No more aero helmets?

[TriDevil]

I saw the regular road helmets in the algrave stage race but thought it was just some weird rule. Graham Watson on his website says that the UCI has a new rule forbiding aero helmets in time trials. Is this true? Anyone know? I liked the look of them, completed the whole aero getup.

[roadwarrior]

I went to his website and to UCI's and have been unable to come up with this. can you provide a link?
There was a rule put in not too long ago that the aero helmet had to be a certified, protective helmet, not just a shell like they used to use. But I cannot come up with the info to which you refer.

edit...went back and looked at the tt photos and although they are all of Postal (Lance, George and Floyd) none of them had aero helmets on...I had not heard this...

[TriDevil]

If you go to the second question from the top GW explains it. I guess the normal helmets had plastic covers on them but still, no aero helmet.
Aero Helmets (http://www.grahamwatson.com/gw/askgraham.nsf/AskGraham)

[BigFloppyLlama]

I really hope that isn't the case. Like you, I loved the way it completed the whole aero theme. I especially liked Lance and David Millar with Lance's custom helmet. I'm wondering if they're banning it for safety reasons (being that the previous helmets were nothing more than a thin plastic head covering) or banning them for soley for their aerodynamic advantage. If it's for the latter, I guess we won't be seeing them anytime soon, but if they're banning them only because they weren't safe I wonder if they'll allow helmets like Louis Garneau's, which do provide head protection.

[brent_dube]

Now its going to get all technical with what exact helmet provides proper protection and what doesn't.

[meltable]

It's going to be strange seeing them race in standard helmets, although they've already begun making modifications for aerodynamics (like a vent cover) and it won't be long before the manufacturers begin to release more "semi-aero" designs that will offer head protection and increased aerodynamics.

I'm gonna miss those huge helmets... one of the few things that keep time trials entertaining to watch is the cool equipment. ;)

Mike

[Xtrmyorick]

Cram some foam into a fairing. BAM, insta-protection.

[Dutchy]

I believe the rule to be this. No aero helmets can be used unless they meet certain safety standards. At the moment no-one makes an aero helmet that meets these standards. Most are just plastic shells, with no foam insert. Give it time and manufacturers will start to make aero helmets that are safe to wear and UCI legal.

CHEERS.

Mark

[BigFloppyLlama]

I believe the rule to be this. No aero helmets can be used unless they meet certain safety standards. At the moment no-one makes an aero helmet that meets these standards. Most are just plastic shells, with no foam insert. Give it time and manufacturers will start to make aero helmets that are safe to wear and UCI legal.

CHEERS.

Mark
What about Luis Garneau's Prologue helmet (http://www.louisgarneau.com/eng/catalog_prod.asp?catalogue=CU4&section=HL&subsection=038&style_no=4405112). I would imagine that it would be more areo than vent coverings.

[Xtrmyorick]

What about Luis Garneau's Prologue helmet (http://www.louisgarneau.com/eng/catalog_prod.asp?catalogue=CU4&section=HL&subsection=038&style_no=4405112). I would imagine that it would be more areo than vent coverings.

Same with Limar's new CPSC certified TT helmet.

[roadwarrior]

In the Tour Murcia, a photo showed Jose Ivan Gutierrez wearing an aero helmet..although the back as abbreviated.

[kewlrunningz]

Some teams have used the Louis Garneau's TT helmet. I want to say Kelme but don't hold me to it...not quite sure, but yes, some are using the Garneau which beats a standard crash hat.

[vladimir102]

Here ya go.

[Aiiiight]

Some teams have used the Louis Garneau's TT helmet. I want to say Kelme but don't hold me to it...not quite sure, but yes, some are using the Garneau which beats a standard crash hat.

I went to the UCI website and looked at their rules to see if any ammendments had been made since the 2003 TDF. Paragraph 1.3.031 (where helmets are discussed) doesnt specifically mention anything about time trial helmets. There is a paragraph which has been abrogated though (1.3.032) so I searched for the rules prior to the 2003 TDF to find any discrepancies or changes. The only change was that of the formating of the paragraphs.

[miamijim]

Is it mandatory to wear a helmet during TT's?? I'll assume so but they dont wear them during other stages.

[Laggard]

Yes. And they have to wear them on all stages. The only exception being that they can remove them at the bottom of a climb if that stage ends at the top.

[Laggard]

I went to the UCI website and looked at their rules to see if any ammendments had been made since the 2003 TDF. Paragraph 1.3.031 (where helmets are discussed) doesnt specifically mention anything about time trial helmets. There is a paragraph which has been abrogated though (1.3.032) so I searched for the rules prior to the 2003 TDF to find any discrepancies or changes. The only change was that of the formating of the paragraphs.

http://www.uci.ch/imgArchive/Road/Equipment/Helmet%20e.pdf