Damaged helmet

[sayek1]

Came off my bike a couple off weeks back - helmet and side of my face took most of the impact (see previous posts).

Whilst the helmet has some scuff marks & minorish indentations around the temple do bike helmets need to be replaced - obviously riding and motorcycle helmets are a solid shell and need replacing even after a minor drop/bang, but as bike helmets appear to be more flexible I was wondering if they were reuseable.

Any thoughts?

 

[Garz]

Once they have been dropped or any sort of impact they recommend replacing them. However common sense does play a part if its not a decent blow or visible damage most would agree replacing one seems rather OTT.

As yours has 'minor indentations' and 'scuff marks' then once you spot a sale on at the lbs or online I wouldnt hesitate to replace it asap relegating your current one to backup.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Bin it and get yourself a new one. If you believe it's worth wearing one in the first place, it seems daft to wear one which might be useless.

 

[Tollers]

Replace it. There may be other unseen damage or weakening too!

Tollers

 

[Aperitif]

I have cracked a Giro Atmos helmet twice now. £50 to send it back and get a replacement. Maybe your helmet manufacturer does a similar cut-price scheme?

 

[dav1d]

Came off my bike a couple off weeks back - helmet and side of my face took most of the impact (see previous posts).

Whilst the helmet has some scuff marks & minorish indentations around the temple do bike helmets need to be replaced - obviously riding and motorcycle helmets are a solid shell and need replacing even after a minor drop/bang, but as bike helmets appear to be more flexible I was wondering if they were reuseable.

Any thoughts?

I remember reading somewhere years ago that bicycle helmets should be replaced after they are hit, even if there is no visible damage.

 

[gavintc]

Wow a helmet thread that has stayed on track and not strayed into the contentious mud slinging areas.

I will add to the above comment, I would replace it. Indeed, after a similar accident a few years, I did just that.

 

[sayek1]

Thanks guys - unanimous vote to get a new one.

Do Giro do a discount if you purchase from them again/return the original - any ideas?

Thanks for all the views.

 

[Tynan]

depends i think

you can ride for years and never need the helemt and then you'd have to need the same point

quantify the risk init, you;re most likely to kill yourself coming down your own stairs

 

[Noodley]

.....you;re most likely to kill yourself coming down your own stairs

Utter rubbish....I live in a cottage with no stairs!

 

[Stu99]

For info, polystyrene is a great shock absorber but can only be compressed once. Thereafter it loses its ability to absorb transmitted energy.

Any helmet which has had enough force applied to it to compress the polystyrene must be replaced - even if there are no signs of visible damage. Remember that your head weighs 5ks and that at speed, the sudden deceleration will transmit a considerable energy force directly into the polystyrene. A & E is no place to discover that the polystyrene liner has passed its expiry date!

 

[Tynan]

ah yes but has it enough force and again, will it ever be asked to absorb an impact at that point again?

 

[Tollers]

Remember that your head weighs 5ks and that at speed, the sudden deceleration will transmit a considerable energy force directly into the polystyrene.

My skull is carbon fibre and i have an aerobic capacity so great that my blood is mostly oxygen. I'm also not very clever. As such my head only weighs 1kg.