Sometimes it’s obvious to replace your helmet. Other times a minor crash may force you to get a new helmet. However, a lot of people cannot answer the question about the lifespan of a bike helmet. This could be because it isn’t a serious concern, or because they don’t use it until expiry. So, when do bicycle helmets expire? First off, it’s important to pay attention to factors like wear and tear and the nature of a crash.
Some crashes are worse than others, and each crash affects different helmets differently. Regardless of the impact, all crashes negatively affect the lifespan of a bicycle helmet. Sometimes you may not notice the crack on the helmet after a crash, but the result is hastened expiration. With that in mind, always ensure what you’re buying meets all the safety standards; this may also affect the lifespan since bike helmets are not all equal.
When you buy a bike helmet you may, like me, assume that it’s going to protect your head when riding and more importantly, during a crash. This is because you trust the seller. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t pay attention to some little sticker on the inside of the helmet.
The sticker indicates what the helmet is really like, and what you should expect as far as your safety is concerned. It’s essential to know helmet safety standards particularly if you are a beginner or you hope to ride on rough terrain, in which case you might need to focus on both bike helmets and knee pads as well. Still on safety and standards, I feel like ladies should opt for women’s road bikes as they’re fitted with women-specific frames and top tubes.
Before a manufacturer is allowed to sell bike helmets, they must fulfill a few strict requirements such as testing. All the tests are conducted on helmets while they are wet, hit, cold, and after they’ve been aged artificially. In Europe, the most sought-after accreditation is the General Product Safety Regulations – EN 1078.
The American accreditation for helmets is the American Society for Testing and Materials – F1952-15. Helmets with this accreditation are expected to withstand greater impact than those with the European accreditation.
The process of testing helmets follows the following steps:
Chances are your bike helmet is outdated or busted, but don’t be worried because we’re about to discuss how to check it to ensure it will guarantee your safety during the next ride.
You need to look at:
It’s okay to replace your helmet after a crash but, how long do road bicycle helmets last?
If you want to know how long it takes for helmets to degrade, think about how long it takes for plastics, fiberglass, or plastics to decompose. The answer is – it may take decades for a bike helmet to degrade in the same manner as wood. That said, it’s safe to conclude that helmets don’t actually expire but they fade, wear, and crack.
How long are bicycle helmets good for? You may wonder. While these bicycle helmets, either road or e-bike ones, really don’t expire, it’s always a good idea to know when to replace yours.
The rule of thumb is that you should replace your helmet after you’ve had a crash, but you may need to replace it before then especially if you notice some damage on the foam, straps, and buckle.
According to the Snell Foundation Trusted Source Snell helmets certification - FAQ Everything you might want to know about helmets in general and why Snell certification is important. Read on, download audio-version of the whole set directly. smf.org , it’s important to replace your helmet every five years. The foundation tests and recommends standards for helmets and other safety gears. So, why five years are safety helmet validity period?
To lead you down the right path, figure out whether you need to replace your helmet. After the helmet has taken an impact during a crash, it’s important to replace it as doing so will enhance your safety in the next ride. According to Stanford Children’s Health Trusted Source Accident Statistics Injury is the leading cause of death in children and young adults. Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury for children. www.stanfordchildrens.org , about 250,000 children suffer bike-related injuries every year. So, replacing helmets for your kids is a good idea especially if they use bmx bikes for jumping and performing other tricks. There are multiple instances when you should replace your bike helmet:
Some materials in the helmet begin to fade or wear after a few years, and this is usually a sign the weather is taking a toll on it. Extreme UV exposure may cause cracks on the shell, so watch out for that. If the strap no longer allows you to comfortably keep the helmet in its right position, replace it or better still, buy a new helmet right away.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Trusted Source Which Helmet for Which Activity? It takes brains to be safe — Be smart and wear a helmet! www.cpsc.gov , it’s important to replace your bike helmet after every five or ten years. This is because within that time, most items will have started to show signs of aging, such as cracks and foam compression.
Bicycle helmets are supposed to protect you from just a single crash. The foam in the helmet compresses to absorb the impact, but it won’t protect you against impact in the next fall. With that in mind, it’s prudent to replace it regardless of the severity of the fall. Whenever you want to replace, it’s always a good idea to choose a high performance helmet such as the Zacro Adult Bike Helmet Lightweight; it is CPSC-approved and comes with high-density foam for maximum shock absorption.
When you stop using your bike for a while, don’t leave your riding gear unattended. Bike helmets are prone to damage thanks to the foam and other delicate materials used in making them, so their shelf life is not long enough. However, if you didn’t store your helmet properly and it cracked or developed unwanted substances such as dirt or mold, just buy another one.
Millions of people die every year from road crashes, and bikers make up a large percentage of that number. Although two-wheeler users are at an increased risk of crashing, riding with a helmet on your head can help avert this risk. Unfortunately, you may need to keep replacing your helmet since it is supposed to take in a single impact. Even without crashing, you should replace it at least every five or ten years at most. Never mess around with a lifesaver!
