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Helmet – how often to change?

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  • June 2, 2013 at 4:58 pm #18974
    Steveal

    Hi folks,

    Just been around to my bro’s and he has a new Boardman helmet. I have to say it fitted me perfectly and is much more comfortable than my current giro indicator. He is younger and probably faster than me so I didn’t feel I could make off with it 😀 So it got me thinking… How often are you supposed to change them (helmets, not brothers) ? I’m not sure if I want to be encouraged into spending more money on kit… I usually don’t need any encouragement!

    Cheers.

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Viewing 11 replies - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)
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  • June 3, 2013 at 6:48 pm #739647
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    cidermart

    Not sure where the
    Not sure where the polystyrene degrading came from I was on about the plastic outer shell which will degrade.

    Bashthebox well said.

    As I said it’s your head you decide.

    June 3, 2013 at 4:15 pm #739645
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    bashthebox

    You don’t really know if it’s
    You don’t really know if it’s doing the job until you bang your head though, do you? At which point, if it’s damaged, you’ll suddenly find out in a rather catastrophic way.

    June 3, 2013 at 3:50 pm #739643
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    Liam Barr

    I reckon after a big crash
    I reckon after a big crash but age should be ok. I’m still wearing a ’98 MET RoadRunner and it does the job although i have had a comment on it looking “old”.

    June 3, 2013 at 1:36 pm #739641
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    700c

    I have a Giro.. So when it
    I have a Giro.. So when it comes time to replace I’ll smash it up a bit and get a free one? Excellent!

    If there was convincing proof of polystyrene in helmets becoming brittle or weaker over time due to the sun, then of course I’d replace regularly..

    then again it’s a poor material our design if it is not tolerant of the sun!

    Not too much of an issue in this country tho! 😉

    Brainwave: special suncream for helmets! ©700C

    June 3, 2013 at 12:48 pm #739639
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    Lost faith in the brand

    you should change your helmet
    you should change your helmet after an accident or every 2-3 years, it annoys me when i see people with helmets that are 5+ years old.

    also worth mentioning bell and giro do a replacement scheme if you have had an accident (you need your receipt of purchase)

    June 3, 2013 at 10:49 am #739637
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    bashthebox

    The plastic coating ensures
    The plastic coating ensures the poly lining stays together and cushions your impact, no? If it becomes UV damaged, that plastic covering will be very brittle, meaning your helmet could split open on impact, I imagine. Your noggin is probably worth a hundred quid every few years, just to be on the safe side.

    June 3, 2013 at 10:14 am #739635
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    700c

    I’ve never heard this. News
    I’ve never heard this. News to me that you should change it every couple of years. Sounds like a manufacturer ploy to sell more..

    I understand if you’ve had an impact but UV degradation of the plastic? Really?

    The top is covered by a thick plastic coating so I don’t think there’s much sun contact with the polystyrene directly , is there?

    June 3, 2013 at 9:26 am #739633
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    cidermart

    UV degradation of plastics is
    UV degradation of plastics is real and it does not need to be sunny for it to happen, you can still tan on a cloudy day. All hard hats on building sites have a date of manufacture on them and, depending on who you work for, the general rule is five years from manufacture, three years of use or one impact/drop; that said one of my friends has to change his every year/impact as company policy. Personally I change mine by those rules but it is your head so you can decide.

    June 2, 2013 at 6:51 pm #739631
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    Leviathan

    I have 5, yes 5 Met
    I have 5, yes 5 Met Stradivarius in different colours to go with my different kits that I have picked up off ebay, and to provide a bit of rotation. I have never bashed one, touch wood. I don’t get that they might be effected by UV as they live indoors for 99.99% of the time and it is never that sunny around here.

    Despite the design being about 10 years old it is still better looking than most helmets today. The right helmet in the right size can be very cool. Make sure it fits and the front is right above your eyebrows so you can put your head down and look mean. If you wear a bucket on the back of your head; you might as well not bother.

    June 2, 2013 at 6:20 pm #739629
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    Tinternet_tim

    I’m with bashthebox. I’d
    I’m with bashthebox. I’d replace it after a notable impact OR if it was so old and looking very dated….like my 1992 Spesh lid which I finally replace in 2007!

    June 2, 2013 at 5:23 pm #739627
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    bashthebox

    Any time it gets a
    Any time it gets a significant knock, change it. Other than that, every few years maybe? Varies depending on how much riding you do I suppose, but I think UV can weaken plastics.
    If it’s a bit sweaty and horrible, you can usually buy new pads for it.

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