Road Cycling - Cracked Helmet Replace?

I was putting on my helmet and noticed a small crack. I have never fallen with it, but have dropped it. Do I need to replace it.

On another sad note today, I stopped at a stop sign in a middle of a broken beer bottle and had a flat tire. There is a small cut in the tire (new pro-races). After changing the tire I rode home. It seems ok do I need to do any thing about this.

I am pretty sure the answers are yes to the first question and no to the second, but it never hurts to get a second opinion.

If the helmet is cracked, replace it. Why take a chance that if you really need it, it might not protect you as well as it should.

How big is the cut?

If the helmet is cracked, replace it. Why take a chance that if you really need it, it might not protect you as well as it should.

How big is the cut?

The cut is 2 mm.

Thanks for the response.

You'll probably be ok on the cut. You may want to consider gluing it shut.

You'll probably be ok on the cut. You may want to consider gluing it shut.

What kind of glue?

What kind of glue?

I've had good luck with superglue. Let most of the air out of the tire first and squeeze a drop in the cut.

I've had good luck with superglue. Let most of the air out of the tire first and squeeze a drop in the cut.


Thanks for the help. I will try super glue tonight. One more question. If I send my helmet back to Bell will they replace it? I'll have to buy a new one first. I can not stop riding and I won't ride without. Fell once with a helmet. Helmet really trashed. Head just fine.

If the crack is in the styrofoam, it definitely does need to be replaced, but if it's just a little ding in the shell, I wouldn't sweat it.

Maybe I'm just justifying my cheepness/frugality, but I've got some small cracks in the shell of my helmet and I don't imagine that they would make any difference in how the helmet protects my head in an impact.

In two crashes, my helmet probably saved my life.

The cost of a new and safe hlemet is much less than the bill to tax payers for scraping you off the road. That might be a little blunt, but think about it. What is your life worth to you?

Just my opinion.

If the super glue doesn't work, I have had success on a big cut by using a small patch on the inside & filling the cut with Silicone sealer. Still holding up after a year. Don

If the super glue doesn't work, I have had success on a big cut by using a small patch on the inside & filling the cut with Silicone sealer. Still holding up after a year. Don

I would think that silicone sealant would be a better option than superglue. Superglue dries/sets up to an acrylic plastic and can thus itself be something that will eventually work its way down to cause a puncture.

I've taken a piece from an old tube and spread some "Shoe Goo" on it and patched the tear. The shoe goo stays maliable (sp?) maeliable (awh heck, flexy) and wears as well as the tire.

L8R

I've taken a piece from an old tube and spread some "Shoe Goo" on it and patched the tear. The shoe goo stays maliable (sp?) maeliable (awh heck, flexy) and wears as well as the tire.

L8R

I got a new helmet today and road 22 miles after work. The super glue fix did not hold, so I will try shoe gu or the silicon sealant.

It really sucks to have to have a cracked helmet and a flat tire on the same day. "She who must be obeyed" :D gets a little sensitive about the cost of biking when they start adding up.

If you think your head is worth a cracked helment...its your head!