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Why the "swoop" ??

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Why the "swoop" ??

Old 01-25-11, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Have you bought one?
No, if you read the site you would have noted that at present these helmets are not sold in the U.S. & Canada yet. I do wear a Bell Citi which doesn't have any "swoop".

https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Citi-Bike.../dp/B000BOC8I2

As you might guess I WILL NOT wear a "swoop" goofy helmet. I won't look like a dork while I ride.

Bell (they are starting to market non-swoop helmets) and the rest of the main stream bicycle helmet makers had better step it up to start selling more rounded helmet designs or new companies like www.nutcasehelmets.com will eat their lunch.
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Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?

Last edited by Nightshade; 01-25-11 at 03:52 PM.
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Old 01-25-11, 04:19 PM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by rogerstg
Just the opposite. It increases ventilation by creating low pressure areas at the back of the helmet.
Bingo!

Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
Every object moving through a fluid, (air is a fluid), has a low pressure area behind it.
But every low pressure system isn't created equally. If the point is to draw cool air through the helmet and spill hot air out the back, the fins aid in that air flow. The Bell Biker, Bell Metro and, especially, the Bailen (hottest helmet every) didn't have all that great an air flow. I loved my Bell Metro for winter riding but couldn't stand it when the temperatures got up to around 50. On the other hand, the more modern well vented helmets are crap for winter riding...too much air flow.

Originally Posted by Shimagnolo
"The fashion among helmet designers since 1998 has favored squared-off edges of the foam remaining around the vents, and the addition of sharp lines in the exterior plastic just for style. The elongated "aero" shape dates from that era as well. This is not an optimal design for crashing. We believe that the ideal surface for striking a road resembles a bowling ball: hard, smooth and round. Round shells reduce to a minimum any tendency for a helmet to "stick" to the surface when you hit, with the possibility of increasing impact intensity, contributing to rotational brain injury or jerking the rider's neck. They also eliminate the aero tail that can snag, or in a backward impact can shove the helmet aside as you hit, exposing your bare head. This is such a problem with some models that lab technicians have to use copious amounts of duct tape to keep some helmets on the headform in their test drops, even after they have pulled the straps extra-tight."

Ref: https://www.helmets.org/ventsqua.htm
Different problem. If it cooks your brain and you won't wear it, is a round helmet without vents or with reduced air flow any better?
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Old 01-25-11, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightshade
No, if you read the site you would have noted that at present these helmets are not sold in the U.S. & Canada yet. I do wear a Bell Citi which doesn't have any "swoop".
Now see, that's why they have both chocolate and vanilla.

I've considered buying a pair of Citi helmets for my wife and me. Positives are price and that it comes in yellow to match our recumbent tandem. Negatives are that I question ventillation and I think that it looks -well- dorky.
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Old 01-25-11, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by retro grouch
negatives are that i question ventillation and i think that it looks -well- dorky.
+1 :d
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Old 01-25-11, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Now see, that's why they have both chocolate and vanilla.

I've considered buying a pair of Citi helmets for my wife and me. Positives are price and that it comes in yellow to match our recumbent tandem. Negatives are that I question ventillation and I think that it looks -well- dorky.
Cooling air flow for the Bell Citi is swell. In fact I prefer it to my old Swoop Bell Ukon that I rarely wore 'cause it looked super dorky.
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I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.

Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
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Old 01-25-11, 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
I'm not sure what you mean by "swoop" but round, bowl-like helmets just look ... odd. Helmets with a bit of taper and shape to them look so much better.

That, and tapered helmets are supposed to be a little bit more aerodynamic and may offer a little bit more ventilation.

This, for example, is a nice-looking helmet ... and I'm going to have to see if it, or something like it, is available here in Australia.

Don't all those holes let in a lot more rain? And how about us older guys who are losing our hair? Don't those 'swoopy' helmets with all those holes let the sunshine through, which sunburns our scalps???
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Old 01-26-11, 03:08 AM
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Originally Posted by CommuterRun
It makes ya' look faster even when you're stopped.
exactly.........in other words it's a wank
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Old 01-26-11, 03:24 AM
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Originally Posted by xizangstan
Don't all those holes let in a lot more rain? And how about us older guys who are losing our hair? Don't those 'swoopy' helmets with all those holes let the sunshine through, which sunburns our scalps???
If you're riding around in the rain on a hot day ... great! Let the rain in!!

If you're riding around in the rain on a cool day ... you've got a helmet cover on, don't you?

And no worries about sunburning my scalp ... I've got thick, waist-length hair. But in Rowan's case, he wears a bandana.
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Old 01-26-11, 11:51 AM
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For better or worse, the "swoopy" helmets are lighter. Designers have removed a lot of material and added the fins/vents they have for a reason-- weight and airflow as other have said. They may look "dorky" off the bike, but when you're riding, a really well-ventilated swoopy helmet feels light and almost disappears. I don't even notice mine anymore, but if I look at it off the bike it looks silly. I used to think a non-swoopy, BMX-style helmet would be better. Now, I love my LAS helmet and would never consider wearing a poorly ventilated hotbox like one of those.
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Old 01-26-11, 12:13 PM
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The helmet I have seen most often praised recently for it's ventilation is the Catlike Whisper.
And it does this w/o tailfins, and w/o a pointed rear.
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Old 01-26-11, 12:25 PM
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"Catlike Whisper". Now there's a creepy otherworldly design !! The shape of the holes reminds me very much of the creepy frogs that carry their young in holes in the back!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
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I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.

Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
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Old 01-26-11, 12:46 PM
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Catlike Whisper:

Plusses - good ventillation and non-dorky looks.
Minuses - $229.00.

Not going to happen at the Grouch household.
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Old 01-26-11, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Nightshade
"Catlike Whisper". Now there's a creepy otherworldly design !! The shape of the holes reminds me very much of the creepy frogs that carry their young in holes in the back!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCayq56wHSA
Holy crap!
Never heard of this before.
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Old 01-26-11, 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Catlike Whisper:

Plusses - good ventillation and non-dorky looks.
Minuses - $229.00.

Not going to happen at the Grouch household.
Agreed.
I'd be happy to try one ... for 25% of that price.
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Old 01-26-11, 08:58 PM
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No swoop here.
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Old 01-27-11, 03:22 AM
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Originally Posted by Zephyr11

No swoop here.
Except for the spoiler on the back!!
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