When to replace helmets?

Home:Ballyhoura

Hey guys, this might sound like a stupid question but I'm going to ask it anyway! When should you replace a helmet? I have had my Giro E2 for a year or two now and hasn't really been tested in that time. Yesterday I had a pretty serious fall on a descent which sent me tumbling and ending up in a ditch! Afterwards, I was pretty dazed but luckily no serious injuries (just bad grazes and bruises) and the bike was still in one piece . When I got home, I looked at my helmet which had two new dents in one side and my head was a bit sore in this area. Looking closer, I saw a few tiny cracks (like a hairline fracture) around the area which took the bang.

Do you think it is necessary to replace this helmet? It looks ok but I wouldn't want to risk anything. It did its job of absorbing the impact this time, I'm just wondering if it would be able to do it again as a result of this impact? I can'y justify a new helmet cause it looks fine...maybe you can pursuade me to think otherwise, cheers!

P.S. Hopefully I'll get up a picture of it soon!

Caroline_ie

Hi,
I replaced mine after my last serious crash in November, I took 2 falls that day. The inside was cracked in several places.

xz

If your helmet takes ANY kind of impact and especially has cracks in it, then replace it, don't even think of wearing it again.
The structural integrity of your helmet has now been damaged and will not afford the the correct protection with which it has been designed for.

does your house have pebble dash on it?
Go outside with your crashed helmet on and rub your head along the wall (no impact involved so your helmet will survive)

Now try it without your helmet on..................chances are you will say eff that.
That is what you are risking to your head with a damaged helmet, chances are if you crash it may shatter and you may get a nice tarmac rash on your head, then again you may not.................are you prepared to gamble???

not getting into a helmet/no helmet argument.
If you wear a helmet, wear a non damaged one, no matter how slight the damage is.......................I will put this another way, you drive a car, you have a child, in achild seat in the back, you crash, nothing too serious, everyone is OK, but the child seat has a slight hairline crack along the back rest. Would you risk putting your child in that seat in another crash????

hope I have persuaded you;)

Home:Ballyhoura

xz wrote: »

hope I have persuaded you;)

Yes, you did! Hehe...now the big question is: "WHICH ONE?"

I've narrowed it down to the Giro Atmos for €96 or the Giro Ionos for €133
I absolutely love the Ionos, but its hard to justify that price. Even the atmos seems expensive! Let me know what you think and feel free to reccomend any others!

Some pictures: here and here

xz

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15159 here is a cheaper compromise, probably made in the same factory considering Bell own Giro. But they only have small in stock

RobFowl

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Yes, you did! Hehe...now the big question is: "WHICH ONE?"

I've narrowed it down to the Giro Atmos for €96

Quay cycles in Drogheda are doing them for €100 if you're close. It's always nice to try them on first !!!!!
(bought one there Sat last )

Look at the Planet X thread !! LBS rule

Edit !! forgot you live in the sticks

Vélo

When I was working at the horses we were advised to change our helmets if they ever got any damage, no matter how small. It would make the structure weaker and was too dangerous. I presume it would be the same for any type of helmet.

xz

I was in Quay cycles last July, was up in Drogheda for a few days staying in the d hotel. Couldn't swing a cat in the place, but, wow some selection of bikes for a shop so cramped, really friendly staff too

Home:Ballyhoura

xz wrote: »

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15159 here is a cheaper compromise, probably made in the same factory considering Bell own Giro. But they only have small in stock

Thanks for that...I had been thinking of the Bell Sweep R alright! My head is between 56-57cm & according to CRC the Small (only size in stock) fit 51-55cm. However, I did read somewhere that a 57cm head would be small, but I think it was for mototcycle helmets! Is it true that Bell helmets are bigger than normal? Maybe I'd get away with the small...anyone have ideas (preferably people who have used bell before!).

P.S. Trip to the LBS tomorrow to size & price helmets!

Lumen

Bell and Giro helmets have a very different fit.

I find Bell more comfortable and better value.

Try before you buy.

DirkVoodoo

Giro helmets tend to make my head look massiv-o, I kinda wish I had gone with a MET as these seemed to fit me better. Definitely try before you buy, I went into cyclesuperstore one day, got some stuff and tried on a few helmets before getting a good deal online.

Billy Whizz

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Yes, you did! Hehe...now the big question is: "WHICH ONE?"

I've narrowed it down to the Giro Atmos for €96 or the Giro Ionos for €133
I absolutely love the Ionos, but its hard to justify that price. Even the atmos seems expensive! Let me know what you think and feel free to reccomend any others!

Some pictures: here and here

If you're going for a Giro I'd get the Atmos. I know a couple of blokes who have the Ionos who say that it is a bit too well-ventilated!

I have a Spesh Decibel and it makes my head look massive. Then again it is a size L and I'm short and skinny. Decent helmet though.

TinyExplosions

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

've narrowed it down to the Giro Atmos for €96 or the Giro Ionos for €133
I absolutely love the Ionos, but its hard to justify that price. Even the atmos seems expensive! Let me know what you think and feel free to reccomend any others!

I have the Ionos, and really like it -though it is very well ventilated, so a cap is pretty much a necessity with it Lovely helmet though

Caroline_ie

I just switched from a Giro Monza to a Met Inferno. I much prefer the fit on the Met, and it's much lighter. The Giro use to give me a Klingon forehead when I took it off. :pac:

Home:Ballyhoura

Ok, I went to my 3 local bike shops today to try on helmets. I was looking for the Giro Atmos and the Bell Sweep R. They looked at my old crashed one and showed be how bad it really was. It was about to fall apart when given a pull!

Anyway, I saw a nice "Livestrong Giro Atmos" like this. It was €169 but he knows me well and will do it for €129. I tried on both the Atmos and Sweep R, but only in the Medium (at the small setting). I am tempted to go for the Bell for €63 on CRC but it is only available in Small (which I haven't tried on yet). If its too small, how much do you reckon it would cost to send back to CRC to change for the Atmos? The Atmos is really beautiful, nice and light (the Bell is nice too, but not as much!)

P.S. I read on PBK that Giro take old crashed helmets back and give you up to half price on the replacement! However, it is only for UK residents! Do you know if I buy a helmet and break it, can I send it back anywhere and get money off my new one (taking into account I live in Ireland!)? I don't fancy spending a €100 on a hemet that disposible.

ba

reckon you should get the cheaper bell sweep r, with the price difference you could probably pick up a new chain (dura-ace @ 25e) and possibly new white bar tape for when the need arises!

Home:Ballyhoura

ba wrote: »

reckon you should get the cheaper bell sweep r

Yes, I was about to buy the Bell Sweep R when I came across this guy who used both of these helmets (Giro Atmos & Bell Sweep R). I emailed him and here is his response:

Thank you for the email.

I am currently riding with my Giro Atmos and I have a size Medium. I am not sure of my head size and do nor have a measuring tape to measure it.

I do however know that I fit a Small and Medium helmet with both Giro and Bell (they fit exactly the same) and although I can get into a Small I prefer to ride a Medium because I often wear Buffs of skull caps under my helmet and the Small wouldn't allow this as it was too snug.

I say and you should bear in mind I have a VERY small head and NO hair (shaved off). I have not met many men (or women) with a head as small as myself so based on these things I would go for the Medium helmet.

As for what helmet to go for, the Giro and Bell are very similar, you will pay more for the Giro as it is 'The Name' to have and what Lance wears! ha ha But most people's decision will come down to colour, whether it go with your kit, and how much you have in your wallet!

I would say, NO to the Small Bell, so if that is a decision maker, go with that!

I hope this of some help.....

After reading this I am more inclined to go for the Giro Atmos even though it is more than I intended to spend! Maybe I should just order both and keep the best one. It wouldnt cost too much to return a helmet would it? Let me know what you think! Cheers

Lumen

FWIW, Halfords stock some of the cheaper Bells, and I think all Bells have the same fit.

Whilst I normally avoid using B&M bike shops for "internet fitting" out of principle, I make an exception for Halfords.

Home:Ballyhoura

Hi guys, I am about to buy the Giro Atmos helmet but I am unsure which model to go for! Is there any difference between the 2008 and 2009 versions other than the name? Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate it! The reason I ask is beccause I found the 2008 in stock cheaper elsewhere!

2008 Version here
2009 Version here

zzzzzzzz

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Hi guys, I am about to buy the Giro Atmos helmet but I am unsure which model to go for! Is there any difference between the 2008 and 2009 versions other than the name? Thanks in advance for your help, I really appreciate it! The reason I ask is beccause I found the 2008 in stock cheaper elsewhere!

2008 Version here
2009 Version here

If I was you I'd go for the 08 model. Is the '09 one really going to be £20/30% better?

zzzzzzzz

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

If I was you I'd go for the 08 model. Is the '09 one really going to be £20/30% better?

That said, the only '08 one in stock is Pink & white...

DirkVoodoo

Nope. I got an Ionos cheap and checked if there were any functional differences. Exact same design just a different paint job. I would imagine the Atmos is the same.

If you can get an 08 one go for it, pink may be pushing it though.

Home:Ballyhoura

Hi guys, just to let you know that its not on CRC that I was looking at the 2008 one! Hope that stops any suspicions you may have regarding the pink helmet! Hehe