Studs no guarantee, helmets helpful
12-17-07, 10:31 AM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 2,369
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thank you, I have heard that a helmet can sustain damage that can't be seen, but this was a really light tap, no more, I think, than it would have gotten if I had fumbled it and dropped it on the floor at home. And there was snow cover on the street. So I think I'll chance it.
1) your ability to estimage how much impact that helmet took during a crash, when your observation skills probably weren't too good, and
2) your ability to observe damage after the crash, which wouldn't reveal any small, internal flaws in the polystyrene shell which could cause the helmet to fail in a serious crash.
I really wouldn't risk it; it's not possible to reliably determine how much impact the helmet took. This probably isn't the place to save $20-$50. In my case, I was in a crash in which I don't think my head hit the ground *at all* - I don't remember any impact, and I didn't see any road rash on the liner. Guess what? I replaced it anyway, and my kids got a used helmet to play with.
Do what you like obviously, but I wouldn't trust that helmet. Ain't worth it. Besides, if you've had the thing for a while it probably smelled like holy hell anyway.
12-17-07, 01:04 PM
#27
Bring That Beat Back
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: I lost my legs
Posts: 937
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'd like to hear your thoughts to his claim as I'm very interested in the science behind this.
12-17-07, 01:27 PM
#28
Senior Member
I was hurrying home from work today because of a little crisis. I have studded tires for winter, the kind with studs at the edges to aid in turns, but no studs down the middle for less rolling resistance. I was coming to a stop at a side street with some bare pavement and some packed snow, and BOOM, down I went. I landed on my side and felt the side of my helmet lightly tap the pavement.
I don't know what I ran into, but I would guess it was a little polished icy spot that I hit while going straight so no studs were in contact with the pavement. So one must not get overconfident with studs. As for the helmet, no damage, it was a very light tap, but it reminded me why I wear it.
I don't know what I ran into, but I would guess it was a little polished icy spot that I hit while going straight so no studs were in contact with the pavement. So one must not get overconfident with studs. As for the helmet, no damage, it was a very light tap, but it reminded me why I wear it.
i run my studded tires at slightly low pressure so the studs are ALWAYS a little in contact with the ground. around 40psi front, 45 or 50 rear. i started high and lowered the pressure till i got a constant "buzz" out of the studs from contacting the ground.
FWIW
cheers
