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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
Okay, so I got a nice new helmet for club rides and such. Luckily, so far, no one's been a Helmet Nazi about it -- just mild chiding comments, but I just smile and keep pedalling and no one's pulled me over yet or kicked me out. =) Thing is, I actually like this helmet. It's so comfortable I not only wouldn't mind wearing it if I had to, but I almost want to wear it just for the heck of it! Maybe in winter-time I will, for a bit of head warmth (which I really don't need, but it's a $100 helmet, after all...). =D Anyway, I'm reading the manual -- am I the only guy who likes reading manuals with his cereal?? -- and I notice in Giro's one-size-fits-all Owner's Manual that they explictly state *twice* that direct or indirect heat might damage the helmet. Could that mean that the summer sun's going to damage the helmet???? Are we supposed to replace our helmets every year or two, even if they aren't banged up, simply due to, I dunno, UV-induced deterioration of the styrofoam's molecular structure??? (Materials Science is such an interesting field...they're building the world's biggest Neutron Smasher or whatever-it's-called down in TN or somewhere...they hope to come up with all kinds of exotic materials due to understanding and then manipulating subatomic physics!) I still hope no one forces me to wear a helemt...but this Giro Roc Loc 4 is so comfy I would hardly mind wearing one now. Just funny to think that it might not do any good anyway due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight! |
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#2
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
NYC XYZ wrote: Okay, so I got a nice new helmet for club rides and such. Luckily, so far, no one's been a Helmet Nazi about it -- just mild chiding comments, but I just smile and keep pedalling and no one's pulled me over yet or kicked me out. =) Thing is, I actually like this helmet. It's so comfortable I not only wouldn't mind wearing it if I had to, but I almost want to wear it just for the heck of it! Maybe in winter-time I will, for a bit of head warmth (which I really don't need, but it's a $100 helmet, after all...). =D Anyway, I'm reading the manual -- am I the only guy who likes reading manuals with his cereal?? -- and I notice in Giro's one-size-fits-all Owner's Manual that they explictly state *twice* that direct or indirect heat might damage the helmet. Could that mean that the summer sun's going to damage the helmet???? Are we supposed to replace our helmets every year or two, even if they aren't banged up, simply due to, I dunno, UV-induced deterioration of the styrofoam's molecular structure??? (Materials Science is such an interesting field...they're building the world's biggest Neutron Smasher or whatever-it's-called down in TN or somewhere...they hope to come up with all kinds of exotic materials due to understanding and then manipulating subatomic physics!) I still hope no one forces me to wear a helemt...but this Giro Roc Loc 4 is so comfy I would hardly mind wearing one now. Just funny to think that it might not do any good anyway due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight! The marketeers would like you to believe that you should replace your helmet if: - You drop it - You leave it in a hot car - It is exposed to UV - It is more than X years old etc., etc. The truth is that most helmets are *very* profitable and thay will say and do nearly anything to get you to ditch the one you have now and buy a new one. Just use common sense |
#3
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
NYC XYZ wrote:
Okay, so I got a nice new helmet for club rides and such. Luckily, so far, no one's been a Helmet Nazi about it -- just mild chiding comments, but I just smile and keep pedalling and no one's pulled me over yet or kicked me out. =) Thing is, I actually like this helmet. It's so comfortable I not only wouldn't mind wearing it if I had to, but I almost want to wear it just for the heck of it! Maybe in winter-time I will, for a bit of head warmth (which I really don't need, but it's a $100 helmet, after all...). =D Anyway, I'm reading the manual -- am I the only guy who likes reading manuals with his cereal?? -- and I notice in Giro's one-size-fits-all Owner's Manual that they explictly state *twice* that direct or indirect heat might damage the helmet. Could that mean that the summer sun's going to damage the helmet???? Are we supposed to replace our helmets every year or two, even if they aren't banged up, simply due to, I dunno, UV-induced deterioration of the styrofoam's molecular structure??? (Materials Science is such an interesting field...they're building the world's biggest Neutron Smasher or whatever-it's-called down in TN or somewhere...they hope to come up with all kinds of exotic materials due to understanding and then manipulating subatomic physics!) I still hope no one forces me to wear a helemt...but this Giro Roc Loc 4 is so comfy I would hardly mind wearing one now. Just funny to think that it might not do any good anyway due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight! Well UV rays damage lots of things, the most important being your skin plus rubber, plastics and painted surfaces, just to name a few. So it sounds logical that the foam in your $100 plus helmet might be damaged by those blasted UV rays also. Ken -- New cycling jersey: $49 new cycling shorts: $39 Not being a slave to the petrol pump: priceless. |
#4
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
Ozark Bicycle wrote: The marketeers would like you to believe that you should replace your helmet if: - You drop it - You leave it in a hot car - It is exposed to UV - It is more than X years old etc., etc. The truth is that most helmets are *very* profitable and thay will say and do nearly anything to get you to ditch the one you have now and buy a new one. Just use common sense Right -- I was only wondering, though, how they could sound as if they're admitting that their helmets are useless! I mean, I was always suspicious of mere styrofoam, but if even they themselves will say that mere sunlight and heat can damage it -- and thus negate the whole point of wearing one...well, I dunno, maybe helmets are for dummies who can't see the contradiction in that! |
#5
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
Ken C. M. wrote: NYC XYZ wrote: Well UV rays damage lots of things, the most important being your skin plus rubber, plastics and painted surfaces, just to name a few. So it sounds logical that the foam in your $100 plus helmet might be damaged by those blasted UV rays also. Ken -- New cycling jersey: $49 new cycling shorts: $39 Not being a slave to the petrol pump: priceless. Yes, I know, but for a helmet maker to say that is tantamount to saying that the helmet is...basically useless! I mean, it's supposed to be a critical part of one's riding gear, but it's got an undetermined "shelf life!" |
#6
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
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#7
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
"NYC XYZ" wrote in message
oups.com... Ken C. M. wrote: NYC XYZ wrote: Well UV rays damage lots of things, the most important being your skin plus rubber, plastics and painted surfaces, just to name a few. So it sounds logical that the foam in your $100 plus helmet might be damaged by those blasted UV rays also. Ken -- New cycling jersey: $49 new cycling shorts: $39 Not being a slave to the petrol pump: priceless. Yes, I know, but for a helmet maker to say that is tantamount to saying that the helmet is...basically useless! I mean, it's supposed to be a critical part of one's riding gear, but it's got an undetermined "shelf life!" Get a clue, NYC...many outdoor products have a "shelf life" (e.g., tents, lawn furniture, etc.), due to the effects of UV and heat. In the case of helmets, there's also the fact that they are designed to be light and comfortable. You could probably design a stainless steel helmet that was not subject to UV breakdown...but, you wouldn't want to wear it. GG |
#8
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
GaryG wrote:
In the case of helmets, there's also the fact that they are designed to be light and comfortable. Relatively light and not especially uncomfortable is nearer the mark. You could probably design a stainless steel helmet that was not subject to UV breakdown...but, you wouldn't want to wear it. Knowing the specification to which cycle helmets are built, and knowing they are considerably less comfortable than a cotton cap, and knowing they don't have any track record of saving serious injuries, I don't really want to bother myself with the polystyrene ones as far as normal road riding is concerned. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#9
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
GaryG wrote: Get a clue, NYC...many outdoor products have a "shelf life" (e.g., tents, lawn furniture, etc.), due to the effects of UV and heat. In the case of helmets, there's also the fact that they are designed to be light and comfortable. You could probably design a stainless steel helmet that was not subject to UV breakdown...but, you wouldn't want to wear it. GG The point, again, is that this is a piece of safety equipment -- CRITICAL, to hear folks speak of it -- which can somehow fail simply from being in "heat"...which I take to mean sunlight as well, most of all. Considering that most biking is done in the summertime, in daytime, etc., this characteristic seems to fundamentally contradict the very purpose of the product! |
#10
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Can't Use Helmets in the Sun????
UseNet via Cable Modem wrote: By "heat", I would assume that they're referring to what it might get sitting on a steam radiator in your house, or on the dash of your closed-up car in the middle of the summer. Not what it would get from you wearing it during the summer. -- Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the newsgroups if possible). That's the thing -- the exact wording is "direct or indirect heat" -- which I take to mean sunlight as well, and UV exposure in particular. Just seems an astounding fine-print, if I'm reading this correctly! I mean, we're talking about the most critical piece of safety equipment for an activity that generally takes place at daytime in summer.... |
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