The most important when it comes to bicycle accessories is your helmet. Bicycle helmet, or as you familiarly call helmet basikal, is a necessity to protect for your head in case of impact. The technology that goes into making a bicycle helmet also has come a long way, giving you the best protection while still being comfortable to wear at the same time.
It is safe to say that your bicycle helmet is also an investment, because they can cost quite a pretty penny. But, did you know that you are supposed to replace your helmet with a new one, quite frequently than you might expect? It can be frustrating when you have to throw away something that looks completely fine to the naked eye.
In this article, we will be talking about the basics you need to understand about your helmet, to give tips on how you can take care of it. Even better, how you can extend its life before having to purchase a new one!
How Bike Helmet Works
First off, let’s understand the structure of your bike helmet. The material on the inside of your bike helmet is called EPS, which is a kind of polystyrene. This part is what actually absorbs the energy from an impact, reducing the effect of a crash toward your skull.
The level of protection is determined by the thickness of the EPS. The catch is, there is a direct relationship between the thickness of the EPS at the point of impact, and its ability to absorb the energy. For example, if there is 1 millimeter dent on an originally 20 millimeter EPS, the absorbing ability is reduced by 5%. When you learn this fact, it can be quite freaky thinking about the protection you have left from even the smallest dents the bike helmet has.
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Tips to Care For Bike Helmet
Now that you have understood how your bike helmet works, let’s see how you can preserve it!
Protect From Wear and Tear, Bumps, and Knocks
As mentioned before, you can not always tell clearly whether your helmet is damaged, since it can appear invisible to the naked eye. Make sure you do not bump or knock your bike helmet while transporting it. Also, try to replace your bicycle helmet immediately after a crash.
Prevent Dropping Your Bike Helmet
In order to preserve your helmet, you have to prevent yourself from dropping it. This means storing it properly where your bike helmet is not on the edge of a table, or hanging from your handlebar. A good tip is to store your bike helmet in an upright position on a flat surface, such as the floor.
Store Your Bike Helmet Away From Direct Sunlight
Another thing to note about EPS material is its temperature resistance. You do not need to worry about it too much, since EPS material can actually withstand the lowest of -40°C and highest of 50°C. But, have you ever thought that if you are storing your bike helmet inside a car under direct sunlight, it might get over 50°C? These extreme temperatures are the one that might start damaging the structure of your bicycle helmet. Another thing about long direct sunlight is the UV rays, which can make the outer layer of the EPS become brittle. Thankfully, the outer part of your bike helmet is protected by a hard shell. But, you have to keep in mind to not store your bike helmet upside down, as it exposes the EPS material.
So, the conclusion is to not store your bicycle helmet in a place where it might get to extreme temperatures, under direct sunlight, or storing it upside down.
Store Your Bike Helmet Away From Chemicals
The last thing EPS material is sensitive to is chemicals, and this is talking about the usual chemicals you use for your bicycle. Such as degreaser, lubricant, and vaseline or detergent can actually degrade the EPS over time. So, in order to prolong the lifespan of your bicycle helmet, make sure it does not come in contact with any of those chemicals. If you want to wash it, just rinse it with water. For a more thorough washing using soap, you can remove the inner pads first.
So that wraps up the 4 tips to care for your helmet basikal! If you are looking for a high quality helmet basikal, you can visit Rodalink Malaysia. Look for kedai basikal near me and visit the store location closest to you. Our team is ready to pair you up with the best helmet basikal! If you want to shop online, you can visit our website and enjoy free local delivery service. We are also having a sale live on our website for bike accessories and parts. This is the perfect time to shop for your bicycle bundles! Shop now!