I've just received a marketing mail from Cycle Lab which advises "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. By replacing your helmet every three years, you are giving yourself both peace of mind as well as optimal protection." and then directs me to their range of helmets for sale. There is clearly some truth in these statements, such as the deterioration caused by exposure to UV. Some of the rest, like sweat affecting the EPS structure, is real scaremongering (hopefully not deliberate on Cycle Lab's part). Three years is a period only recommended by a handful of players in the industry, with most others advocating significantly longer periods. If you spend huge amounts of time on your bike, 3 years may well be a good yardstick, but for the vast majority a modern helmet will be good for several more years. Cycle Lab should, at the very least, ensure that the information they present is correct and not misleading. Frightening consumers into land-filling perfectly good helmets in the interests of selling more product is not something of which they should be proud.
