Road Bike Helmet Lifespan
Although the snell foundation recommended replacing your helmet every 5 years some manufacturers recommend every 3 5 years.
Road bike helmet lifespan. Every cyclist knows the value of a safe helmet but you don t have to invest 200 to 300 to get top safety features in a lid. A helmet has a limited lifespan in use and should be replaced when it shows obvious signs of wear. A quality bike helmet is one of the most vital bits of kit you can buy. In the us every helmet in order to be legal must pass a test of dropping from 4 7 feet onto a hard surface usually an anvil.
So we ve rounded up this list of bicycle helmets that meet or exceed the bar in safety without breaking the bank. Here at road bike rider we think the most important feature of a helmet is protecting your head. There s a lot of confusing information out there about why and when you should replace your helmet so we asked experts from giro bell and bontrager for their takes on the subject. Bike helmet testing standards.
The most important thing you can do to maximise the lifespan of your bike helmet is protect it from bumps and bangs wherever possible. Cyclingdeal road mountain bike bicycle cycling adult helmet. We are emerging from a period when helmet styles had been more squared off and elongated. This myth was put forth by the helmet companies themselves as a way to sell more helmets.
If you cannot afford to replace it every 3 years here is how you can extend the life of your helmet. Although wearing a bicycle helmet may seem like a hassle this simple piece of equipment is vital to your cycling safety. It could quite literally save your life so it s worth making sure it s in peak condition. A helmet s peak must not move less than 6 mm during testing with a weight of 2 kg for 30 seconds.
As long as a helmet has not been involved in a crash there is no reason to replace it. How should you treat your helmet in order to get the longest and safest use from it. If you take your bike in the car for example consider storing your helmet in a padded bag to keep it safe. In 2011 according to a report from the insurance institute for highway safety 67 percent of people who died from a cycling accident weren t wearing a helmet.
There are certain testing standards that every bike helmet manufacturer should follow. I use to be notorious for dropping my helmet while carrying it to and from the bike. One of the first semi aero road bike helmets available the kask protone offers decent ventilation in all but the hottest conditions while claiming to retain the benefits of an aero helmet. Many of us believe that bike helmets have a limited lifespan before they become unsafe to use.