Can anyone share how they remove their race helmet stickers and the horrible mess it leaves after you’ve taken it off?
Cheers
Paul
I’ve had good luck with gu gone
.
Goo-be-gone or rubbing alcohol.
I use a rag dampened with Pedro’s citris chain cleaner.
Use only on the hard plastic and not of the foam.
jaretj
If I remember electrical tape or regular tape, I just tape the number with that to the helmet, no sticky residue then. Or it magically falls off right before the start (bc I forgot to actually peel the back off)
WD-40 then some alchohol to clean up the WD.
I make sure to only apply the sticker to the plastic surface and not to any of the styrofoam. I also take it off immediately after the race. Haven’t had any problems.
White lightning degreaser.Spray on a piece of cloth and rub on the messy stuff on the helmet. Alcohol and Goo Gone works too.
can also take a hair dryer to it. The heat loosens adhesive’s grip and you can slowly peel it off. Might save some of the effort of alcohol and goo gone.
can also take a hair dryer to it. The heat loosens adhesive’s grip and you can slowly peel it off. Might save some of the effort of alcohol and goo gone.
+1. In the event that it doesn’t come off clean, it will still reduce the amount of crap that is left behind.
Too late now, but for the future, I just rip off 4 small corners (approx 1/4" square) off the backing and press it in place. That’s enough to hold the sticker in place and it’s pretty easy to remove/clean up after the race.
Brad
Cigarette Lighter Fluid is my first choice. Lot’s of chemicals will attack the plastic shell or foam liner.
Off-Topic: We once purchased a furniture cabinet with glass doors. To remove the stickers on the doors, I tried 15 or more different products before I found one that really worked.
List of Cleaners and Solvents
Windex, Auto Glass Cleaner, Dishwashing Soap, Simple Green, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Ammonia Cleaner, Isopropyl Alcohol, Goo Be Gone, Lighter Fluid, Citrus Cleaner, Goof Off ???, Acetone, Contact Adhesive Cleaner, Brush Cleaner.
Then Auto-Tar Remover worked.
Good call, I like that idea. I’ll be doing that for sure in future 
Thanks for all the other suggestions btw.
How then do you start conversations about your race on susequent group rides?
I use electrical tape too. I just attach a few strips of electrical tape to the helmet since it peels off easily and then I attach the sticker to the electrical tape so I don’t have any gunk on the helmet when I peel it off. I do the same for stickers on my bike frame too.
What works best for me is plain olive oil. Peel as much of the sticker off as you can. Dampen the remainder throughly with olive oil. I like using an old dish towel Let it sit for a few minutes and then try to scrape away as much as possible with your fingernail. It will take a few applications and some elbow grease but it works, keeps your hands away from solvents and chemicals and leaves a glossy finish that looks good and makes it easier to get off the next sticker.
I don’t preoccupy myself with worrying about any “horrible mess” on my helmet.
That energy is definitely better spent elsewhere.
G
Err ok. good for you. I’m sure all that extra energy will do wonders.
Err…when you’re an old, broken down trigeek, every little bit helps.
C’mon, do people really spend time worrying about a little glue residue on their helmets? I figure the more sticky shit on my helmet, the more races I’ve done, the more fun I’ve had.
G
When you pay good money for a helmet why not take some care of it? I hope you take more care cleaning your bike.