[OneEighth]

@rcannon100 17393 wrote:

According to Bart Simpson…

[ATTACH=CONFIG]869[/ATTACH]

So I read everyone’s answer…. and I’m not buying. It’s styrofoam. I made styrofoam in the lab during college. It’s not affected by sweat. It doesnt dry out. It doesnt age, well at least in terms of 3 to 5 years. So I thought I would see if I could find something authoritative. This is from the Bike Safety Helmet Institute …. it’s probably not a credible group. According to its “about us” page, “We are the helmet advocacy program of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.” Probably an astro-turf front group. Anyway, they say…..

I had a local bike shop tell me my helmet had “dried out.” I did not bite. You wanna replace your undamaged helmet every 3 to 5 years? It may look sharp – but its doubtful you are buying any additional protection.

When I started this thread I had a primary and a secondary goal.
The primary goal was to make sure that folks understood how to wear their helmets correctly so that their helmets would function as designed and protect them as much as possible.
The secondary goal was to give folks some practical and generally applicable advice to help ensure that the helmet they are relying on actually does what they need it to do.
Thankfully, there doesn’t seem to be much debate about the right way to wear a helmet.
As for the second point…
Given the intent to provide general advice about helmet replacement, what would you recommend? Or, if you would rather not make a recommendation but want folks to each assess the risk for themselves, how often do you think you ought to replace your own helmet? And, what basis do you use for determining when to replace your helmet?
Thanks.

[OneEighth]

More expensive cycling helmets generally give you lighter weight and better venting.
Fit can also vary between manufacturers and models.
Pick what fits you best and is intended for your activity.

[OneEighth]

Even with a good helmet, worn properly, you can still end up with an injury. This is all about reducing the risk and severity of injury.
Case in point, I flipped early this February while going roughly 25 mph. Point of initial impact was my left temple before I rolled onto my back and slid. The styrofoam broke in several places and separated from the plastic skeleton that covers the helmet at the left temple and at the top rear of the helmet (thereby protecting the back of my skull).
The helmet functioned as designed. No complaint there whatsoever.
And yet, I still ended up with a lovely concussion that lasted the better part of four weeks.
Now who are you people and get off my lawn.

[OneEighth]

@rcannon100 17353 wrote:

This is not meant as a challenge. This is an honest question. Why?? The helmet – the functional part that protects you – is styrofoam. It doesnt age. Its an artificial substance. As long as the integrity of the helmet remains, I dont understand the “styrofoam is old” argument. Is there any actual real research on why a helmet goes bad over time?

Thanks

It’s a valid question and I appreciate it and americancyclo’s info, too.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never questioned it. When I used to work in a motorcycle shop, regular replacement of helmets was accepted practice among the riders (and racers) who worked there. The explanation I heard is that your sweat, etc., affects the styrofoam and degrades its shock-dissipation properties over time. Again, I’ve never sought a reason not to replace my helmets frequently because I accepted the underlyng idea that is a good practice to regularly replace wear and tear items. What indicator you use is beside the point to me.
Look at it this way, the longer you have a helmet, the more likely you are to have dropped it, scuffed it, exposed it to loads of sunlight (not kind to the plastic shell that holds the styrofoam in place when you hit), whatever—all things that produce impact on the helmet and, however slightly, degrade its shock-dissipation capacity. I want my helmet as close to 100% when I really need it. Regular replacement just ups my odds as I see it.
I would also note that in the excerpt that americancyclo posted, the helmet manufacturer still felt compelled to qualify their statements about the life-span of the helmet—note the reference to 8 years.

[OneEighth]

Time is relative. Lunch time doubly so.

[OneEighth]

Personally, I’m willing to sacrifice pretty much everything for clean lines.
But, if you don’t mind clutter: http://www.aerostich.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=air+horn&dir=desc&order=relevance

[OneEighth]

Because I’m too lazy to go look things up for myself…
Any idea when the ride will circle back to the Captiol and how long they plan on being there?

[OneEighth]

It is no different than the gym right after New Years. Any time you quickly change a population, the previously prevailing norm is going to be overwhelmed by the behaviors that the new group brings.
Put very bluntly, when the weather gets nice, the trails get filled with a bunch of drivers on bicycles.
Most of those who decide to stick with it (yeah!) will eventually come around to the same behaviors/trail etiquette as the other year-round riders. Just like in the gym (where people do eventually learn to ask if they can work in, etc).
Not much use getting upset. Better to keep setting a good example with good grace and realize it’s not a sprint.
Be Dirt.

[OneEighth]

I didn’t think the Custis was that bad today. I was on it around between 7:35 and 7:45 this morning and from 5:35 to 5:45 this evening. Granted, I tend to ride in the road up the Hill from the Marriott, but even so, not bad.
Hains Point, on the other hand, was a mixed bag this evening. There weren’t too many pedestrians or cyclists, but the buses were snarling things up pretty thoroughly in spots.
Still, it was lovely and it most definitely beat being on Metro. I had the pleasure of being on it during the day and noticed how they had tried to make up for the inoperable escalators at Metro Center by pasting cherry blossom cutouts all over the turnstiles. I’m sure that was a great consolation to the folks who were almost thrown down the long escalator that suddenly stopped without warning while they were at the midway point.

[OneEighth]

The Suicidal Bunnies are one of my favorite parts of early morning commuting. Wakes me up faster than coffee.

[OneEighth]

Well, kids, for what it’s worth, it was absolutely beautiful riding up the MVT and around Hains Point while lighting flashes lit up the cherry trees this morning.

[OneEighth]

Y’all do realized the odds against, yes?

[OneEighth]

If you are riding on trails or roads, you may as well go to full pressure and enjoy the benefits of a non-knobby, higher pressure tire. 85 frankly isn’t that high and you’ve still got plenty of rolling resistance and squish in the corners, though it will feel like a big improvement over low-pressure knobbies on pavement.

[OneEighth]

Commonwealth Orthopaedics. They are right next to virginia Hospital Center on George Mason Drive.
Dr. Frank Pettrone performed surgery to fix my broken collarbone. Very pleased.

[OneEighth]

I like the idea of standarizing the reporting. Just need to make sure that it’s easy to access.

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