Is it my helmet still safe to ride ?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 211
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
Is it my helmet still safe to ride ?
Hello, my current helmet is a Giro transfer G151X. Bought around 2007.
I moved in a place where car drivers are dangerous, I just came back from a ride in which twice I was "lucky" not to fall badly.
Anyway, since the helmet is almost the only piece of protection I want to know if mine is still good enough. I never crashed with it but the black part has some small holes in it and also a quite scary crack on the front.
Do guys think it's too old/too much in bad shape and should be replaced ? If so, if you can recommand me one that could be great, I would like to get it for less than 100euros.
Thank you guys
I moved in a place where car drivers are dangerous, I just came back from a ride in which twice I was "lucky" not to fall badly.
Anyway, since the helmet is almost the only piece of protection I want to know if mine is still good enough. I never crashed with it but the black part has some small holes in it and also a quite scary crack on the front.
Do guys think it's too old/too much in bad shape and should be replaced ? If so, if you can recommand me one that could be great, I would like to get it for less than 100euros.
Thank you guys
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
Any helmet, regardless of price, should have a certification from some sort of regulatory body. In the U.S. it will be a CPSC certification; since you mention Euros I assume there's an equivalent certification in whatever jurisdiction you're in.
The higher prices don't mean they're better from a safety certification standpoint, but usually mean that they're lighter/more aero/more stylish.
I express no opinion on MIPS helmets which is a safety feature that is a separate issue than official government certifications.
#4
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Replace it.
Any helmet, regardless of price, should have a certification from some sort of regulatory body. In the U.S. it will be a CPSC certification; since you mention Euros I assume there's an equivalent certification in whatever jurisdiction you're in.
The higher prices don't mean they're better from a safety certification standpoint, but usually mean that they're lighter/more aero/more stylish.
I express no opinion on MIPS helmets which is a safety feature that is a separate issue than official government certifications.
Any helmet, regardless of price, should have a certification from some sort of regulatory body. In the U.S. it will be a CPSC certification; since you mention Euros I assume there's an equivalent certification in whatever jurisdiction you're in.
The higher prices don't mean they're better from a safety certification standpoint, but usually mean that they're lighter/more aero/more stylish.
I express no opinion on MIPS helmets which is a safety feature that is a separate issue than official government certifications.
https://helmets.org/stdcomp.htm
#5
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10167 Post(s)
Liked 5,862 Times
in
3,155 Posts
Before doing a cost-benefit analysis for you, I'd have to know if the drivers are just a little distracted or out and out homicidal.
Seriously, see above.
Seriously, see above.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,737
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 643 Post(s)
Liked 1,526 Times
in
551 Posts
The foam in helmets is designed to absorb impact from a fall or crash. Over time, the foam will degrade and not perform the same way. I would say your helmet is still better than not having a helmet at all but it will not provide the same level of protection it did when it was new.
You will get varying opinions about how long a helmet lasts and you'll have to decide for yourself how cautious you want to be. Personally, when I see visual signs of the foam deteriorating, that is enough for me to get a new helmet.
But then I'm a former motorcyclist who's life was saved by a helmet so I may be a little more cautious than the average cyclist.
You will get varying opinions about how long a helmet lasts and you'll have to decide for yourself how cautious you want to be. Personally, when I see visual signs of the foam deteriorating, that is enough for me to get a new helmet.
But then I'm a former motorcyclist who's life was saved by a helmet so I may be a little more cautious than the average cyclist.
#8
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 211
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
Thank you everybody. I'll start looking for one right now.
Yes actually I've seen a video where the guy says the protection will be the same no matter the price, but only weight, feel, look could change
Yes actually I've seen a video where the guy says the protection will be the same no matter the price, but only weight, feel, look could change
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 1995 Trek 470
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
#10
Senior Member
^ this.
Basically anytime you see a defect, you're well past being done with the helmet. Most manufacturers recommend replacement due to age as well. The materials age, they change properties over time. The little knocks and dings all damage the ability of the helmet to absorb energy and the damage is cumulative.
J.
Basically anytime you see a defect, you're well past being done with the helmet. Most manufacturers recommend replacement due to age as well. The materials age, they change properties over time. The little knocks and dings all damage the ability of the helmet to absorb energy and the damage is cumulative.
J.
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 211
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
According to this Virginia Tech helmet study, the protection is definitely NOT the same across helmets; some really do perform much better than others, and it isn't correlated by price either as one of the 5-star helmets is only $75 list, and the 4-star Louis Garneau Le Tour II is now available on closeout for less than $40.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
#12
☢
Just don't forget that you have to wear the helmet right too. It should be a snug fit.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
I don't know, what's your life worth? What about your ability to walk and go to the bathroom without help?
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times
in
189 Posts
According to this Virginia Tech helmet study, the protection is definitely NOT the same across helmets; some really do perform much better than others, and it isn't correlated by price either as one of the 5-star helmets is only $75 list, and the 4-star Louis Garneau Le Tour II is now available on closeout for less than $40.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 1995 Trek 470
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes. The "score" is printed below the star rating, and is inversely related to the number of stars. From the page: "Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars." The score is a number, ranging from 10.9 for the best helmet to 25.3 for the worst, which presumably they came up with as a composite rating in their testing methodology. Then, to make it easy for people to understand, they divided these into the 5-star system that everyone loves.
#16
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 211
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
According to this Virginia Tech helmet study, the protection is definitely NOT the same across helmets; some really do perform much better than others, and it isn't correlated by price either as one of the 5-star helmets is only $75 list, and the 4-star Louis Garneau Le Tour II is now available on closeout for less than $40.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
btw i had the info from GCN about helmets having the same protection regardless..
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times
in
189 Posts
Yes. The "score" is printed below the star rating, and is inversely related to the number of stars. From the page: "Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars." The score is a number, ranging from 10.9 for the best helmet to 25.3 for the worst, which presumably they came up with as a composite rating in their testing methodology. Then, to make it easy for people to understand, they divided these into the 5-star system that everyone loves.
Edit - unreachable issue seems to be at my end.
Last edited by bobwysiwyg; 09-28-18 at 04:23 AM.
#18
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10167 Post(s)
Liked 5,862 Times
in
3,155 Posts
Just to inject a note of skepticism, I’m all in favor of MIPS and any other system for reducing forces in a crash and I will probably pay attention to the VT ratings when I replace my helmet, but the claim regarding concussion prevention as a medical outcome is completely speculative, as no clinical or even relevant animal data show that these systems are effective, and you will note that that the manufacturers don’t make any such claims because they would run afoul of the FDA if they did.
#19
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,636
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Just to inject a note of skepticism, I’m all in favor of MIPS and any other system for reducing forces in a crash and I will probably pay attention to the VT ratings when I replace my helmet, but the claim regarding concussion prevention as a medical outcome is completely speculative, as no clinical or even relevant animal data show that these systems are effective, and you will note that that the manufacturers don’t make any such claims because they would run afoul of the FDA if they did.
Starting on page3 of the PDF you get their science behind assigning the STAR ratings related to concussion prevention.. excerpt from the beginning
#20
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,234
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10167 Post(s)
Liked 5,862 Times
in
3,155 Posts
Agree that's all fine and, as I wrote, I'm all in favor of it, but I live in the place where engineering and bench science meet the clinic and if good ideas translated successfully even a tenth of the time, I'd be posting this from my 60' yacht, rather than my office.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,811
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,018 Times
in
571 Posts
From what I've read of the science on MIPS, I'm not at all convinced it is a definitively better system. But I'd buy it were I getting a new helmet because it might help and it won't hurt.
Along those lines, the subject helmet might not be compromised in any significant way. But I'd replace it just in case.
Along those lines, the subject helmet might not be compromised in any significant way. But I'd replace it just in case.
#22
Senior Member
According to this Virginia Tech helmet study, the protection is definitely NOT the same across helmets; some really do perform much better than others, and it isn't correlated by price either as one of the 5-star helmets is only $75 list, and the 4-star Louis Garneau Le Tour II is now available on closeout for less than $40.
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicyc...t-ratings.html
J.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 80
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Roubaix Comp, 1995 Trek 470
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Another thing to watch out for with this study is that the number of helmets here is very limited, and not all that current. At least a couple of them are on closeout now or not available. It sure would be nice if they'd test a bunch more, currently-available helmets for this study, but of course that probably takes a fair amount of funding.
#24
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,636
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
While it's true that the 6 highest-scoring helmets are MIPS designs, be careful because having MIPS does not guarantee a helmet is better, as shown by 4 other MIPS helmets which were scored below non-MIPS helmets.
Another thing to watch out for with this study is that the number of helmets here is very limited, and not all that current. At least a couple of them are on closeout now or not available. It sure would be nice if they'd test a bunch more, currently-available helmets for this study, but of course that probably takes a fair amount of funding.
Another thing to watch out for with this study is that the number of helmets here is very limited, and not all that current. At least a couple of them are on closeout now or not available. It sure would be nice if they'd test a bunch more, currently-available helmets for this study, but of course that probably takes a fair amount of funding.
1. Randomly choosing a helmet off the shelf, it is somewhat likelier that a MIPS helmet would be safer than a non-MIPS helmet
2. The hipsterish Skateboard-type helmets (Bern, Nutcase etc) are likelier less safe than most other types of purpose-made geeky Lance-y road racer helmet styles.
#25
Senior Member
While it's true that the 6 highest-scoring helmets are MIPS designs, be careful because having MIPS does not guarantee a helmet is better, as shown by 4 other MIPS helmets which were scored below non-MIPS helmets.
Another thing to watch out for with this study is that the number of helmets here is very limited, and not all that current. At least a couple of them are on closeout now or not available. It sure would be nice if they'd test a bunch more, currently-available helmets for this study, but of course that probably takes a fair amount of funding.
Another thing to watch out for with this study is that the number of helmets here is very limited, and not all that current. At least a couple of them are on closeout now or not available. It sure would be nice if they'd test a bunch more, currently-available helmets for this study, but of course that probably takes a fair amount of funding.
But I feel a better way to think of it is a helmet with MIPS or equivalent technology is better than the same helmet without.
From a personal perspective, what i found interesting was that they tested a POC Octal but not the MIPS version. That helmet did well and I would imagine the MIPS version - which I own - would be a 5 star helmet.
Anyhow, for what it’s worth, our son suffered a severe TBI while skiing 6-1/2 years ago the year before MIPS was really available. I’m an engineer, so I got pretty interested in this because of our experience and because our son, an athlete, had goals in his rehab that related to a resumption of sports. I wound up corresponding with both the MIPS and POC technical teams. Without going into detail, and since most of it is old information now anyhow, the arguments for MIPS or similar technologies are pretty compelling and I wish MIPS had been in my sons helmet when he crashed because I think his injury would have been mitigated substantially. I also learned that MIPS in a helmet is never going to be worse and is highly probable to be better based on the simulations they had done - consistent with a “do no harm” strategy that was necessary to take the legal risk to exceed CPSC specs. So with this report, I’m glad to see that it’s being widely accepted and is working like it should and that the industry has finally broken out of the CPSC induced stalemate. No family should have to suffer through what we did. Any chance of avoiding that is a big deal.