Replace helmet after crash?
964cup
Posts: 1,362
I had a fairly big off. Amongst various injuries was a black eye, so I must have hit my head. My helmet is unmarked, but I assume it also hit the road. Do I replace it? It's a Giro Aeon, so not the cheapest thing to throw away with no visible damage, but my head's worth more...
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I probably wouldn't...but it's your decision at the end of the day. If you're unsure then replace.0
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How old is it?
Is there another helmet you would like more?
If its old and you fancy a nice new Giro Synthe or something, then its an easier decision than if its fairly new perhaps.0 -
It's less than a year old. If replacing it, I'd buy another Aeon. So this is purely about safety, not man-maths...0
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If theres no damage to the helmet that you can see I'd probably not replace it - especially with it being so new.
I'm not sure it has hit the road if its unmarked ?0 -
Have a quick look inside under the linings... my Prevail had an unseen fracture after an off... and thus was binned.0
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As JGSI says inspect it very carefully, gently flexing it as you do. I would have thought even a light impact on the road would mark the outside of the helmet. If the outside really is unmarked and there is no sign of damage on the inside I'd say you're ok.
The helmet works by failing. The impact crushes, and/or cracks, the polystyrene hopefully absorbing some of the impact and spreading the load. If it had hit hard enough to compress the polystyrene there would be a mark on the outside of it. If it's cracked you should be able to find it if you look carefully. There is no magic involved, if it's undamaged no need to replace it.0 -
If you do decide to replace then it might be worth seeing if it is covered by Madison's crash replacement programme. I got a new Giro Savant last year for only 50% of the retail price because my previous helmet was damaged in an off, I think you get 2 years of cover.
Excellent service, btw, very helpful and prompt.0 -
In the nicest possible way: It's your head. You're an adult. Make up your own mind.
If you feel happy wearing it, then wear it. If you don't then bin it. It's a personal thing - the opinion of a bunch of people on the Internet don't matter.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
Sure, but if someone popped up and said "I'm a materials scientist, and our experience is that these helmets develop invisible faults after one hard impact even if unmarked" that would be worth knowing, right? You can find interesting and well-informed people on the internet, some of whom know more than I do about failure modes in polycarbonate and expanded polystyrene.Matthewfalle wrote:In the nicest possible way: It's your head. You're an adult. Make up your own mind.
If you feel happy wearing it, then wear it. If you don't then bin it. It's a personal thing - the opinion of a bunch of people on the Internet don't matter.0 -
I've crashed many times over the years in a cotton cap or a woolly hat.
I have occasionally replaced them, but usually because they've washed badly or just started to fall apart or the wool has started to un-knit itself.
I do not recall replacing one as a consequence of an unplanned aerial dismount0 -
964Cup wrote:
Sure, but if someone popped up and said "I'm a materials scientist, and our experience is that these helmets develop invisible faults after one hard impact even if unmarked" that would be worth knowing, right? You can find interesting and well-informed people on the internet, some of whom know more than I do about failure modes in polycarbonate and expanded polystyrene.Matthewfalle wrote:In the nicest possible way: It's your head. You're an adult. Make up your own mind.
If you feel happy wearing it, then wear it. If you don't then bin it. It's a personal thing - the opinion of a bunch of people on the Internet don't matter.
Ok- I'm a medic with 15 years of civilian, dive and military experience - everything from limbs being blown off to drunks falling over to suicides and overdoses. And the occasional bicycle related RTC.
My advice as a medic is get a new one - we all know that crashed helmets can be weakened but not show any damage and therefore be worse than useless.
My on the job experience says it's not worth it, cut the straps, chuck it away. It doesn't matter if it's a Giro whatever or a colander, all helmets work the same way re impact dissipation, be they bicycle helmets or motorbike helmets.
My be an adult experience says the above.
It's your call - you're the only one who knows what happened and can look at the helmet.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
My on the job experience says it's not worth it
Are you going to expand on this bit?0 -
crikey wrote:My on the job experience says it's not worth it
Are you going to expand on this bit?
In what way? Essentially in a professional way I don't see the point in taking the risk in using a potentially fatally flawed helmet in order to save what seems to be a fairly affluent poster a hundred or so pounds.
If the helmet is damaged then these things are designed to be a one hit wonder - it hits the road, it deforms the inner and, if the impact is harsh enough, the outer through force dissipation.
Sometimes you won't see any damage but it's scuppered.
Cut the straps so no one else can use it or smack it with a hammer so it's completely unusable.
My caveat re all this is that I don't know the guy, don't know the accident, haven't seen any hospital records, am not a neurologist or accident specialist.
At the end of the day though, it's completely and utterly up to him.
Hope that helps.Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
Dude…
Buy a new one…. i had a nsty off last Oct…amongst other injuries I did a full face plant onto the road surface…cuts to cheeks, eye area… no damage to front of helmet at all, HOWEVER, at the rear it had simply broke in 2 on one of the lateral bars..mine was an Aeon too…not easily seen, but once you did, it was impossible to feel safe wearing again..think of it this way…. if you spend £100 on a new one…forget the new stem/shoes whatever…your heeeed is worth far more than that… 0 -
You posted on the subject which means its in the back of your mind and will remain there until another outcome will trigger the next helmet purchase
Get it bought and enjoy your riding without concerning yourself as to the integrity of your helmet. IMHO“Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring”
Desmond Tutu0 -
Giro crash replacement in the UK is managed by Zyro. Their customer service for my crash replacement was excellent.0
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Inspect it carefully both inside and out - if it has hit the ground then i'd expect at least a small scrape or ding on the outer shell somewhere - if that is unmarked and there is no visible damage elsewhere then i dont think it will have hit the ground.0
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Now that turned out to be a useful tip. Thanks, I owe you a beer token. Synthe ordered from Zyro at half-price, Aeon heading for the bin. Wish I'd known about this last year when I smashed my previous Aeon getting knocked off by a muppet driver.Alex222 wrote:Giro crash replacement in the UK is managed by Zyro. Their customer service for my crash replacement was excellent.0 -
Glad I could be of help964Cup wrote:
Now that turned out to be a useful tip. Thanks, I owe you a beer token. Synthe ordered from Zyro at half-price, Aeon heading for the bin. Wish I'd known about this last year when I smashed my previous Aeon getting knocked off by a muppet driver.Alex222 wrote:Giro crash replacement in the UK is managed by Zyro. Their customer service for my crash replacement was excellent.0 -
Out of interest, if you wouldn't have been able to get a cheap replacement helmet would you have still binned the old one?Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honoursmithy21 wrote:
He's right you know.0 -
My caveat re all this is that I don't know the guy, don't know the accident, haven't seen any hospital records, am not a neurologist or accident specialist.
But you are prepared to use your 'medic' status to reinforce your point...
Which is somewhat disingenuous and exactly why I called you out on it.
What kind of a 'medic' are you then?0 -
crikey wrote:My caveat re all this is that I don't know the guy, don't know the accident, haven't seen any hospital records, am not a neurologist or accident specialist.
But you are prepared to use your 'medic' status to reinforce your point...
Which is somewhat disingenuous and exactly why I called you out on it.
What kind of a 'medic' are you then?
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Yes. It's just not worth the risk.Matthewfalle wrote:Out of interest, if you wouldn't have been able to get a cheap replacement helmet would you have still binned the old one?0
