Ready to tackle the cold? Check out these top tips to make your helmet winter-ready…

SHARK helmets promotion

Winter is fast approaching, so what better time to start preparing your kit to take on the elements? If you haven’t quite reached your 5000 miles for #ride5000miles this year, sponsors of the campaign, SHARK Helmets, are on hand to give you some handy helmet tips to take on the cold and wet weather…

Fight the fog!

It’s an age-old issue: Condensation on the inside of a visor. When it’s cold outside, the visor naturally gets very cold and then, of course, any hot air that we exhale causes condensation, severely limiting visibility.

So what can you do about it? SHARK Helmets UK Technical Manager, Mark Eilledge, explains some simple ways to prepare your helmet for the change in season and the challenges it brings…

Ventilation

“Airflow inside the helmet is key to preventing condensation build-up, so choosing a helmet with good ventilation is a good starting point. To optimise airflow, make sure all the venturi vents are open (if they’re switchable) to give the hot air a place to escape, including the front, rear and top of the helmet. SHARK Helmets typically have ventilation diffusers just underneath the visor that direct air circulation up and across the width of the visor – and rear air extractors help too as they create another path for hot air to escape without going near the visor – so check your helmet over before you ride and make sure they’re all open. If ventilation alone isn’t enough, you could always open the visor just a fraction.”

Antifog treatment / solutions

“There are loads of specially-designed anti-fog systems for visors, most helmets already come with an antifog visor or will be Pinlock®-ready/ Pinlock® included and of course there’s plenty of after-market anti-fog sprays and treatments you can buy to apply yourself, but beware – applying anti-fog spray & even some visor cleaners onto an anti-fog visor or Pinlock® insert can render them useless.  A Pinlock® is essentially a second visor fitted on the inside of your main visor – think of it like double-glazing on windows – which forms an airtight seal against the cold outside air which aids the performance of the hydrophobic coating of the Pinlock® insert.

“Many premium helmets – including SHARK – usually either come with a Pinlock® or are treated with antifog technology, so won’t need any additional treatments. It’s important to keep the antifog coatings maintained so that they continue to work effectively – clean regularly with mild soap and water, rinse well and you’re sorted.”

Breath guard

“It can be a good idea to have something that stops the hot air reaching the visor in the first place, and usually that is done by some sort of breath guard or mask. Some helmets allow for summer and winter configurations and come with a removable breath guard, so you can simply install it when the weather starts to turn colder. These work by sealing the space between your nose and mouth, and your visor – essentially preventing all hot air that you exhale from reaching the visor, and therefore stopping it for fogging up.”

Start the season fresh!

Summer rides might have resulted in some stuck-on bugs, sweaty linings, greasy visors. The trick to getting your helmet squeaky clean is much simpler than you might think…

Outer shell

“My recommendation is always to wipe it down after every ride – but if there’s a bit of a build-up of dirt, it’s always good to start the season nice and fresh once you’ve had the opportunity for a good clean. No matter what type of helmet, I would always recommend cleaning with some simple soapy water, or an approved helmet cleaner if you have one – you really don’t need any harsh cleaners or chemicals. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies – including the vents – with a cotton bud.”

Visor

“To get your visor clean and perfectly clear, remove it from the helmet and again, use soap and water to clean both sides – don’t worry if it’s fitted with a Pinlock or has an anti-fog coating, as these are both fine to be washed with a mild, soapy solution. Using a microfibre cloth will make sure you don’t scratch it, and make sure you wash it all off with clean water when you’re done. Let it dry, and pop it back on – try not to touch the inside when you’re fitting it – you don’t want to make it greasy again!”

Interior

“It’s always a good idea to check out the interior of your helmet for any wear – it’s common to see the acids & bacteria from your sweat breaking down the lining so make sure it’s still all intact and kept clean to preserve the life of your helmet. All SHARK Helmets have a removable liner – so you can always take it out and give it wash. Some are machine washable, but you can always just thoroughly hand wash with a gentle cleaner like baby shampoo. Leave it to dry completely before you put it back in.  Helmets like the Spartan GT Carbon have a SANITIZED®-labelled ALVEOTECH lining fabric interior to offer enhanced antimicrobial efficiency, free of odour and perspiration…”

See the full SHARK Helmets lineup or find your local authorised SHARK Helmets dealer visit www.nevis.uk.com, or call 01425 478936.