New helmet or not?

[margo49]

Buy a new one.
You have irreparably damaged any helmet you have crashed on. I took an ax(axe) to mine after my "Kiwi breaks beak" crash and it was real tough to break. But that doesn't mean it was 100%. Its all the invisible air and even more invisible engineering that saves your life, so your helmet might only have a scratch visible but still be useless.

[bcipam]

Helmets get one crash - if you hit your head, thus your helmet, it must be replaced.

[Lise]

I agree. Get the new helmet. I recently got a new one because my other one was three years old. No rule that I know of, but it felt like a good idea.

I had a helmet once that had never been in a crash. Yet, one day I looked at it and noticed a puncture hole in the plastic! It must've fallen on the ground one day when I was fumbling for keys or something. I immediately replaced it.

[KnottedYet]

Time for a new helmet.

When in doubt (even if you're not sure your bumped your head) throw it out and buy a new one.

Don't donate it to Goodwill or something, just throw it away.

[Bad JuJu]

This is not exactly a thread hijack, but maybe a little drift:
So when DO you replace a helmet that's never crashed? Lise says she got a new one after three years. I honestly can't remember how old mine is, but it's probably at least three years.

And how about just dropping it on the pavement, without a head in it? Does that compromise its integrity and life-saving potential?

Anybody know the answers to these questions? Inquiring minds (that want to stay that way!) want to know.

[DeniseGoldberg]

So when DO you replace a helmet that's never crashed?

And how about just dropping it on the pavement, without a head in it? Does that compromise its integrity and life-saving potential?

Here's a link to the "when to replace a helmet" page on the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's web site: http://www.helmets.org/replace.htm.

The helmet manufacturers seem to recommend more frequent replacement for non-crashed, non-damaged helmets than the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute - but then again the manufacturers are in the business of selling helmets. Giro & Bell (yes, I know they are the same company) recommend 3 years.

--- Denise

[SalsaMTB]

Definitely replace the helmet. Remember, you have plastic covering the outside, so cracks in the foam could be hiding underneath the plastic caused by the impact. If you purchased your helmet within the last year there could be a crash replacement warranty, depending on brand. I know Garneau offers 1 yr crash replacement, all handled through LBS. Just go in, give it back, get a new one of equal value, the shop should handle the rest. I think bell and Giro also have something for crash replacement, not positive though.

Definitely get a new helmet though if you think you hit your head.

[Fredwina]

it sound like helmet shoppoing is in order! It's going to be amonth or before I medical clearance to ride any way.
P.s. Putting on a bra one handed is sooo much fun....