Just crashed my MTB hanging a left in wet blacktop at 16mph and hit my head. I was wearing a Giro Synthe MIPS helmet and felt my head hit... but it seemed "soft". The helmet is a bit banged up and I was able to ride home. Not sure if the helmet is still OK to use but i'll ask Giro and my LBS.

Is MIPS wroth it??? I think so.

Your LBS doesn't know anything if a helmet has internal damage. I am curious to hear Giros formal response, but the SOP for them is that if the helmet has taken any .in use. hit is that they recommend replacement.

A helmet is like a hundred bucks. Crayons for Christmas is a far less attractive option.

New helmet time.

Is the foam cracked in 2 places above your thumb? If yes, I'd definitely replace the helmet. Even if it's not, I'd consider replacing the helmet if the impact was hard enough.

Replace the helmet

Thanks for the post. My next helmet will have MIPS.

If the helmet had touched the ground in a crash, it needs to be replaced. Didn't you just get that thing? You're lucky you weren't going 47 mph on a hybrid!!!

oldnslow, the rest of you OK?

Thanks for the report. As you have probably read, I hit my (pre-MIPS) helmet hard going low 20's with a loose chin strap. Helmet spun on my head, nearly taking off my opposite ear but I had zero concussion. Big news for this guy who gets concussions VERY easily because of "loose brain syndrome". (A very big hit years ago, 5 day coma etc.) So when I read about MIPS for the first time two weeks later, I was very interested. Got one as soon as I could actually get my hands on my size and color. (Black/dark seems to me like asking for a car-related crash that might not have to happen.)

Ben

Oh, new helmet? I say yes, if only so you don't have to look at the reminder of that crash. And figure that there is roughly between a 5-1 to 10-1 ratio of cost per ambulance ride to that of a new helmet. (In the concussion free crash I posted above, I took a $6 taxi ride to urgent care, saving me probably a few bucks short of $1000 (never mind that walk-in urgent care is far, far cheaper than any ER). (Broken collarbone and cracked rib. To save more bucks, I kept my mouth shut about the cracked rib.)

Ben

I believe most manufacturers will have you send it in and they'll check it. A number of them have a crash replacement program where you essentially buy a new helmet at wholesale (or at least a good discount). Either way, I don't think I'd ride that helmet again. You can see where the EPS compressed in those big dings around the OP's hand.

Having been through the "crayons for Christmas" routine with a family member in rehab for over a year after a ski crash, we're big proponents of MIPs and have replaced all our bike and ski helmets with ones that are MIPs. You can't get an office appointment with a neurologist for the cost of brand new helmet at retail. Replace it if there is *any* doubt.


J.

OK.. .went to the LBS and spoke to one of the salesman I know well. His first reaction was to replace it. He took me to their "helmet expert" and after a careful examination we found the outer shell has separated from the EPS foam. He said to replace it without question.

I honestly didn't expect the LBS to say it was OK to use, after all that's a liability issue.

So... Giro has a crash replacement program which is 30% off list price (that's what i paid for it originally) and the LBS is giving me an additional 20% off. So i'll have a new helmet in a week or so which should give me time to recover.

Being almost 60, my old bones are really sore. The road rash wasn't too bad since I had a long sleeve jersey on. I did have to carefully rinse the grit out of my leg, I was wearing shorts.. Minimal damage to the bike. But my neck and shoulder is pretty sore. Luckily I have some left over meds, from a previous problem, that will make the recovery quicker.

I can't say a $300 helmet is safer than $60, but in my case I am sure if i wasn't wearing a helmet i'd be laying in the hospital. I clearly remember my head hitting the pavement and being stunned for a few minutes. As far as i'm concerned, MIPS is worth the extra cost.

Giro Synthe MIPS = $190
Riding home in once piece = PRICELESS

BTW... as i walked into the LBS, a guy rode up on a MTB with no helmet. I told him he should wear one and he said he's careful. I showed him my leg, hand and the side of the helmet and said " i'm careful also". Not sure if he really understands.

Glad you're okay, and proof that once again, a helmet is a wise purchase for your head. I wouldn't ride without one.


As many gear-nazis in the motorcycling community say (myself included), "dress for the slide, not for the ride).

Glad you're ok. And definitely new helmet time. The foam that absorbs energy is designed to take one impact. Helmet hits the ground in a crash = new helmet.

I have to say, i hit the ground HARD, but my head seemed to have a SOFT impact. I attribute that to the MIPS system. I think if it was a non-MIPS version the impact would of been harder.

If you landed on the drive side of the bicycle, have the LBS check the rear derailleur to make sure it is still in alignment.

Glad you were wearing a new helmet. Use the crash replacement program to get a new one.

GH

It was the left side. Only damage was to the handle bar end and the tip of the brake lever. The bars were twisted so I used my mullti-tool to loosen and readjust it.

New helmet is already ordered and should have it next week. If i'm up for a ride, I still have my old helmet that i replaced only because its 4 years old. The damaged helmet goes back to Giro fr them to inspect.

I just crashed a Giro Atmos about 6 weeks ago and used their crash replacement policy to get the same helmet you got.
I'm sticking with Giro because I'm quite certain the helmet saved my life.
And I upgraded to the giro synthe with mips, because doggone it, I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and people like me!

+1

Bike helmets are good for one impact. Giro may replace it free. I think they use the old one for impact analysis.

30%

Is 190 your replacement price or what you paid originally? I've convinced myself I need a new helmet but $270 - phew.

The helmet originally was $270, I purchased it at a 30% off sale so I was out the door for around $190.

I hope to have the new one out the door for around $150.

Personally if i had to pay full price... i would. I really think it saved me from going to the hospital.

It sounds like you'll be getting around 50% off the price ($270) of a new helmet. If that's the case, you'll be out the door for under $150 including tax. Not too bad. If it was just the 30% crash replacement, you could probably find one online for about the same price. Good the helmet did it's job.

The marginal cost difference for a MIPS vs one without is not that much anymore. Even if it was, because brain damage is non linear with acceleration, a small benefit in reducing the acceleration your brain experiences pays large dividends in reducing injury, makes MIPS kind of a straight up choice.

J.

Recently purchased a Bell Super 2R MIPS. No intention on testing it though.

Exactly - that's not memory foam in there.
I wouldn't go so far as to say "if it touched the ground," but absolutely, if there is any evidence of impact when your head was in it, replace it.
Helmets are one and done. Full stop.