REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

My crash story, and helmet pics.

3064 Views 16 Replies 14 Participants Last post by jtmartino, Feb 28, 2011

gbug

Discussion Starter · Feb 20, 2011 (Edited)

10

Not a super knarly crash or anything, but interesting enough.

So a couple of weeks ago, I was riding my local trails, which I am 95% very familiar with. Well, I found part of the other 5%, so I was riding this nice new trail that I had discovered.

So Im riding along, enjoying the local trails, which are moderately rocky and rooty, and consist of short, punchy climbs and descents. Ahead of me there is a 90 degree left hand turn, that simultaneously drops into a small bowl. Halfway down the drop is a small ledge, just means you have to stay back of the saddle. Well, since the left hander and drop coincide, you have to ride to the top of the bowl and drop in and turn real quickly. Because of this, I didn't quite get back far enough behind the saddle. So I go over the bars going down this steep bank into the bowl. At the end of my fall, instead of meeting the ground, I meet a tree, with my head making the initial introductions. Luckily I was able to turn my head so I didnt hit the tree square on. I still think to this day I could have broken my neck if I hadnt been so fortunate to turn to the side and deflect off the tree.

Anyway, I was a bit dazed but okay, and inspected my helmet, only to find a very small flat spot from the impact. Lucky, I thought to myself. Well tonight, two weeks later, I was playing with the fitting on my helmet and happened to notice a small crack in the shell. Looking closer I found three different cracks that resulted from the crash.

Pretty sure I need to replace my helmet, what do you guys think?

Edit: Finally figured out how to fix the pictures, so now you can actually see the cracks. The first one shows the flat spot.

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

RBowles

· #2 · Feb 20, 2011

I smashed my helmet on a rock and replaced it. It left a 4" diameter gouge in the top. I went endo and dropped all 200 lbs of me right on my head....on a rock. If not for the helmet, I'd probably have a smashed cranium.

Mae7

· #3 · Feb 20, 2011

Getting me a full face helmet soon! I ended up in hospital with a concussion on my last crash where I was not wearing a helmet. So much for "Oh I'm so close to home nothing will go wrong".

trevrev97

· #4 · Feb 20, 2011

I caved in the front of a helmet once, downed tree across the trail, still have neck problems from it.

VTPossum

· #5 · Feb 20, 2011

I have been through a helmet or two, or three.... By all means get a new helmet. Now is probably as good as it will get (deal wise). Retire the old one. It makes for a good story over a post ride bevvie or two.

Glad to hear you are alright. Neck a little stiff?

Bsktball55

· #6 · Feb 20, 2011

Anytime you crash and hit your helmet you should get a new one. Helmets are designed to crack on impact so they are destroyed anytime you actually use it.

gbug

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 20, 2011

VTPossum said:
I have been through a helmet or two, or three.... By all means get a new helmet. Now is probably as good as it will get (deal wise). Retire the old one. It makes for a good story over a post ride bevvie or two. Glad to hear you are alright. Neck a little stiff?

This happened about two weeks ago, but yeah my neck and back were pretty stiff. I could feel my spine compress when I hit the tree. Pretty scary to crash and have the first thought be, "self, you probably shouldnt move yet, you might have just broken your neck."

desnaephoto

· #8 · Feb 20, 2011

Some helmet companies offer a crash replacement policy -- a discount through a LBS on replacing a crashed helmet. Can't hurt to take your broken one in when you buy a new one.

eddie80

· #9 · Feb 20, 2011

Definitely replace the helmet, I did the same thing last year.....spending an extra $40-$50 is better than a trip to the ER if you crash again

mred1404

· #10 · Feb 21, 2011

replace the helmet after any crash that you ask yourself, should I replace my helmet ? I have replaced three helmets in the past 11 years....One 30 foot cliff fall..broken neck, shoulder, ankle, fingers, toes, etc.etc....one small wipeout hitting the back of my head on a rock..it broke the strap loose ....one over the bars, putting two gouges , one on either side.....not worth the helmet not being 100% the next crash....It very well may save your skin...like mine has for me...

robert w

· #11 · Feb 21, 2011

mred1404 said:
I have replaced three helmets in the past 11 years.....

I dropped a 4-5 year old helmet on the garage floor once and it cracked the plastic shell... that got me to wondering if helmets degrade over time from the temperature extremes of being left in hot cars, trunks, garages, etc. Anybody know?

I dont know the answer, but I now buy a new one every year or two just in case.

m85476585

· #12 · Feb 21, 2011

robert w said:
I dropped a 4-5 year old helmet on the garage floor once and it cracked the plastic shell... that got me to wondering if helmets degrade over time from the temperature extremes of being left in hot cars, trunks, garages, etc. Anybody know?

I dont know the answer, but I now buy a new one every year or two just in case.

Yes. Manufacturers recommend replacing them every 3 years. They used to recommend 5, and you could probably get away with it. I just replaced a ~10 year old helmet with a Fox Flux, and it's great. It is thicker and more substantial, and has more coverage than the old helmet. It's also more comfortable and better looking, so I'm more likely to wear it if I'm just riding around town.

I dropped the old one out a 5th story window onto cement with a cantaloupe inside, and the result was disappointing as there was relatively little damage. I guess the full weight of a rider is a lot more than a cantaloupe though. It was probably traveling 30-35mph when it hit the ground.

mred1404

· #13 · Feb 23, 2011

when I went off the cliff 30 ft. I was wearing a helmet that was about 13 years old...It was bunk and really gilligan looking....Yes it was old, Yes I agree, you should replace helmets ever 3 or so years...BUT yes it still worked....although the shell was the only thing holding it together, as all the styrofoam was split in to about 8 pieces..It was a Bell...:thumbsup:

TX_Shifter

· #14 · Feb 28, 2011

good to hear you are ok. I snapped two helmets in the past two-years.

Not fun paying for a new one, but if I was not wearing a helmet, I would no longer have a mullet.

tjchad

· #15 · Feb 28, 2011 (Edited)

ppppppppppppppp

jtmartino

· #16 · Feb 28, 2011

tjchad said:
The DOT/Snell testing for helmets (motorcycle at least) is just a drop test from 6 feet or so. I do not know if they put any weight in the helmet or anything inside to simulate a head though. It should protect you when you fall over from a stand but I don't know if they can legally say you would be protected at XX mph is a crash- just too many variables to look at, angle your head hits, terrain you are on, etc.

This doesn't make any sense. Of course they're going to weight the helmet with a headform...that's the whole point of the test.

Here's a video about Snell testing that took me about 10 seconds to find. Probably less time than it took you to type your completely illogical post:

jtmartino

· #17 · Feb 28, 2011

gbug, get a new helmet. Your old one did its job pretty well, I'd say.

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