Cycling UK Forum

I read somewhere that this is recommended, but don't know by whom.
Is it a good idea?
Alastair

They are supposed to degrade slightly over time. I normally replace mine after about 5 years at it gets very sweaty every day and eventually starts to pong a bit.

Pongy bike gear like helmet foam and gloves can be soaked in Zoflora solution before washing. It kills the bacteria that cause the nasty niff and you smell of roses for a few days I pop the foam bits from inside my helmet into a mesh bag so they don't get lost in the washing machine.

I usually replace the helmet when it starts to look at bit battered or the straps start to fray rather than by age. It should aways be replaced if it takes a crash impact even if it looks OK.

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Date of manufacture: 06/00 - still feels tough to me.

I fail to see how the risk you take can be increased significantly by failure to observe these rules when they apply to an item which is of debatable effectiveness in the first place for various reasons.

Having said that 5 years of daily use seems like quite a lot for the sweat -soaked foam liners, which I rarely manage to replace satisfactorily when they get very unpleasant.

I've never had one last 5 years.Even if I take good care of them, the linings seldom last that long.

porky wrote:Pongy bike gear like helmet foam and gloves can be soaked in Zoflora solution before washing. It kills the bacteria that cause the nasty niff and you smell of roses for a few days I pop the foam bits from inside my helmet into a mesh bag so they don't get lost in the washing machine.

I usually replace the helmet when it starts to look at bit battered or the straps start to fray rather than by age. It should aways be replaced if it takes a crash impact even if it looks OK.

It's the straps that are the problem. You can't take then off most helmets and they are difficult to wash in situ.

I just dump the whole helmet into a bucket periodically, swirl it around , then hang it on the washing line to dry, hopefully before my next ride

They rarely last long. They go from best road lid to mtb to pub status, By then the pads have fallen apart and been replaced with what ever is handy and duct tape holds the shell on.
Just how do you clean straps and the polystyrene. My mtb lid stinks and on wet days you can taste the dirt and sweat. Foul.Thats despite much washing .
Even chemical bike cleaner won't clean them.

Does clean new foam hat deflect an LGV/BMW better than a old or pongy foam hat?

mattsccm wrote:They rarely last long. They go from best road lid to mtb to pub status, By then the pads have fallen apart and been replaced with what ever is handy and duct tape holds the shell on.
Just how do you clean straps and the polystyrene. My mtb lid stinks and on wet days you can taste the dirt and sweat. Foul.Thats despite much washing .
Even chemical bike cleaner won't clean them.

I clean the straps with washing up liquid in water & a toothbrush. I don't think that the sweaty smell comes out of the polystyrene once it's in. (need sick face emoticon!)

I tend to replace after about 4 years - just in case there is truth in the possibility of deterioration. There is also typically some technological improvements to note - such as strap adjustment, albeit perhaps subtle.

Not a chance. It took me ten years to find one that fits.

Wiggle sell replacement pads quite cheaply for Bell helmets, among others. The pack I bought contained 2 sets; well worth it.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bell-cycling-helmet-pads/
Ray