Aero Lids - which one?
Hi foks - need to buy one - bike fitter advised getting a 'long-tail' style to match my back curvature. Typically, no store sells more than 1-2 brands so trying on multiple designs for fit may result in buying online & sending back etc.
Be good to get an idea & recomendations - fit I'm sure is personal, but things like ventilation, overall comfort/adjustability and wear & tear issues would be good to know.
The 'long-tails' I've seen (but not tried on) include the Spiuk Kronos(?), Specialized (expensive & limited colours, red or 'fry my brain' black), Bell Meteor and Gyro Advantage (have heard that the sides have split on some). Also, more funky brands like Catlike (spanish & can get OK in UK), Kask plus the mega pricey Uvex (I noticed the downhill skiers all wear Uvex lids).
Seems a worthwhile investment for comfort and 'free-speed' . 
Thanks!
Dave
Comments
Dave,
I ride with the Giro, and have liked it for 2 seasons. I have a small crack forming at one of the ear covers, and I have two friends who've split them pretty good, so it does help to be a little gentle with pulling it on.
Another helmet to look at would be the new one from Rudy Project. Saw a video on it, designed by John Cobb in the wind tunnel. His comment was that it was as fast as a long-tailed helmet in perfect positioning, but faster in every other position (head down, turning to the sides, arching your back, etc). Could be worth a look.
Mike
I had a Giro and switched to the LG Rocket Air last year. I was right inbetween sizes with the Giro as a medium was tight and a large was loose. Either way I had no adjustment in one direction
The LG medium fits me perfect and can be adjusted either way. Plus I really like the visor on the LG as I don't have to wear sun glasses. I'm not sure if they are available in Europe, but many of the online US tri companies sell them.
Like shoes, the in my suggestion is to try to make it to different shops and try them on, then just go with the most comfortable one. The differences between them are so small, just go with one you like. As soon as you sit up once you have already impacted your time more than the difference between the various aero helmets.
I ride with the new Rudy Project helmet. I moved away from Spiuk as it really hurt my neck over the 1/2 and longer distances. I didn't have any neck issues with the new Rudy. It overs several ventaliation choices with removable parts and the price is starting to come down. I raced on a very hot day last year and the Spiuk just cooked me.
It looks like you might be overseas so you're probably okay, but the Bell is illegal in the US. During my USAT offiicals clinic we're told to be on the look out for the Bell Meteor.
@Hayes - the USAT 'legality' issue is a pain - so, in theory, I could arrive from Europe at IMCoz and a temporary official bans my EN/CE certificated Kask helmet (for example) 'cos USAT haven't gotten around to listing it as 'approved'. The Kask is also UCI approved and used now by Team Sky, Barloworld and has seen use in TdF & Giro!
How strict are the USAT officials? Looking at the vast range of brands from Kona, they can't be that serious on this, or is this a 2010 focus?
David,
I've seen it at many races, last year and before. Officials are alerted to which helmets do not have the Consumer Products Safety Commision certification. It's a separate entity, and they do lots of certification of all sorts of different products.
Bottom line, if you're going to race in the US, you need to have a helmet with the CPSC sticker in it. Any US manufacturer, and some others. Some companies haven't submitted their product for such certification (like the Bell Meteor), either because they've decided that the US market isn't that attractive (unlikely), or, they don't think it will pass.
Mike
Kona is exempt from the USAT rules on helmets, or rather asked and received an exemption given the number of non-US atheletes. I do not know the answer regarding the governing body at IMCOZ. I would assume it not USAT certfied. You should be okay. I just wasn't sure if you do racing in the US so wanted to bring it your attention.
Thanks guys, haven't bought a helmet yet but choice would be whittled down by the chance of being 'busted' - it seems a technicality and a bit 'trade protective' perhaps to suggest that euro safety regs are not the equivalent than those in US - you'd think that USAT woudl recognise ceatain international certs.
I have a Giro and am between sizes as well. I went with a medium and as a result anything past 1/2 Iron the squeezing on the ears is beyond what I can handle. I'm not exactly "Dumbo" either
So, try it on and see if the shop will let you walk around with it for an hour or so. The other things to consider are that your head is a different "shape" when you're standing versus riding so strapping the thing on in the shop won't feel the same as when you're riding, and make sure you're wearing the helmet 'properly', that is, higher in front than your regular helmet.
No different than most US standards. As a rule, we make up our own standards, just to thumb our nose at the international standards the rest of the world uses. See the FDA vs. CE Mark, the QSR's vs. ISO certification, and plenty of other examples. In fact, the only one we seem to agree on is UL listing... go figure.
Bottom line is that in the US, the CPSC is the trusted administration. Just because the EU thinks it's safe isn't good enough for the CPSC. I don't see that two-party system changing any time soon.
Mike
I've used the Spiuk for several years, and while there's no question about the free speed (2-3% faster time at all triathlon distances), it failed miserably in the heat, meaning over 80-85F. When I used it at that temperature, I had signficant heat and dehydration issues. So I bought a Lazer Tardiz, which has a hole right on the top to pour water into, as well as dimples, and the break in the curvature, which seems to be give it an aero advantage over the smoother models. Also, it's cheaper the the Spiuk.
Note that neither Alexander nor Wellington wore an aero helmet in repeating their wins at Kona.
@Al - is the Spiuk USAT legal?
Overall, seems to be quite a bit of BS about 'wind-tunnel testing' etc, etc - gotta be so many other variables to it and no can't see any helmet being a univerally 'better aero' than any other given factors such as the indviduals fit/position and of course how much time they move their head around.
The YouTube Rudy video was all good and funky until the point that geezer decided to use a piece of string on a stick to test the air flow!! :-) Nice looking helmet though......
David
You and I are registered for IM Coz together, and I don't think it calls under USAT rules because I bought a USAT membership this year and was pumped to NOT be paying for a single race license when I registered for IM COZ and I never had that chance. In other words, during the race registration there was never mention of USAT, so, I don't think it falls under their authority.
That being said, it might make sense (at least for me, racing/competing mostly in the US) to have a USAT helmet, all things being equal. For you, maybe not...
Just my thoughts.
David - The Spiuk Kronos has the official US CPSC sticker inside; I've worn it in multiple USAT races as well as IM races, inlcuding USAT nationals, and seen many others in use as well. No worries there.
Sorry to still the topic - I have a helmet dilemma regarding my up coming race - Singapore 70.3, which is very hot (min 90's) and humid - 90%
I typically use my Bell Meteor in races but with the Hawaii-like heat and humidity conditions, is it not better to ride a standard road helmet?
EN is getting a team buy (1 x only) on these helmets - $40 off retail, but you would have to pay shipping extra.
colors avail (and stock is good now) white, black, r/w/b - they supposedly have some more colors but not avail yet. these include some flowery hawaiian ones.
sizing Sm = 50-57cm, L = 57-64cm
The black spot on top is the water hole, with an internal distribution "web" and the white toggle behind it is how you scroll to tighten / loosen helmet. Very cool. Details soon...
Is it just me, or the pictures are not showing?
Those are some beutiful Red X's coach P
I think he meant the Lazer Tardiz - see his link above.
P - could we skip shipping and pick them up direct from Todd?
And a Fred question for everyone: Should one wait to purchase an aero helmet until they've got a tri bike? I can't help but think I'd look like a dork wearing a fancy Lazer Tardiz on my road bike with clip-on aero bars
Should I save the money, and put it in my tri bike savings account?
Geoff
Yup, Lazer Tardiz
I was at TTFitLab with P last night, got to see it. Pretty cool helmet. Looks good, seemed to be comfortable, nice system for adjusting fit on the fly (if it gets tight as your head swells with ego halfway into the bike
), lots of ventilation, and the water hole on the top for cooling yourself off. I currently have the Giro, but would consider this if I ever tore off the ear cover on it (which happens a lot with the Giro).
Geoff, I was hesitant to go with the aero helmet prior to a tri-bike for that same reason. OTOH, it's a significant savings in time, so if you can handle looking a little fred-ly (OK, a lot fred-ly), there's benefit to be had.
Mike
Considering I'm doing Coz -the venting & cooling looks attractive however - have to see what the price, made in Belgium so may be cheaper here (in Uk) at full retail.
David,
I'd say it's a medium-length tail. It's not adjustable (I don't know of any adjustable tail helmets out there). I'd guess it would suit a pretty wide variety of riding styles.
Mike
What's the best place to measure to see which helmet size to get? None of the shops around me seem to have this in-stock, or any plans at the moment to carry it, so I'd be kind of ordering blind on getting one without having an opportunity to try it on first.
I have a Lazer Tardiz. Only two sizes, sm/med and L/XL Hard to imagine the male head the L/XL won't fit. The adjustment system has a LOT of range in it. Here's a pic. My pinkie is on the adjustment knob, index finger IN the hole for pouring water (it can be covered with a piece of form fitting rubber if not needed). The adjustment band encircles your head like a bandana tied 1 CM above your eyebrows, around to 1.5 cm above the ears.If you'd like other pix, let me know; I've got a Spiuk also and can show them side by side.
I personally have the Rudy Project Wingspan from a promotion a while back when it was 60% off. I have not raced in it yet, but I certainly have tried it on and may or may not have worn it around the house a few times for uh 'aerodynamic testing' purposes only.
I can tell you that it is phenomenally light and I am very impressed with the build and presentation quality, and that it also has a good fit for me. That being said, it is 'one size fits all' which certainly is not the case. It happens to fit me, and I can take measurements of my head if you are interested for reference, but the one size that they do offer it in is a S-M size. I wear a M in Giro helmets, if you wear a L there is no way it would fit. Anyway, if anyone is interested in more details on the Wingspan let me know and I'll get it out.
@Trevor - can you do the head v helmet size comparison for the Rudy please, would help as well, I believe the Rudy is a similar size to the Lazer? Thanks.
It's hard to show on a photo, but there is a LOT of air flow thru the lazer. In addition to the three vents in front, there are three giant vents at the junction between the smooth and dimpled portion. If my wife were, the pics would be better - she's a professional photographer!