I was out riding my new bike on Saturday. The damn thing picks up so much speed while descending that I wasn't fast enough to duck under a low lying branch. Honest, that's what happened. It's certainly not that I'm old, slow and too stecky to avoid stuff.
Anyway, later when I stopped to refuel I saw that I'd put a ding in my new helmet that I've only worn about 4 times. It looks like I've hit it hard enough to discolour the plastic shell, although it's a fairly localised and small dent. I'm sadly inclined to think it's destined for the bin. What say you?
I might be wrong, but it wouldn't even cross my mind to bin that.
I don't know what the official answer is, but I have kept using slightly dented helmets like that. But any hint of a crack then it's binned. Is it all intact on the inside?
I've got a few dents like that on various helmets and not died. I did however inspect *'carefully* for cracks in the polystyrene underneath where it was visible. (And i do that as a matter of course maybe once a year?)
As someone considering buy a new lid cos mines peeling I maybe would replace it! That one looks expensive though - you should contact POC and ask what they think - probably offer you a discount on a new one.
I'm with ads678. That looks like very superficial mark on outer shell, absolutely no way would I consider replacing that lid.
'tis but a fleshwound, that. Perfectly OK to carry on using
I'd carry on using it. Two of mine have dents from similar interactions 😜
That looks to be quite light and localised, but it's your call
Speaking as someone who has utterly destroyed two helmets whilst wearing them, the impacts squashed large parts of the helmet polystyrene rather than shattering them to pieces. Not an expert, but it wouldn't bother me even slightly to keep wearing that one.
If it was old and pre-MIPS, then that would be a good reason to replace it.
I'd replace if it was me, but I'd not judge people for not replacing.
Good to see the medicinal recovery drink there 😀
I've got similar on my current helmet and continue to use it - usually happens when following someone else who's more vertically-challenged than me (i.e. most folk) and not realising I wouldn't quite fit under the low branch they sailed under...
I don't buy expensive helmets for this reason: I'd rather spend half the amount but replace twice as often. Still with decently-rated (using the Virginia Tech info) helmets though.
I did similar to a 2-day old new helmet...I did have starry eyes so figured I'd given it a seriously hard knock.
Sent back and got a crash replacement (although deal was half price)...and about 2 weeks later got a confirmation that it was right to replace as although inner side had no visible damage, under the shell was showing decent impact damage.
I'm in the replace camp, but wouldn't be arguing if anyone else thought/did otherwise.
I know not relevant to this new lid but a slightly different angle on the replace or not replace is how old is too old for a helmet?
I recall a sort of car service approach advised with both use and time being replacement triggers.
What is the guidance here - 10 years old too old but 5 years ok?
I ordered a new helmet the other day. Inside it had a manufactured in 2021 sticker, so I sent it back on the basis they only have a limited shelf life but is this only when in use and so the expanded foam isn't going to degrade?
UV light degrades polystyrene and as I recall, the advice used to be that you should replace your helmet every 2-3yrs because of this. However, that was back in the days when bike helmets were around 50% exposed polystyrene with a small plastic shell perched on top. I can't remember the last time I saw a lid with any exposed polystyrene.
I probably replace my helmet around every 4yrs. This is more to do with how disgustingly sweaty I am though. I appear to be the Rory Gallagher of mountain biking*. My sweat not only eats the adhesive that holds my bike helmet pads in place, but I recently came to realise that all those years bemoaning the blistering and corroded paint jobs on my bikes has actually been caused by my own sweat!
*Rory Gallagher fans used to take sandpaper to their guitars to try an emulate the beat-up look of his instrument. Not realising that he had a medical condition that made his sweat excessively acidic, eating the finish on his guitar.
For me, part of the job of a helmet is to give a sense of security. If the thought of the dent was really nagging me I’d just go ahead and replace the helmet because even if I don’t know if it’s safe to ride, I don’t want those thoughts when I’m riding.
as someone who has knocked themselves out and its left less of a mark id be replacing that. Sorry
