Aero Helmets
367
Member
826 days
mdd posted 2 years ago.
Yes they are used in the shorter races (spring & oly, maybe 1/2 IM). However in my opinion there really is no benefit unless you are an extremely fast rider. Nothing is more entertaining than passing some joker with an aero helmet who is riding 20 mph...unless of course he has some fancy ZIP wheels and is nearly blown over sideways! :)
835
Member
1370 days
glbrum posted 2 years ago.
here's the scoop....this topic has been beat to death here and elsewhere, but my take on it is this:
1. I think they look cool
2.They are effective (ie: they do make you faster)
3.They are hot, but not TOO hot.
4. If you feel fast, you probably will be (subjective)
1.I like aero helmets ( I don't have one) they just look sweet. Bottom line.
2. Yes, they are effective, meaning they shave time off of your bike split. IF, IF, IF it is worn correctly. That is a HUGE "IF". That tail has to be on your back or damn near close to it. It is a position that you have to train. Picture this, get in your aero position, head in a comfortable, normal spot, then drop your neck between your shoulders. Then look forward basically through the top rim of your sunglasses. That's probably close to what the position is needed for the helmet ot be useful/effective.
3. Because they don't have many vents, and the ones they do have are quite small, they are hotter than normal helmets. This is not an advocation for "If the pro's do it, then I'm doing it too", but Pro's are people just like you and me in terms of body heat regulation/overheating, etc. and if they can handle it, I'm sure any one of us AGer' can too. It also helps to ride in hot weather too (not necessarily with the aero helmet on though)
4. I don't know about you, but with an aero wheelset on my bike I feel a new sense of confidence that my bike time is going to faster this time around compared to last time. Will it be faster??? It may or it may not, but that one ounce of extra confidence can do a lot to make you push that much harder. Same with an aero helmet; if you think you are faster with it on (regardless of whether you are or not) but that confidence can do magical things. This one is subjective because fast to me could be 25 mph and fast to you could be 35mph. "fast" is subjective.
Just my $1.02
194
Member
1136 days
vmarwin posted 2 years ago.
I love my aero helmet. I found that when I started using it I picked up about .5 mph on my sprint/olympic bike split. However, you have to understand that as average speed decreases, so does the benefit from aero helmets. I usually average 25(minimun)-26+ mph for a sprint race, I definietely wouldn't be able to see any advantage (besides a mental advantage of "feeling" faster) at 20 mph or less. As far as the helmets being "hot"...well not so much, its not THAT big of a deal unless you like whining about everything or if for some reason all of your races are done in 90+ degree heat. Even though your head dissipates the most heat, when you're racing you're almost nude and all of that skin is catching wind, cooling off. The helmet doesn't really make that much of a difference unless you're riding across a frying pan in Kona, then maybe...
I like my aero helmet, it makes me faster. But it doesn't MAKE me. But just so people are clear here is everything that I think makes me fast, in order of importance:
1. Training/nutrition
2. Balls and guts
2. Racing position/bike fit
3. My HED3 race wheels
4. My BMC Time Machine Frame
5. My Aero Helmet
Aero helmets make you faster but they're a minor player.
If you wish to be out front, then act as if you were behind.
2
Member
782 days
scfishy posted 2 years ago.
Ok, thanks for your answers.
MDD, road cyclists tend to believe that if it makes you even a bit faster, you might as well do it. No harm in wearing a TT helmet and lycra shoe covers in a TT even if you aren't the fastest person in the world. It all helps.
1821
Member
1081 days
14
Member
889 days
Swtyphoon posted 2 years ago.
Guys, check out the link here, and make your own decision. I think that the MIT guys are validating their excellent education and we can benefit fom their research. :cool:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-14995-1,00.html
115
Member
752 days
thebeatcatcher posted 1 year ago.
Swtyphoon;54407 wrote:
Guys, check out the link here, and make your own decision. I think that the MIT guys are validating their excellent education and we can benefit fom their research. :cool:http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-14995-1,00.html
that was really interesting. i would like to see some pics of his aerobars and some of the body positions they came up with.
134
Member
1041 days
Homebrewermike posted 1 year ago.
vmarwin;53441 wrote:
I love my aero helmet. I found that when I started using it I picked up about .5 mph on my sprint/olympic bike split. However, you have to understand that as average speed decreases, so does the benefit from aero helmets. I usually average 25(minimun)-26+ mph for a sprint race, I definietely wouldn't be able to see any advantage (besides a mental advantage of "feeling" faster) at 20 mph or less. As far as the helmets being "hot"...well not so much, its not THAT big of a deal unless you like whining about everything or if for some reason all of your races are done in 90+ degree heat. Even though your head dissipates the most heat, when you're racing you're almost nude and all of that skin is catching wind, cooling off. The helmet doesn't really make that much of a difference unless you're riding across a frying pan in Kona, then maybe...I like my aero helmet, it makes me faster. But it doesn't MAKE me. But just so people are clear here is everything that I think makes me fast, in order of importance:
1. Training/nutrition
2. Balls and guts
2. Racing position/bike fit
3. My HED3 race wheels
4. My BMC Time Machine Frame
5. My Aero HelmetAero helmets make you faster but they're a minor player.
I went to a seminar last night that was put on by a pro. He stated that the helmet would save more time than a set of aero wheels. He also said that he'd buy a powertap before a set of aero wheels. Saying that the powertap would make you faster through effective training. I'm guessing his order would be more like:
1) Bike fit
2) Aero helmet
3) powertap
4) Aero frame
3) Aero wheels
367
Member
826 days
mdd posted 1 year ago.
My order for equipment would be:
1) Bike Fit
2) power meter
3) frame
4) aero helmet
5) aero wheels
It goes without saying that training, nutrition, experience, and strength of mind are above all of these things.
691
Member
1144 days
deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
I think the aero helmet trend will really catch on because they actually do work. If we're a group of athletes willing to spend over a grand on a set of Zipp wheels for an extra edge, then another $180 on an aero helmet is nothing.
People made fun of lycra early on but it caught on. A lot of people think aero helmets look odd because they aren't popular yet but it will catch on and in a few years, everyone will be wearing teardrop shaped helmets.
835
Member
1370 days
glbrum posted 1 year ago.
deepbluex;58427 wrote:
I think the aero helmet trend will really catch on because they actually do work. If we're a group of athletes willing to spend over a grand on a set of Zipp wheels for an extra edge, then another $180 on an aero helmet is nothing.People made fun of lycra early on but it caught on. A lot of people think aero helmets look odd because they aren't popular yet but it will catch on and in a few years, everyone will be wearing teardrop shaped helmets.
I would have to agree with you here. I don't know about you guys/gals here but I just bought a new road helmet a few months ago and it was $150. Aren't aero helmets right about that price, too.
I think everyone, myself included, makes too big of a deal of who wears what in regards to helmets. I don't hear too much bitching about who out there rides what bike or who is riding zipps.
aero frames, aero wheels, and aero helmets all help whoever wears them or rides on them. It's surprising to me that we care so much about what people in our own sport think of us.
When I get back from injury, get some cash, and get back into racing I'm gonna get myself an aero helmet for 3 reasons;
1. It looks bad ass
2. It will make me faster
3. I don't care what you think
(unless I'm asking for advice;) )
691
Member
1144 days
deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
glbrum;58432 wrote:
It's surprising to me that we care so much about what people in our own sport think of us.
I think this carries over to life in general. The out-of-the-ordinary will always draw attention. Whether you're driving down the road in a yellow Lamborghini or riding an aero helmet, people will notice things that don't conform to... well, conformity. If you don't like to stick out from the crowd, then act in a way that makes you blend in. If you care about performance, wear what works.
849
Member
1479 days
catwood posted 1 year ago.
I rode for MIT for 2 years ... Those guys are awesome, but I'm transferring to Whitman in January... Another thing that Mark tested in the wind tunnel was the riding position of the aero helmet. Actually, if you ride with the tip a little above your back, it directs the airstream up and over your back instead of onto your back where it hits your jersey and creates some drag. So yes, you do want the tip fairly close to your back, because you don't want a huge frontal area, but a little bit away is ok. This does depend somewhat on the design of the helmet and I don't know too much about aerodynamics so I can't give specifics and no I'm not giving out contact info for those people, but you can find some pics on mitcycling.org. There is a little one of the mens team time trial in the upper left corner of the home page and mark has a good pic in the 2007 roster page.
Its true, that cyclists, no matter how slow will take every benefit they can get. That's one thing that I like better about cyclists than triathletes. There really isn't the attitude that plenty of triathletes have: if you are slow you should bother with aero helmet, shoe covers, aero wheels etc. I don't care for that attitude and don't understand why its more prevalent among triathletes than cyclists.
Another newb question from a road cyclist.
Do triathletes use aero helmets like cyclists use in Time Trials? I know they are hotter, so I could understand not using them in long distance races, but what about short distance races? Are they even legal?