4 Answers

• Reputation: 15 Q&A: 0 0 0 16 1 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 1 topic Bicycles Follow Following 0 Davey Oil, of Bike Works and the Bikery

  4 0 Hi, Squiffalicious! Great question! There is a lot of misinformation out there about the shelf life of helmets so I'm glad you asked! As you identified, once your helmet has sustained any real impact you should replace it. This includes more than just a bike crash. I once ruined a real nice helmet the first day I owned it tapping it against a concrete wall along with some loud music at a show! By the time I realized what I'd been doing one whole side of the helmet was dented! Impacts to your helmet wont necessarily be visible, though. Some folks say "multi-sport" BMX bucket helmets can survive more impacts than road helmets. I guess that sounds true enough to me, but I'd replace any helmet that's been smashed against something with any force greater than falling off your handlebars, capice? Regarding helmet age, good news! Helmets made in the last ten years or so are probably still good. You hear a lot about uv rays and sweat eating away at helmets, but according to http://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm this doesn't really happen with modern materials. This group http://www.smf.org/helmetfaq#aWhyReplace disagrees, fwiw. I don't know of any good ways to recycle helmets, unfortunately. We get asked that question a lot at Bike Works and would love to hear people's good ideas for recycling or reuse! Davey Oil, of Bike Works and the Bikery answered in Bicycles 11 months ago | Report 2 comments by Lose-Lose and Davey Oil, of Bike Works and the Bikery… 0 0 At the risk of being a dork, allow me to play the devil's advocate: I've had my helmet for over 10 years, it's never saved my life (the only accidents I've had, I've slipped off my bike and landed on my hands). Bents? Bangs? Incidental contact? Hammered in time against concrete at concerts? Yeah, but... it looks fine, it "works" just as well as it ever did, and it's 100% styrofoam and plastic -arguably worse for my health than not wearing a helmet (don't agree? Just wait until the giant plastic glob in the ocean chokes out all fish life, then we'll see who disagrees). So why replace it? I understand maybe after an accident where it bore the brunt of the collision, but... lite hammering against concrete walls? Really? Lose-Lose commented 11 months ago | Report 1 0 Maybe my story about the concert was more amusing than helpful. Take my word for it, I ruined that helmet. I am not necessarily telling the original questioner to replace their helmet at all. They do not specify how long they have had their helmet, so who can say? What I am suggesting is that it is possible that the common number of "three years, replace" might be a little much and we can likely keep undamaged helmets for longer than that. Why create the waste and spend the money if you don't need to? Personally, I'd replace a ten year old helmet. Materials do age and most of the wear on a helmet is not going to be visible to you. Also, technologies for bike helmets have improved to the point where a newer helmet will probably do a better job than a ten year old one at keeping your skull in shape if you do fall on your head. Heaven forbid. That said, it sounds like you feel fine about your own choice to hold on to that helmet. Good on you! Ride in good health! Davey Oil, of Bike Works and the Bikery commented 11 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 11 Q&A: 0 0 0 11 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 1 topic Bicycles Business Juliette at Hub and Bespoke is a business on Questionland Seattle Follow Following 0

  2 0 To answer your first question regarding helmet replacement I will refer you to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's website where they answer this question in, I believe, and evenhanded way. http://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm BHSI describes themselves as "an all-volunteer program funded at less than $12,000 per year exclusively by consumer donations, most of them very small. We do not accept funding from any helmet manufacturer or industry group." Regarding disposal of a dead helmet, other than creative repurposing that you might come up with sadly I believe the shock-absorbing styrofoam and plastic covering are landfill material. Surely you can re-use the strapping and clip for something, right!? Juliette at Hub and Bespoke answered in Bicycles 11 months ago | Report 1 comment by mister_fusspot… 0 0 Solid answer... And for the record, Hub and Bespoke offers some great-looking helmets, for when you are in the market for a new dome. mister_fusspot commented 11 months ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 25 Q&A: 0 0 0 29 4 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 2 topics Bike Week Bicycles Follow Following 0

  2 0 Replace your helmet when it looks boring or ugly, too. If you don't like it anymore you won't be as inclined to wear it.. and you know where THAT leads! alexkostelnik answered in Bicycles 11 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend:

• Reputation: 7 Q&A: 0 0 0 7 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 1 topic Bicycles Business Serena Lehman, Cascade Bicycle Club is a business on Questionland Seattle Follow Following 0

  1 0 If you are on a budget Cascade Bicycle Club sells $10 helmets if you need to replace yours. They are nothing fancy but get the job done Serena Lehman, Cascade Bicycle Club answered in Bicycles 11 months ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

  Share this answer with a friend: