helmit ?

[Brandi]

My dh is arguing with me on this issue. After my big mountain bike ride last year I not only lost my visor some place in the desert but the hard plastic that surrounds the helmit is cracking. Do I need to replace my helmit? I am bummed I don't have my visor anymore. And I don't know if you can replace them. At least my local lbs store said you can't. Of coarse I am sure they would like me to buy a new one.

[mimitabby]

get a new helmet! yours has been compromised!

[KnottedYet]

If the shell is at all compromised (or ANY part of the helmet is compromised) it is time for a new one.

I've worked with enough brain-injury patients that I am VERY uptight about using helmets in good condition!

[Aint Doody]

Yes, ma'am, you do!

[Brandi]

Could you all gang up on my dh and tell him this. He swears that the plastic is not what protects your head but the styro in it and if that is not cracked you shouldn't need a new one!

[Aint Doody]

I spent 2 days in ICU with bleeding in my brain. My helmet saved my life. I was in la-la land for a while. It only looked a little scratched, but it had done its job and had to retire. I've saved it as a reminder. Tell your husband that he could be feeding you or changing your diaper. I think he'll understand that a new helmet would be a better choice.

[LBTC]

Wow Ainty Doody, that was super serious! I'm so glad you had your helmet!!

Brandi, helmets are designed for single impact. Some believe that just dropping the helmet on your concrete floor by accident is grounds to replace it! From what I have learned any change to the shape of the outer plastic, everything but a minor scratch, or any cracking to the foam is grounds to replace it.

Go get a new one!!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Brandi]

I spent 2 days in ICU with bleeding in my brain. My helmet saved my life. I was in la-la land for a while. It only looked a little scratched, but it had done its job and had to retire. I've saved it as a reminder. Tell your husband that he could be feeding you or changing your diaper. I think he'll understand that a new helmet would be a better choice.

Ok you made your point very well there. looking into one right now. forget my husband you convinced me and besides it is MY HEAD!

[Aint Doody]

Yep, you can get a new husband, but you can't get a new head!

[Brandi]

Yep, you can get a new husband, but you can't get a new head!

Well spoken! (high five)

[7rider]

I'm not really the dissenting vote here.
But...
I would say - it depends...
What happened to make you lose your visor (perhaps others know the backstory that I don't)? There's not enough information here.
Did you do a face plant, in which your helmet contacted the ground and the visor popped off? Did you hit a tree or some overhang that ripped it off?
If the helmet didn't suffer a blow, and it's only the plastic decorative covering over it that is cracked because of the visor ripping off, then probably the protective shock-absorbing foam is likely not compromised and the helmet is fine....if just a little beat-up looking.
That being said.....
When it comes to the head....I would probably say...when it doubt, better to err on the side of safe, rather than sorry. Sure, the helmet is *probably* fine...but why risk it? If you are more comfortable with a new helmet....then get one.

[light_sabe_r]

Brandi, I don't have to reinterated f it's cracked, it's comprimised. Would you drive in a car with a tear in the seat belt, or if the air bags had popped??

I think not.


As you've put it, it's your head.

[Duck on Wheels]

It's not just the foam lining that absorbs impact. The shattering of the hard outer shell also is a form of impact absorbtion/energy conversion. So if the outer shell is cracked -- be that from an impact or from the desert sun -- the helmet is compromised. Definitely get a new one. A new helmet costs, what? As little as $30 for a perfectly good one. A new head can't be had for any amount of money (says she who'd have been a widow were it not for dh wearing a helmet when that car pulled a left right in front of him).

[Brandi]

I'm not really the dissenting vote here.
But...
I would say - it depends...
What happened to make you lose your visor (perhaps others know the backstory that I don't)? There's not enough information here.
Did you do a face plant, in which your helmet contacted the ground and the visor popped off? Did you hit a tree or some overhang that ripped it off?
If the helmet didn't suffer a blow, and it's only the plastic decorative covering over it that is cracked because of the visor ripping off, then probably the protective shock-absorbing foam is likely not compromised and the helmet is fine....if just a little beat-up looking.
That being said.....
When it comes to the head....I would probably say...when it doubt, better to err on the side of safe, rather than sorry. Sure, the helmet is *probably* fine...but why risk it? If you are more comfortable with a new helmet....then get one.

I wish my story about my helmit was a thrilling as the one's you wrote but they are not.
I am not sure what happend to my visor. It is just lost some where between Durango and Moab. Maybe someone will come across and say "hey I really need one of these"!
As far as my plastic on my helmit being cracked that happend during shipping. We decided to throw it in with my bike. So some where it got munched. It is about 4 years old now and it is all faded and what not. The sun might have made it a bit more brittle.
But thanks to all of you who put your Two cents in I have convinced my dh it would be best to replace it. So today I am off to the lbs (cambria bikes, they have a great website) to try on new helmits. And even better they are having a sale. My husbands helmit is as old as mine so I am going to get him one for he's birthday. I measured our heads yesterday so that will help. Thank you all for your help and my head thanks you too!

[Kimmyt]

We have a saying in climbing regarding when to replace live-saving protective gear:

"When in doubt, throw it out"

If you suffered an impact on your head wearing the helmet, you don't know what the condition of the foam under your plastic outer area of the helmet looks like. It may not be cracked on the outside, but maybe there is a fracture on the inside that you can't see.