Since the foams in my helmets have such a limited life, I'm wondering what youse guys do with your helmets after a ride...

I just put it on the shelf with my gloves inside.

Me too... what else would you do? Of course I wash the liner every once and a while, but yea I'm not sure where this is going.

I pick the bugs off and eat them.

I think I held the pads under the faucet a couple of years ago. Now I just do nothing.

+1

i wear headsweat caps.... the helmet hasn't smelled since i started this months ago... the caps are easily washable, and don't seem too hot, but the weather is just starting to heat up so i'll see.

Same here.

Hang it? On what, my bikes have taken up all the hooks in the apartment!

I hang mine from the brifters of the hanging bike with the gloves inside.

Well, if I understand the helmet lobby, the perfect way to treat your helmet is to put it on an altar and bow down and worship it for at least an hour a day.

Heh...cute. I was commuting home yesterday. It was about 90 in terms of both temp and humidity. I noticed from 15 minutes in that my helmet straps were stinging the sides of my neck and especially just above my adams apple. For the next hour or so it never quit and got to be really annoying. So when I got home, I washed and generally descuzzed my helmet straps. This morning on the way in it was like night and day.

Point being...I guess that just hanging my helmet up to dry out wasn't all that I really needed to be doing in terms of hygiene and maintenance. Guess I will do the same thing next to the pads.

I stick mine in the shower every week or two. Like rule said the humidity down here makes you sweat up a storm. I end up with completely white straps from the salt left over after the sweat dries. That is just too crusty to leave as is

+1

Isn't the life span of a helmet due to UV light? not sweat?

It wasn't so much that mine was wearing out, it was more like it was evolving into its own life form.

I toss it in the back of my truck.

I throw my atmos in the pod and go eat!

but i don't zip it up.....

have two, and rinse them after every ride.
After a while if ya don't do something they get pretty funky

nope, just rifle it in there

Put mine in the pod and set it over an air vent. That cool dry air flowing about works wonders. 'Course with a road, commuter, and motorcyle helmet in service vent space is getting a little tight.

Y'all take your helmets off?

I find walking down stairs to scary without one.

Al

Yup ... pitch it in the car.

When the black straps become white with salt, then it gets washed with the dishes. When the foam inserts fall apart, then the helmet is pretty old (> 5 years ... it gets used in the winter with a winter hat under).

jw

If you call the manufacturer you can likely get replacement pads.
I wash mine every 6mo. or so, about the point where my hair becomes unbearablely stinky for even me to tollerate between the time from ride to shower.
Al

I do a wipe down and pad wash after every ride, but do a full wash after 2-3 weeks. I'm not a clean/germ freak, but I can't let it get to the "stank" stage.