Looking after your helmet

When I’d just turned 23 I completely lost my memory from a serious head injury after crashing on a bike (despite wearing a helmet). Although my memory came back, it was two years before I fully recovered. Similarly, professional downhiller Tahnee Seagrave was out of the sport for a year due to concussion. And there is increasing evidence from other sports such as football and rugby that even a small number of significant impacts to the head can increase your risk of complications later in life.

Me, aged 23

EvoDevo follow and recommend others to follow the British Cycling concussion guide and protocol: If in doubt, sit them out.

The take-home message is: don’t mess around when it comes to helmets. They look after your brain. So it’s essential that you look after your helmet correctly so that you can rely on it in a crash. Severe head injuries can and do happen to riders like you.

Summary: Avoid sunlight, soaking and striking

Sunlight

Firstly, avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight and heat. UV rays are known to have a detrimental effect on the helmet materials, and extreme heat can potentially cause deformation. Store it in a cool, dark place. Avoid leaving it in full sun in a car in summer.

Moisture

Secondly, avoid leaving it in a moist environment or exposing it to drips or leaks from fluids used in bike maintenance, such as GT85 or other solvents, which can damage the shock absorbing material. Storing it in a textile bag can help protect it. And never leave it soaking when you have to clean it - just wipe it with a damp cloth and then dry it off.

Impacts

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, be careful with it. Every knock that your helmet takes is a knock that could be reducing your helmet’s ability to save your brain in an accident, so take care to avoid knocks and bumps; never drop it or throw it; and protect your helmet when in transit. A soft shell helmet case is strongly recommended for this.

Replacement

If you happen to have two helmets, that’s nice should you have to practise in the rain, but it’s also useful in case you crash in practice but decide you are ok to race. You might need that spare. Also, remember to replace your helmet as required due to crash-impacts or every couple of years due to general wear and tear. And in-between times, make sure that the padding, straps and tightening mechanism are in good working order. You can usually replace these separately if necessary.

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