Helmet question
 

I hope someone can answer a question I have. I tried on my helmet today, so when the riding season starts I will be ready, but what happened was, I accidently pulled the strap which makes the helmet tighter on the sides, and it came out of it's holder, where it meets the buckle, I tried to figure out how to put it back together, but the ends are frayed so I cut them a little, to to try and get them in the small openings, and now they are too short, and I can't buckle the helmet up, what I was wondering is could a bike shop repair this for me, I don't want to have to buy another helmet if I don't have to, I like the fit of this one, but these straps are starting to make me mad. Any suggestions:mad:

cry?

I'm not sure a bike shop can legally offer any repairs on it. However, here are a few suggestions:

1. Visit a sporting good store or a (car) body shop. The straps are similar to those used to tighten loads on some racks, and similar to safety belt straps, except narrower.

2. Some fabrics stores might sell that material. But I don't know the exact strenght required (ASTM standard?) nor do I know how to test the stuff you might get at a fabrics store.

2. Buy a really cheap helmet. Remove its straps and reuse them in your helmet. Total investment: 25 $ or less

Regards,

alex, that's going to be me soon, if I don't get this problem fixed.:(

If I had a situation like this, it's probable my LBS would fix it without complaining too much. Although I don't think any problems I've ever had have been self-inflicted.

Everybody is selling last years models cheap right now.

I bought two of last year's color Giro Eclipse helmets (new in this year's colors are $100+) for $30, each. Don't match my bike, but for $70 I'll buy coordinated socks. Probably less expensive than getting new straps for your old helmet.

Manufacturers recommend a new helmet every five years or so, to take advantage of design improvements (and to sell more helmets no doubt).

I know mine take the odd knock so periodical replacement is good for safety.

If you get a new one, make sure the strap goes directly through holes in the foam, and not thrrough a crappy plastic strip that will probably break in a few months.

So does mine. It's called "magpie season". :eek:

from: http://www.helmets.org/replace.htm

Most manufacturers now recommend that helmets be replaced after five years, but some of that may be just marketing. (Bell now recommends every three years, which seems to us too short. They base it partially on updating your helmet technology, but they have not been improving their helmets that much over three year periods, and we consider some of their more recent helmets to be a step backwards, so we would take that with a grain of salt.) Deterioration depends on usage, care, and abuse....
Somebody is spreading rumors that sweat and Ultraviolet exposure will cause your helmet to degrade. Sweat will not do that. The standards do not permit you to make a helmet that degrades from sweat, and the EPS, EPP or EPU foam is remarkably unaffected by salt water. Your helmet will get a terminal case of grunge before it dies of sweat. UV can affect the strength of the shell material, though. Manufacturers put UV inhibitors in the plastic for their shells that control UV degradation. If your helmet is fading, maybe the UV inhibitors are failing, so you might consider replacing it. Chances are it has seen an awful lot of sun to have that happen....
In sum, we don't find the case for replacing a helmet that meets the ASTM or Snell standards that compelling if the helmet is still in good shape and fits you well.

This is a valid point. Sometimes it's difficult to put a set timeframe on these things. Generally, if you have a crash and damage your helmet, it's done it's job and should be replaced immediately, regardless of the length of time you've had it.

Man, and I thought I got a good deal when I bought it for $50!!:mad:

Nice find! :beer: