routine replacement of helmets?
novembercp
Posts: 58
How often should one replace a helmet, even if not actually damaged?
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Comments
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I've seen every 3 years mentioned before, but I don't know if that's considered a hard and fast rule.
I think its something to do with the glue etc. breaking down in them over time.0 -
I change mines every 3 years, but the last change was due to fashion rather than function!!! :oops: :oops:0
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I had a notice with my new Atmos that they should be changed every two years. Most probably a bit of a marketing ploy involved there though.0
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I had a notice with my new Atmos that they should be changed every two years. Most probably a bit of a marketing ploy involved there though.0
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I find that I have to replace mine at the end of every summer, purely because it stinks.0
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You take out the pads and wash them, stink-head!
As for helmet replacement, the 3 year thing has been said for ages - but it used to be because of 'UV rays' degrading the helmet. Now, it's the glue degrading the helmet? This is what the LBS new bloke (who is pretty unhelpful) said to me recently. I got a new helmet anyway, but the more I look at my old helmet, it seems fine. I mean, I never dropped it, or mistreated it... Well, Specialised is 50 quid up on me I guess.
BTW I see Tesco to 8 pound helmets - though probably not any good!
ALSO BTW How often do you replace motorbike helmets?0 -
I am replacing mine in the spring. By then it will be 18 months old and it was relatively cheap to start off with (£15)
OH replaces his motorbike helmet every couple of years. They really reek and you can't remove the padding and it tends to get dropped more than my bike helmet. Well that and the youngest kid likes to put it on and run about crashing into walls. :roll:0 -
/Looks at his ten-year-old helmet.... :shock:0
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Hi there.
The recommendation is to replace them either:
a) Every 3 years
b) After you've crashed and landed on your head.
I've never managed a) yet...
Cheers, Andy
ps Giro's crash replacement policy is excellent - I recently got a new atmos for £40 through them, I think it retails at around £100.0 -
FWIW Snell recommend:
A helmet's protective capability may be
exhausted in an accident. Helmets are constructed so that the energy of
a blow is managed by the helmet, which may cause its partial or total destruction.
Because the damage may not be readily apparent, the Foundation strongly
recommends that a helmet impacted in an accident be returned to the manufacturer
for complete inspection. If it is not possible to do so, the helmet should
always be destroyed and replaced.
Finally, the protective capability may
diminish over time. Some helmets are made of materials which deteriorate
with age and therefore have a limited life span. At the present time, the
Foundation recommends that bicycle helmets be replaced after five (5) years,
or less if the manufacturer so recommends.0 -
It all depends upon if you look after it, and keep it clean - they can get very "minging" in just a week if you don't regularly clean them. I suppose a well looked after one will last longer. My Pneumo is about 3 years old and has just had new pads as the others were falling appart, but it still looks as new. Might replace it in a couple of years........ when the latest helmet has come down in price like what happened when the Atmos replaced the Pneumo0
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Yes, spend lots of money on helmets. It's a self-fulfilling industry.0
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One of the great myths -
It doesn't matter if your helmet is old, cracked, doesn't fit or is adjusted properly - it will still save your life!<b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)0 -
Why would I let it lie when you get people making stupid statements like how irresponsible it is not to be wearing a helmet? In the end it doesn't matter what you believe or even whether the helmets do or don't work, LOL. The helmet industry is still a winner.0
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BentMikey wrote:Why would I let it lie when you get people making stupid statements like how irresponsible it is not to be wearing a helmet? In the end it doesn't matter what you believe or even whether the helmets do or don't work, LOL. The helmet industry is still a winner.
Have you not been banging on about helmet use making non-cyclists think that cycling is dangerous and therefore scaring them away from taking it up?
Do most of the big cycle manufacturers not market helmets?
By marketing helmets would they not be scaring away potential customers from the more profitable new cycle market?
Do you think that Giant, Specialized, Trek, Bianchi and all the other companies in this multi-billion dollar business would market an accessory that stopped people buying their main product?
I would wager that these big, SUCCESSFUL companies have cleverer folk than you figuring out their marketing strategies.0 -
Thanks all.
It's either :
if you crash,3 years, 5 years, or never, or don't bother buying one !
Well, most materials do degrade, and i only know one way to test if a helmet still works!
As for bothering to buy them at all, I'l do what I always do, i.e. continue to exercise individual choice.0 -
richardast wrote:Have you not been banging on about helmet use making non-cyclists think that cycling is dangerous and therefore scaring them away from taking it up?
Do most of the big cycle manufacturers not market helmets?
By marketing helmets would they not be scaring away potential customers from the more profitable new cycle market?
Do you think that Giant, Specialized, Trek, Bianchi and all the other companies in this multi-billion dollar business would market an accessory that stopped people buying their main product?
I would wager that these big, SUCCESSFUL companies have cleverer folk than you figuring out their marketing strategies.
It's quite possible for helmets to have a negative effect on cycling after all, whilst other factors are having a positive effect.
As for the personal insult. OUCH, I'm mortally wounded!!! *Clutches side and falls over dead*. LOLOLOL!0 -
like andrewturnbull ive always managed to crash or lose mine every few years so routine replacement hasnt been the issue.
- but we have a pile of old ones from various kids, wives etc, some 10 years old and i frankly dont believe polystyrene and plastics degrade all that much, they don't look or feel degraded or brittle or unglued- mind you thye havent been used day in day out.fgg 16660 -
By marketing helmets would they not be scaring away potential customers from the more profitable new cycle market?
Do you think that Giant, Specialized, Trek, Bianchi and all the other companies in this multi-billion dollar business would market an accessory that stopped people buying their main product?
I would wager that these big, SUCCESSFUL companies have cleverer folk than you figuring out their marketing strategies.
Just to be picky.....
Trek is NOT a good example - In 2006 they had two models removed from the US market because despite claims they failed to meet the most basic impact standards!
AS for the actual statement itself - let's look at the actual cases there is little support for compulsory helmets in the Cycle Industry.....:
National Cycling Strategy Board:"Campaigns seeking to present cycling as an inevitably dangerous or hazardous activity, or which suggest that helmet wearing should be made compulsory, risk prejudicing the delivery of those very benefits to health and environment which cycling can deliver: they also serve to confuse the general public about the wider social and economic advantages of cycling."
Gordon Fisher MD of Fisher outdoor, One of the UK's biggest cycle equipment importers:"As the distributor of the UK's leading branded cycle helmet you may well think that as a company we would be in favour of cycle helmet legislation. Although I would advocate campaigns to increase cycle helmet usage I would not support any lobby for compulsory use.
"A lot of leisure and sport cyclists already wear good-quality cycle helmets; the more casual cyclist and those who have chosen not to wear a helmet may stop cycling altogether. Cycle usage dropped quite dramatically in Australia due to irresponsible promotion of helmets portraying cycling as an extremely dangerous activity.
"Let individuals make an educated choice to wear a helmet"
BikeBiz - The cycle industry website has also pointed out that NO part of the UK bike industry suports Cccompulsion of helmets for the reasons BentMikey states.
In fact even Helmet manufacturers have withdrawn on these grounds!
MET the helmet manufacturer even went so far as to withdraw it's suport from pro-helmet lobby the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust when compulsion was shown to be partof its agenda!
In factthe most telling statement was by a "BikeBiz" Spkesman in May 2004 who stated in the BikeBiz website in a discussion on helmet use that:Quite the opposite. Suppliers know that there might be an increase in helmet sales but this would be offset by a huge drop in cycle use levels. There is no 'helmet lobby' at work in the British bicycle trade.
So it would actually appear thatthose brilliant minds in the Cycle Industry are agreeing with BentMikey!<b><i>He that buys land buys many stones.
He that buys flesh buys many bones.
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
But he that buys good beer buys nothing else.</b></i>
(Unattributed Trad.)0 -
Cunobelin
I wasn't talking about legislation for mandatory helmet use, which all the quotes you've cited above are with reference to. Most of the world does not have mandatory helmet laws.
Like the majority of us here, the cycle industry and most of the planet's lawmakers, I believe in freedom of choice over compulsion.
The manufacturers are opposed to a helmet law. They're not opposed to helmets themselves.
BentMikey constantly argues that helmet use, even without a law, puts people off cycling. I was attempting (poorly, it would seem) to demonstrate why the millions spent on marketing and research in the cycling industry would tend to indicate that this is bogus. Look at every cycle manufacturers website or their adverts in magazines. Every rider in every advert is wearing a helmet.
Why would they promote helmet use if they believed it would reduce their profits?0 -
Oh no someone mentioned the "h-word".
I thought I'd better replace mine after I fell off and hit my head - crack in helmet, SMALL bump on head. But now the "broken" one is a spare and sometimes gets left at work if I'm not cycling home, so is it better to use a broken helmet rather than none or should I actually have two, it's a slippery slow, you can't win, etc., etc...Never order anti-pasta to arrive at the same time as pasta.0 -
BentMikey wrote:Yes, spend lots of money on helmets. It's a self-fulfilling industry.
It's the same with shampoo manufacturers - the directions on shampoo bottles often say 'wash once, rinse then wash again'. Maybe it's to do with products which (claim to) protect your head? Hmmm, conspiracy!0 -
novembercp wrote:BentMikey wrote:Yes, spend lots of money on helmets. It's a self-fulfilling industry.
It's the same with shampoo manufacturers - the directions on shampoo bottles often say 'wash once, rinse then wash again'. Maybe it's to do with products which (claim to) protect your head? Hmmm, conspiracy!
Read once about a guy who went to a shampoo manufacturers and told them he could massively increase their profits with one word.
held 'em to ransom for the info.
The word was 'repeat'0 -
What if you drop it on the concrete floor about once a month?
I've had mine five years and never even thought of replacing it! Might be time for an investment.0 -
BentMikey wrote:As for the personal insult. OUCH, I'm mortally wounded!!! *Clutches side and falls over dead*. LOLOLOL!
surely at least a ROFL then?Purveyor of sonic doom
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 140 -
BentMikey wrote:OUCH, I'm mortally wounded!!! *Clutches side and falls over dead*. LOLOLOL!
...a helmet would have saved you!
\'Cycling in Amsterdam.is not a movement, a cause, or a culture.It\'s a daily mode of transportation. People don\'t dress special to ride their bike any more than we dress special to drive our car... In the entire 1600 photographs that I took, there were only three people in "bike gear" and wearing helmets.\' Laura Domala, cycling photographer.0 -
PrettyBoyTim wrote:/Looks at his ten-year-old helmet.... :shock:
My favourite helmet is around 16 years old I think, might be older than that, I got it when the school I was going to made helmet use compulsory for cycling to school. There is a stamp inside saying "91" not sure if thats the year of manufacture, Its quite believeable that it is. Still fits me and looks better and better quality than the helmet I brought earlier this year.
Doesnt seem to have weakened to any degree over the years I reckong it could easily take my weight standing on it
, its never met Tarmac, but it might just be coming up on time to replace it really, its done good service.
Perhaps they dont build them like they used to?0 -
No, they don't build them like they used to - they are now lighter, thinner and have more holes, so potentially could offer less protection. As far as I understand the situation, polystyrene does not degrade significantly purely with ageing, but unseen knocks or impacts (i.e. through careless handling) might have a cumulative affect over time. If I was buying a new helmet now, I would go for one that is Snell rated, rather than the poorer standard EN certified - the only widely available brand that is Snell rated in the UK is Specialized (the helmets in UK shops carry only the EN sticker, but they are Snell rated). See this for the details of the test standards and this list of certified helmetsPerhaps they dont build them like they used to?0 -
BentMikey wrote:Why would I let it lie when you get people making stupid statements like how irresponsible it is not to be wearing a helmet? In the end it doesn't matter what you believe or even whether the helmets do or don't work, LOL. The helmet industry is still a winner.
Would this be a similar industry to the one that sells sunglasses to people who wear them on top of their heads!!!! 0
