Aero helmet?

Peter Noyes

I will be doing my first HIM in a couple months. I will be racing a road bike (Cannondale CAAD10) with shorty aero-bars. I am wondering if it would be worth it to also use an aero helmet, or will I look like a complete goober. I have been looking at the Giro Air Attack.

russG

Per my wife and daughter, I'm not qualified to judge who looks like a goober vs. who does not. I trust their judgment, so filter this through your own judgment.

That said, the Air Attack is a sharp looking helmet - word is that it doesn't give quite the aero benefit of a tail helmet, but it splits the difference and doesn't have the shortcomings of a long tail (e.g. you can look to the side if you want to). Because it's not a tail helmet, I also think it "dresses down" much better than, say, an LG golf-ball.

Maybe it will save you a minute on your half-iron - but it's a really nice helmet, and you may want that minute (or the snazzy new helmet)!

I have spent my budget for 2013, but the Air Attack Shield is on my "buy" list.

Peter Noyes

Thanks. I only thought I would look like a goober because I don't have a TT bike, so the helmet might look like a bit much with just the simple road bike. Also, I have heard one complaint about the Giro Air Attack being loud. Have you heard of anything like that? Also, what do you think about the shield version?

John Withrow

@Peter-- An aero helmet is one of the best ROI's as far as aero advantage/$$ goes. Those helmets are very cool and I was considering getting one myself as I look down at my computer a lot. Not to mention that our very own Teri Cashmore just won her AG (and KQ'd) at IMLP in that helmet (if my memory serves me correctly). The helmet advantage is the same regardless of what type of bike you're on... So I say if you have the means, go for it. I have a (CAT 3) roadie buddy that has one of those helmets so if it's okay for a stuck up Roadie, surely a triathlete shouldn't give a crap about the goober factor. I haven't heard that they are "loud", but I've never used one myself so can't say for sure. Either way, good luck at your race.

GMAN 19030

I recently bought the Kask Bambino. Love it! Previously used the LG Vorttice and Rudy Wingspan. The LG was meh. I like the Wingspan a lot but it doesn't fit my noggin all that well. The Bambino works great. It's not well vented and I was worried about that being from blasting hot Texas but I purposely used it on an afternoon ride when it was over 100 degrees and it was fine.

robin sarner

Giro attack good for me. Not loud. Do not have shield version.

Pina

At 20 MPH, 85% of your cycling efforts are to overcome wind resistance. An aero helmet drastically reduces that. I've switched to theKask and love it. Fit is a personal thing and big deal. Here's me confusing my daughter with it... : )

Satish Punna

I have an LG golf ball errrrrr vorttice and I like it. The size small fits my small melon well.  Have never had another aero helmet so not sure how it compares.  The only time it is loud is when my head is out of position which I believe is an added benefit as it has taught me to keep my head in line so to speak.

William Jenks

Yeah, if you're going with the air attack, you're safe, but if you go with one of the big tail helmets, it's a good idea to try them on. Here are the two things that I've noticed that differ from one to the next in fit:

Some are substantially harder to get over the year because of the shape and full ear coverage. A couple are known for developing shell cracks right at that spot. It's not a safety issue, but it's not the greatest thing....

Some give you better visibility looking up. I have a pretty aggressive aero fit, so I'm "looking up" almost constantly. "My" aero helmet is cut low on the forehead, so my visibility is limited compared to my son's helmet which is cut just a bit higher on the forehead. So...I tend to wear his just for that reason alone. Easier on the neck, and I see better. But you'd never know that unless you tried them side by side.

Some day we ought to get a group wisdom wiki on brands of aero helmets and what their strengths are. That would be very useful. Not too many places have a bunch of them available...and those that do are surely charging full price for them.

Robert Sabo

My road helmet broke recently so I replaced it with the air attack with sheild. I have found it very comfortable, not loud, and very cool even on hot days. I have a GIro Advantage which is loud slightly warmer and veryannoying if your not keeping your head in the appropriate aero position. I felt more comfortable in the attack so wore it at IMLP this year and don't regret it. My neck had been a little achey and stiff this year so I felt the need to be able to stretch it out a bit during the race and felt the attack would be better. I do have the cracks in the ear flaps of my Advantage. I will however, wear the Advantage in my fall OLy and HIM. By the way, I did not use the sheild for IMLP because the fear of losing the magnets in transition bag. If we set up T1 with helmet out on the bike, I would have used the sheild.

[Deleted User]

I wore the air attack with the shield at IMLP. It fit great and was comfortable. Didn't think it was loud. I liked riding with the shield but had problems with it in transition. In T1 the shield came off when it was in the bag and the volunteer reattached it. It fell off again while I was putting it on. In T2, I took it off after handing my bike to a volunteer. As I was running to get my bag I knocked it off ( I didnt even notice) and a volunteer picked it up and gave it to me. Still debating on whether I'll use the shield again in a race. As for the helmet, any advantage I can get, I'll take it.