How to check your mountain bike helmet is fit for purpose, by Chris Gibbs
Nobody likes crashing but, inevitably, at some point, it’s going to happen.
In those moments when I suddenly and unwittingly become separated from my bike I like knowing that my head is protected. Maybe I’m getting older and wiser, but keeping the brain cells I have left intact is top of my priority list. Knowing that my helmet is going to do its job helps me ride with confidence and get even more enjoyment from the trails.
Whilst many of us will spend hours tinkering with our bikes striving for some kind of mechanical perfection, when was the last time you checked over your helmet?
Here’s a few things to look out for when considering a new helmet or checking you existing brain bucket!
“when was the last time you checked over your bike helmet?”
When should you replace your helmet?
Firstly, not many people realise that you should replace your helmet at least every three years. As soon as it’s manufactured a helmet starts to degrade. This can be from UV damage, all the little scrapes from throwing it in and out of kit bags, as well bigger knocks and even from your sweat. Have a look at the manufacturing label inside and if it’s more that three years old you have the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new lid!
After any significant crash in which your helmet has taken a big impact, it should be replaced. It’s also really worth checking your helmet after travelling as it could have been damaged during transit.
Most helmets are made of EPS foam, which is easily moulded and designed to distribute the force of an impact. When EPS receives an impact it will crush and change shape in the process, this can result in areas of the helmet becoming thinner and significantly weaker to another impact in the same place.
Fit and function are the main considerations, as well as protection they are top of my list when choosing a new lid. For fit I need to know if it feels good and secure on my head without wobbling around. For protection I look for how far it comes down the back and sides of my head.
More often than not I’m riding rocky trail in the mountains and that bit of extra coverage can make all the difference between walking away with just a dent in my pride and not in my head!
