What's old is new again... 'Aero helmets'

[Gummee]

Seems that they're proliferating!

We've gone full circle back to when I first started riding in a Giro Hammerhead.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/files/giro_hammerhead_194.jpg

M

[ultraman6970]

Remember the brancale ones.

[MattTuck]

I can't knock these new helmets, as I haven't tried them yet. That said, I can't help but think that the marketing department had more to do with popularizing these things than rider demand.

Features sell products and it is probably easier to sell this 'feature' of aero advantage than it is to sell an incremental gram in weight savings. Still, maybe there is hope that I could go pro if I had one of these new helmets. I'll keep you guys posted.

[sw3759]

time to dust off that old bell v1pro

[zap]

Old helmets suck in every category.

Now, a modern helmet with less vents for winter riding, that's nice.

[jmoore]

They are fugly.

Cold head? I'd sooner have a wool Walz cap than an entirely separate helmet.

[bikerboy337]

I had that helmet back in high school when I mountain biked to cross train for cross country... many many miles in that thing, including a road ride out of winter park up Berthoud Pass (on my steel bridgestone with 2.1s)

[Gummee]

I had that helmet back in high school when I mountain biked to cross train for cross country... many many miles in that thing, including a road ride out of winter park up Berthoud Pass (on my steel bridgestone with 2.1s)

I was cleaning out the shed a little while back and ran across my first 'real' helmet (Hammerhead) and my Nike CC-X shoes I used to wear.

Tossed em both.

Not safe to ride the helmet, and since I'd used the shoes as 'mtn bike' shoes, they were trashed too. They worked GREAT till you needed to get off and hike-a-bike!

Necessity is the mother of invention ya know. I couldn't afford the Grafton Speed Traps I wanted, and the Look off-road pedals didn't look like a very good design.

M

[54ny77]

http://www.politics.bm/images/Dark-Helmet.jpg

[palincss]

I can't knock these new helmets, as I haven't tried them yet. That said, I can't help but think that the marketing department had more to do with popularizing these things than rider demand.

Features sell products and it is probably easier to sell this 'feature' of aero advantage than it is to sell an incremental gram in weight savings. Still, maybe there is hope that I could go pro if I had one of these new helmets. I'll keep you guys posted.

According to research, there's more "aero advantage" to be had with aerodynamic helmets than aerodynamic frames, and at far less cost. And it's apt to be more real than an incremental gram of weight savings, too. Of course, those aero helmets look godawful dorky and they're probably hot as Turkish baths...

[oldpotatoe]

according to research, there's more "aero advantage" to be had with aerodynamic helmets than aerodynamic frames, and at far less cost. And it's apt to be more real than an incremental gram of weight savings, too. Of course, those aero helmets look godawful dorky and they're probably hot as turkish baths...

or

[palincss]

"Get away from her, you bitch!"

[AgilisMerlin]

http://www.extremesupply.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/600x600/giro/giro_helmet_bicycle_reverb_flag_bluewhite.jpg

looking good

http://www.extremesupply.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/600x600/giro/giro_helmet_bicycle_reverb_zteam_bluepink.jpg

http://thepathbikeshop.com/images/new_products/2013/apparel/Giro-reverb-z-team-racing-80s-retro-helmet.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuqFR9o6Nf4/T_Lu7ZLnF1I/AAAAAAAABb4/ZWYDO_c61XA/s1600/GiroAirAttack-2012TDF-3.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7810136104_d186818289_o.jpg

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2011/11/07/1320669159388-1ob887trd73xt-670-70.jpg

http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/news/2012/09/15/1347768950851-90uzsdwrkfhs-670-75.jpg

http://www.bike24.com/i/p/2/9/42592_00_d.jpg

http://www.activelifestore.com/media/catalog/product/r/e/reverb-met_blk_org_house_2_2.gif

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-twns71sPIRY/T_Lu78ksmwI/AAAAAAAABcA/5sv-y1mJjvU/s1600/GiroAirAttack-2012TDF-4.jpg

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . I hadn't thrown this one away way back when. My first helmet . . .

BBD

[gianni]

I'm trying to track-down a pic of one of the coolest hard shell helmets ever... monarch aero-jet.

Could be cool.

[cfox]

I have to say...with the clip on glasses this one kinda sorta maybe ON A SKINNY PRO looks okay, like a TT helmet. The first time I see one roll by on a weekend chunkola I will likely fall off my bike with the giggles.

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . plain and simple. The notion that the average non-competitive cyclist (which is pretty much 98% of us) actually needs the aero "advantage" provided by one of these helmets is laughable. :p

I remember wearing that old Bell Stratos in the Oklahoma summer heat. It had those several small vents in the front--pretty much like this new Giro--and a hole in the top you could stick your water bottle nozzle in to cool off your head. But of course that was useless if you wore glasses. My head baked like an Idaho potato. :eek: :crap:

The marketers are just counting on how much the inexperienced (young) masses want to look like racers. Anybody who's been riding long enough to have witnessed helmet evolution will know that the open airflow is way more important in the long run for general utility. But plenty of phreds will buy and wear these things--and sweat like sauna residents--because they are "cool." :rolleyes:

BBD

[bart998]

I still miss my Skid Lid.... raced in that for years.

[Bostic]

I want one primarily for the magnetic visor which will come in handy on double centuries. I can't look any worse than I did in the 90's wearing a Specialized Sub 6 then Piranha helmets.

[bigreen505]

I'd totally rock one in Team Z colors/logos. Because, why not?

[thirdgenbird]

I want one primarily for the magnetic visor which will come in handy on double centuries. I can't look any worse than I did in the 90's wearing a Specialized Sub 6 then Piranha helmets.

When I was a kid, the sub six and piranha helmets were the coolest things going. I thought the piranha aged fairly gracefully. You can do worse today. The sub six is clumsy looking by today's standards but it sure is iconic.

[JStonebarger]

Um... you all think the helmets with 30 vents look cool or something? You've forgotten that we already all look ridiculous? Please tell me how these could look any worse.

I do almost half of my races -- maybe 20 a year -- in temps under 65*F, so I'm not worried about overheating. I have two TTs this year that won't allow a full TT helmet, but I'm guessing they'll allow this.

If the numbers Giro released are even half accurate about the aero savings this will change the game. In five years you'll all be wearing something similar and joking about the goofy looking helmets we wear now.

[Gummee]

In five years you'll all be wearing something similar and joking about the goofy looking helmets we wear now.

Till vents are new and hot again anyways. :nod It all goes in cycles. (get it?! Jeez I crack myself up!)

I didn't get a Sub-6. I waited till the Sub-6 Pro came out. Then I bought one. It alternated with my Giro Eclipse.

M