I'm just taking a look at road helmet options - it seems crazy that more amateurs aren't opting in considering the potential gains. Lazer helmets do a pretty nifty snap on cover that looks aero, are they allowing in the british racing scene? If not, are they one of those things you could get away with anyway - just like home made visors on TT helmets were never really allowed but everyone did?
Aero road helmets...what is allowed?
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Mr Haematocrit
msg me on kik for android
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What do you perceive as being the potential gains? - Detachable helmet covers, as sported by Mark Cavendish on his Specialized Prevail while on his way to winning the rainbow jersey in Copenhagen during 2011 are now outlawed in UCi sanctioned events.
I would also think that areo helmets suffer from the same issues as areo bikes in as much that they work best in specific circumstances.
I believe that kask discovered that traditional areo helmets have a negative effect and create drag in anything other than the optimal position and in cross winds, this is why the areo helmets from kask appear less extreme than many of the others on the market.
That more or less answers it - bit of a shame really considering the simplicity of it! Not looking to invest in a giro advantage or likewise, its just too expensive. However hour long crits, the majority of the time you'll be in that "optimum position". Also the lack of a tail on the TT helmets seemed an obvious way forward, the lower the head is below the shoulders, the more aero, apart from those stupid tails sticking up and creating drag.
Mr Haematocrit
msg me on kik for android
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Although helmet covers are now banned, helmets without any holes in them aren't.
Depends on the helmet.
Many TT helmets were really just fairings for the head with no protection. Now the helmet has to be "capable" of protection.
In the UK that means passing EN1078, however in the US this is considered inadequate and you cannot race in an EN1078 helmet
It does not get simpler!
black'n'yellow
Guest
The benefits of ventilation in a 1hr crit far outweigh the 'benefits' of an aero helmet. Assuming you will be spending 90% of your time in the bunch (as opposed to soloing off the front) then any aero equipment is pretty pointless anyway.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
You didn't answer his question, what was and what is are not the same thing, currently most aero helmets do provide protection. Take a Giro Selector, UCI legal in TT's but you won't see someone wearing it in a road race.
Even if they were legal in these events, they offer no real benefit, since you won't be sat in a tuck, you will be looking around you will not have the tail against your back and will be turning sideways.
There are newer helmets coming out which provice aero benefits whilst not having a big tail, the Giro Air Attack for example and the KASK Bambino.
Also, those plastic covers for normal helmets are mainly designed to keep rain out, they are no more scientific than taping up the vents on your helmet.
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
- Location
- Perthshire, scotland
It's something i think there will be more of, but as B&Y says, good ventilation is going to outweigh the slight benefit an aero helmet.
Even in time trialling, an aero helmet will apparently cut your time by only around 30-60 seconds (max) over an hour, if travelling 20 mph+. There are big savings to be had with a FULL aero TT bike but that's largely to do with rider position. That's why a set of clip on bars and aero wheels can make a quantifiable difference in time trialling. Full TT set ups can save 50-70watts over an hour period. For a rider putting out 300watts over that period that's near the region of 10 minutes plus! Huge saving but it's because the solo TT'er is 100% against the elements with no peloton or team mates to share the work.
If you are still interested though, something like this will be released early 2013. It is said to be legal in road racing. Looks like you could get pretty hot in there though.
Even in time trialling, an aero helmet will apparently cut your time by only around 30-60 seconds (max) over an hour, if travelling 20 mph+. There are big savings to be had with a FULL aero TT bike but that's largely to do with rider position. That's why a set of clip on bars and aero wheels can make a quantifiable difference in time trialling. Full TT set ups can save 50-70watts over an hour period. For a rider putting out 300watts over that period that's near the region of 10 minutes plus! Huge saving but it's because the solo TT'er is 100% against the elements with no peloton or team mates to share the work.
If you are still interested though, something like this will be released early 2013. It is said to be legal in road racing. Looks like you could get pretty hot in there though.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
^This^
You will cook in an aero helmet (I've used them in the past in TT's when they were 'fairings').
oldroadman
Veteran
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Nice theory, but evidence required before making such a sweeping claim - there are far more factors than a "set of clip on bars and aero wheels" in play. The position and reducing drag factors is the key, and if I could have improved 10 minutes in an hour race using a TT bike and aero helmet, I would have been close to a podium in any TT!
On the matter of aero helmets, "head fairings" are not allowed in UCI/BC (TT) races, and not at all in road races/crits, and the updated UCI rule does not allow additions to the helmet that is not part of the original product. An unlined bit of GRP on your head is likely to do some damage in a fall, rather than protect anything.
Kask have it right with their TT helmet so far as aerodynamics is concerned, hat daft long tail only works on one soecific position which is almost impossible to get, and as soon as the head drops a bit, sends a sail up into the airflow around the back of the rider!
A rider or two have tried unvented helmets in crits, I saw one at a Tour Series once, he thougt it would help but simply boiled for lack of ventilation - not nice. A very red face! It didn't happen again whhich says everything.
A good ventilated helmet is all that's needed, plus good legs!
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
A conehead will give a larger aero benefit (if fitted properly and position held) than an aero wheel apparently. Especially in terms of watts saved per pound spent. Biggest saving comes from rider position. Lots of websites etc out there will snigglets of data.
BTW, 30-60 seconds is a LOT of time if you are at the sharp end of the standings
Next year, I will collect some power data riding the same TT course riding a road bike and then riding a full TT bike with disc wheel and deep section/tri spoke front and various combinations. Obviously environmental factors will come into it, but it might prove at least anecdotally interesting. Might even do it on the same day to get more consistent data if I can get a lift out with all the kit.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
. Like it !
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
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- Perthshire, scotland
Yeh i agree. Rider position is key. I think i said as much.A conehead will give a larger aero benefit (if fitted properly and position held) than an aero wheel apparently. Especially in terms of watts saved per pound spent. Biggest saving comes from rider position. Lots of websites etc out there will snigglets of data.
BTW, 30-60 seconds is a LOT of time if you are at the sharp end of the standings
Next year, I will collect some power data riding the same TT course riding a road bike and then riding a full TT bike with disc wheel and deep section/tri spoke front and various combinations. Obviously environmental factors will come into it, but it might prove at least anecdotally interesting. Might even do it on the same day to get more consistent data if I can get a lift out with all the kit.
30-60 seconds is a decent amount but the helmet would only be suited for TT. It would be of no use if you were not dialled into the TT position anyway.
Pedrosanchezo
Veteran
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- Perthshire, scotland
For TT i think many would argue that last line is not the case. Especially where seconds count.
Evidence wise there is just as much out there damning aero helmets etc as there is promoting it.
Point being Old fat fool, is that it ALL adds up. What's the key phrase these days? "Marginal gains".
To nullify the "sweeping statement" claim i have put a few links below to show others research.
http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2010/04/biggest-bang-for-your-buck-in-time-trial-equipment/
http://www.active.com/cycling/Artic...ero-Equipment-Offers-the-Most-Benefits?page=2
By my calculations the first link estimates a saving of between 8-9 minutes over 40k TT. This with a rider averaging 50kph over the distance. Faster than most so the numbers will change the slower you travel.
