It is true that helmet safety has become a hot topic for many recent years, with many advocacy groups raising concerns about the possibility of brain damage and death occurring from poorly designed helmets. Some companies have taken initiatives to improve the safety of their products, whilst others have tried to claim their safety without actually improving them. A much more effective approach would be to remove the helmet from the rider completely, or at least cut it off if the rider is riding without it. The following article will explore some of the alternatives available to those riders who wish to remove their helmet.
Knives can be used without causing any damage, although these often do not work effectively. Wrenches can also be used without causing any damage, although this often does not work effectively either. If you are not comfortable removing your helmet with a pair of metal benders, then you may wish to consider using something slightly more robust such as a pair of wirecutters. It is important not to be tempted to simply grab the helmet by the handle, because this can easily lead to a breakage of the plastic cover over the face of the helmet. If you attempt to pull the helmet off in this way, the shape will be such that the helmet will be impossibly difficult to put back on without damaging the inside.
If you are worried that you may scratch your head when removing your helmet, then it is best to wear some form of a mask. Even if you wear a full face helmet, you will still benefit from having some sort of head protection even if only in the case of minor impacts. If you remove your helmet without wearing a mask, then you are likely to scratch your head, and this is probably not a good idea when you are taking serious risks due to your helmet safety.
If you decide to remove your helmet, then the first thing to do is remove the detachable ones. These are held in place using elastic bands and can be unfastened just before the band runs out. It may be convenient to simply pull the whole thing out, but the elastic is likely to be very tight around the edges of the helmet. When you do remove it, be very careful not to damage any of the parts. After the helmet comes off, check to see if there are any screws on the helmet. These will need to be removed carefully. It also reduce the risk of a head injury by almost 70%.
Next, untie the cord that hangs from the top of the helmet, which is usually made from two nylon wires. The cord is responsible for holding the helmet in place, so removing it without it can be quite risky. It is better to keep the helmet on until you can safely remove the elastic band that holds the helmet to your head. You will need to slide the band off the elastic portion of the helmet, and then use the pliers to pull it away. Make sure the helmet stays still as you pull it off, and ensure that you do not drop it or damage any of the plastic parts of the helmet.
Finally, undo all the zippers that are attached to the helmet. There may be several zippers, and depending on how much you have removed, you might need to use a lot of force to undo them. Be sure that the helmet is totally unzipped before you put it back on. If there are any plastic pieces sticking out where you removed them, you will want to use a lot of sandpaper to get these pieces out of the helmet, or use something to make sure they are completely smooth again before putting the helmet back on.