are A LOT Cheaper than head injuries...

rumrunn6

get checked for concussion

howeeee

I have been riding all winter in Michigan, I fell 5 times cause I have no studs, next year I get studded tires. I fell 3 times on one ride Monday lol,,,,I dont wear a helmet, havent hit my head.

bikepro

+1. Bike helmets are good for one impact.

Dave Cutter

I tried on new helmets at the LBS the other day. None of them felt comfortable. Maybe I was too picky. You're gutsy to just "order" one.

rommer25

I have a reserve I'll use until the new one comes.

Six jours

Sheesh. If the tobacco companies had the same marketing mojo the bicycle helmet companies apparently do, we'd all be smoking cigarettes.

Stucky

"A crumb of tobacco fell out of that ciggy! Throw it away! Throw it away! Once you experience tobacco fall-out, there's a chance that the whole cig might assplode. Better to be safe than sorry! "

flatlander_48

Look at it this way...

It can't be designed for multiple impacts (if you continue to use it) because they don't know what condition the helmet would be in after each impact. However, if they did attempt to do that, you wouldn't be able to lift your head.

Stucky

It's just a piece of styrofoam that cushions your head from impact. If it's not falling apart...doesn't have splits/major cracks; it'll continue to do what it's intended to do.

Six jours

Or you could look at it this way: any manufacturer who has the general public believing that its product should be replaced on a regular basis due to completely undetectable "damage", and further, that the user of the product is at risk of death unless he/she does so, has done a truly fantastic job of marketing.

Stucky

Makes me wonder what all these guys are doing with all these helmets that hit the ground once, and have little or no visible damage? Throwing them away? Hell, send 'em to me! I'll pay the shipping! I'll start a nice collection of high-end helmets! Wear a different one every day....coordinate my colors! Seriously!

flatlander_48

Silly conversation.

You wack it once and you have No Idea what it will stand up to again. You can't see all forms of damage with the naked eye.

But, that's OK. You are free to protect yourself as you see fit; as am I.

Stucky

But it's just styrofoam; not some space-age matrix of dark matter bonded to pixie dust...... (Although I think the manufacturers and the safety-cultists have many thinking the latter....)

flatlander_48

As I said, it is designed to work as a system. Each part has a role to play. The straps, buckle, adjusters, shell and liner have to all function as intended in order to deliver the protection it is designed to do. If ANY of those elements do not behave correctly, the system is compromised. That's where the unpredictability comes in.

You're thinking only about one element. Think of it in terms of a system. It is cheap insurance.

Six jours

You forgot the magic pixie dust. It might be leaking around that tiny little hole in the shell where the pebble went in.

flatlander_48

I was just on the Performance Bike site and they have a bunch of helmets on sale for $50-$80. Personally I think my head is worth at least that much, but you seem to rate yours considerably lower.

Oh, by the way, you do realize that UV attacks the plastic? The anti-UV additives won't hold it off forever...