On Tue, 13 May 2003 17:45:02 GMT,
[email protected] (Paul Southworth) wrote:
>In article <
[email protected]>, Dan Daniel <
[email protected]> wrote:
>>I have a Bell helmet (evo pro) built in June 1998, according to a sticker inside. So it is almost
>>five years old.
>>
>>What is the general opinion on the life of a helmet? I think Bell recommends replacing it every
>>three years.
>>
>>The helmet has not been crashed. No obvious damage, frayed straps, etc. No cracks, missing pieces.
>>Never sat inside a car on hot days or other such things that weaken plastics.
>>
>>Any reason to replace it other than keeping money moving in the economy? Thanks.
>
>I would not replace it.
>
>There are a lot more important things to replace regularly, if you're going to do replacement as a
>safety precaution (prior to any failure). Tires are #1 on that list I think and brake cables are
>probably #2.
>
>--Paul
My biggest safety precautions are-
- brakes that work- cables, pads, etc.
- tires that will not fall apart
- nothing that will shimmy or cause other control issues at higher speed (or lower speeds
- being aware to possible crash situations and knowing how to avoid them or get out of them
These are all things that I stay on top of. The helmet is gravy, and I've only needed one twice in
thirty years. Worrying about it every three to five years or so is about as much as I can get
excited about.
I find your naming tires as number 1 confusing. I always think of brakes (the whole thing- cables,
pads, etc.; I don't see particular parts of the brake as being more or less important than others)
as *the* number one thing. Maybe I've been lucky or attentive around my tires so that I haven't
experienced a serious failure and I underestimate the danger.
Can you say more about why you put tires first? What are the dangers of a tire failure that make it
worse than a brake failure?