When did you last replace your road bike helmet? A bike helmet is perhaps the most critical protective equipment you wear on your ride. A helmet that’s in good shape can mean the difference between a good day and a bad one. An old or damaged road bike helmet won’t likely give you the protection you need, and you’ll need to replace it.
How long does a road bike helmet last? You can probably use your helmet for 5-10 years. Standard-setting organizations like the Snell Memorial Foundation say that five years is the maximum. Some helmet manufacturers recommend replacing a helmet after just three years, especially if you ride a lot of hot, sunny days.
If you don’t ride very much, you might be able to hold onto your helmet for more than ten years. However, you might be better off replacing the helmet every 5-10 years in case it accumulates wear or damage that you might not be able to see. If you care about bike safety, there are signs that your current helmet is no longer safe or reliable.
How to Tell If You Need to Replace Your Road Bike Helmet
You’ve had a crash.
Keep in mind an important rule of thumb: If you crash while wearing your helmet, replace it, no matter how minor the accident. A bike helmet is a single-use piece of safety equipment. If you’ve worn your helmet during a crash, you might not be able to see any damage, such as compression on the foam liner hidden by the external shell.
The shell is sun-faded or brittle
When the shell gets exposed to too much ultraviolet or UV light, it can become brittle, and it’ll eventually crack and not hold up during impact. Is the color of the shell faded? Faded color could be a sign of diminished protection. Even though many manufacturers put UV inhibitors in the plastic, these inhibitors can fail.
Your helmet acts as a beer can
You probably know that when you press in a dent on an aluminum can the dent pops back out. Try the same thing on your helmet’s shell. Less expensive helmets sometimes do this, but if this denting occurs all over the helmet, the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam underneath is likely crushed.
You can see damage on the foam liner
The EPS, which is fitted against the outer shell, is a very important element that shields your head from impact. The EPS won’t deteriorate from age alone. You still should check it for any cracks or deep dents. Even in a relatively new helmet, a damaged foam liner will not protect you properly.
The chin strap is worn out
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This article is created successfully on July 21, 2023 at 10:51PM
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