helmet questions

[NancysToy]

Just to mess with everybody's mind, did you ever stop to think about what kind of protection helmets really offer if they are so fragile that their makers deem them trash after an incidental bump or drop. Really makes you pause and think a while. Don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in helmets, and actually do replace mine regularly, although they have gotten better that in the old days when Bell recommended replacement every two years. It just always made me nervous that they would make a product designed to protect you from bumping your head, but that the product couldn't take a minor bump itself.

BTW, I am a firm believer in the European helmet standard, which basically requires a helmet that will stop your head gradually. US standards relate strictly to penetration, and stop your head more suddenly, since the interiors are firmer. I have suffered one accident-related concusion as a result, and have seen some serious injuries that might be attributed to how US helmets work. Big controversy, and the subject of a long magazine article a few years back. The Euro standard helmets are definitely more fragile, though, and absolutely must be replaced after a crash or significant drop or bump.
-Scotty

 

[tnfleming]

I watched jay leno garage video on helmets and the Arai helmet company says that a drop of the helmet onto pavement will Not compromise the helmet's integrity. A video of a serious accident involving a professional rider showed the helmet did not crack even though it hit the pavement several times.

 

[sleepman]

I watched jay leno garage video on helmets and the Arai helmet company says that a drop of the helmet onto pavement will Not compromise the helmet's integrity. A video of a serious accident involving a professional rider showed the helmet did not crack even though it hit the pavement several times.

+1, I'd forgotten about that video. You're right they do discuss in the video the idea of accidentally dropping the helmet and the Arai rep does say it doesn't mean it needs replaced. The idea is that when dropping an empty helmet there is no force being exerted upon the inside of the helmet, so if there's no structural damage to the outside of the helmet it should be fine.