You wear it every time you head out for a ride. You’re so used to how it looks and feels. It’s almost part of you. But you could well be riding with a helmet that’s past its save-your-life-by date.
You see, even though you may not have had a fall, modern helmets are made of materials that are intentionally light to ensure comfort while protecting your head. Unlike a pair of hardy Shimano SPD pedals, these materials in modern helmets don’t last forever.
Significant changes in temperature as well as lengthy exposure to UV light can degrade the EPS (expanded polystyrene), which is the core/shell of the modern cycling helmet. Some sunblocks contain substances that can erode EPS and sweat can also gradually wear into your helmet’s EPS and affect its structure.
The general recommendation is to replace your helmet every 2-3 years to ensure you are riding with optimal protection as well as peace of mind.
Obviously if you crash and your helmet sustains any kind of impact, you should replace it. Any weakness, no matter how minor, compromises the ability of the helmet to work as it is intended.
Lynnwood Cyclery stocks a wide range of high quality helmets for all ages and different cycling disciplines. See more here: https://www.lynnwoodcyclery.co.za/collections/helmets
Author, Lynnwood Cyclery