On 11/29/2020 10:28 AM, Duane wrote:
N8N wrote:
Good afternoon all,

was just cleaning up when I picked up my bike helmet and one of the
plastic bits just cracked in my hand. Guess it's time for a new one;
especially when I look at it and see a 2008 manufacture date (do as I say
not as I do.) Pretty sure it's a Trek "Vapor".

What to buy? It's not like I can just run down to my LBS and start
trying them on, although if I knew what I wanted, I'm sure I could get it
from them to toss them a little bit of business, but it's all curbside
pickup and by appointment now.

Would like something well ventilated as I'm a damnyankee living south of
the Mason-Dixon, so most of the year it's warmer already than I'd prefer.
Affordable is a plus.

thanks for any advice.



First advice is “duck!”

Second is if the helmet that you had lasted 12 years and you can’t try new
ones, maybe the same model?

Vaguely related: When should you replace your helmet?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/really-re...110001066.html

It's interesting that the only bit of the article alluding to relevant
data says this:

"... you don’t necessarily need to replace a well cared for helmet for
safety reasons alone, according to Swart. That recommendation is largely
based on research conducted by engineering firm MEA Forensic, which
found in tests of hundreds of helmets that age did not significantly
affect the performance of the protective foam in helmets up to 26 years
old."

And yet the article gives much more ink to "every five years."

(P.S. My cycling caps are holding up very well for much longer than that.)

--
- Frank Krygowski