I searched the helmet and yeah, that seems pretty silly, free dose of speed? So going without helmet is what, even more free speed? :D

I will say though I see hundreds of riders on our rides and I have never seen anybody wearing one of these yet. I'll have to keep my eyes open since it's a new item. Helmet for a TT'ist maybe but on the road? :D

super expensive time trial helmets like that have been around for years and years
but are obviously not what the op meant by expensive helmets

its like if someone asked why people pay so much money for fancy cars and someone responds

Yes. Google 'road aero helmet images'. Or watch a bike race.
Ventilation is being sacrificed in the name of aerodynamics.

only time trials
those helmets are not worn in mass start road mtb or cx races
ever

I know that, my previous responses were Giro Ionos level helmets. I prefer them MUCH more than a $40, even $70 helmets. I have several levels (from $40 to $200) so I think I can make a fair comparison.

FB brought up that TT looking helmet, that is why I said I have never seen anybody wearing one out on the road. ;)

Here's a discussion among BFers contemplating the merits of these new generation helmets.
For the record, my helmet was not expensive, but is very well vented and fits my head. If any of you had to pay a lot to achieve this, I offer my condolences.

Nobody said a cheap helmet didn't fit, we said they fit better, more comfortable, and the ventilation is better. What model is your helmet? Have you ever worn an expensive helmet on a long ride of 6 or 7 hours on a hot day or done 5,000 ft -12,000 ft of climbing? I take it you haven't so you will never know the difference in comfort. as mentioned before, for those riders that don't have a $200 helmet and are comparing them to a 30 second try on at the LBS, you're just guessing and hoping your helmet fits as well!

Again, I have several helmets of all levels, they all fit and they all have vents but the better models Giro Pneumos and Ionos are far better on more demanding rides. So much so that even after a while you don't want to waste your time wearing a cheap helmet on short rides. ;)

Really, what model helmet are you wearing? Maybe I have one and can do a ride by ride comparison. :p

this is the only pic i could find of a mass start race with aero helmets

but as a recall the one guy not wearing a helmet still won
i think his bike got stolen soon after
and he may have run into a little legal trouble in florida after that

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=314543

I'm a strong and very experienced rider. My helmet is unbranded, but is a European team replica cheapo. You don't have one. I've used it in the Rockies, Pyrenees, Ardennes, Alps, and Appalachians. It's probably the 10th or 12th I've owned. I've tried on/borrowed more expensive ones at times. But I like mine.
Sorry if I've touched a nerve. You spent a lot on your helmet and are happy it. That's terrific. But stop pretending to be an authority on helmets. It's embarrassing to witness.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/att...pecialized.jpg
http://cdn.mos.bikeradar.com/images/...xlq-360-70.jpg
http://velonews.competitor.com/files...ds-571x421.jpg
(if you'd followed my earlier instructions, you'd have seen all these)

Sorry man, you didn't touch a nerve and I am not trying to be an authority on helmets. I am merely trying to show the OP that your silly opinions on helmets you have never owned are useless. Obviously you don't own and never have owned a good helmet so you should not be posting useless silly comments on their not being a difference as you really have no idea. ;)

The OP wold probably have bought the helmet and had a better cycling experiences wearing it but thanks to your lack of experience and meaningless reviews of something you've never had, he just may never enjoy the benefits of a good helmet. That ignorance is the embarrassment.

oh i did the search you suggested and saw all these but they arent the same thing

firstly
one of these people are wearing the Giro helmet pictured earlier

the astana one seems to have nothing in common with the giro helmet
full of vents and no visor

the scott helmet might be more aerodynamic than the average road bike helmet
but does not have the visor that is only found on tt helmets
the only thing it has in common with the giro helmet is that it has fewer vents than most

the guy in the last one doesnt have any sort of aero helmet
just a cover on a standard road helmet

you have failed to prove your point
you are probably just too cheap to admit you might get something for your money if
you pay more than 25 bucks for a helmet
but thats ok
i still love you :love:

Right back at you.;)
Conjecture and incorrect. But nice try.
I'm not saying that there aren't differences between helmets. I'm saying that one cannot judge their suitability based on price alone. If you wish to say otherwise, I'll leave you to it.

general rule of thumb:

those defending overtly expensive equipment usually spent the money to buy them. On the other hand, those who bash on overtly expensive equipment has not spend the money.... yet.

Is this a correct statement?

I love you more.
But they're all road aero helmets. Including the one on Wiggins (it's not a cover - those are illegal).
They all aim to reduce air resistance at the cost of ventilation. I introduced the concept as a counterpoint to those of you who seemed to think that more money necessitated better ventilation. Still kind of surprised that nobody watched the Tour last year.
I spend lots of money on various things. It just happens that on helmets I recently haven't.

Guess you're not much of an authority either. :roflmao2:

There are covers in the UCI.


For the teams, the cover has to be permanent to be within UCI rules, so Lotto-Belisol riders are wearing Lazer’s with the cover glued on at the factory.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...noggins_227475

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=314565

Bottom one may be a standard helmet with a cover, but the top one isn't.

My teammate just bought one of those Giro aero road helmets. I don't have any photographic evidence though. Will you accept a notarized affidavit?

Oh, I'm sure I will someday Mr. Beanz. Since right now my ride distances usually average less than 20 miles, I'm not on the bike for hours on end, so I guess a lighter helmet isn't much of a concern for me right now. And besides, although I have nothing to compare it to, I think my new helmet is pretty comfortable.

However, once I can get my distances longer on a more consistent basis and I'm on my bike for 3, 4 or more hours at a time, I may find I need a lighter / better helmet, along with other things to lighten the load, maybe even a lighter bike.

:)

I started with a $25 Bell helmet from Walmart. Thought I'd upgrade, when I found a normally-$99 Bell helmet on sale online for $54. Some upgrade! The more expensive helmet weighs an ounce more than the cheap one! Ventilation is supposed to be better (I'll let you know when it gets over 100*...as of now, I can't tell the difference)- but all I've noticed so far, is that the "upgrade" seems to let more bugs in.

I gotta remember to stick to my motto: The "best" is usually the minimum necessary to do any particular job without it being a total piece of crap.

Helmets are a lot like bicycles. If the differences between a $200 bicycle and a $2,000 bicycle aren't important to you than neither will the differences between a $40 helmet and a $400 helmet.

So what do you want a tuna with good taste, or a tuna that tastes good**********

So will be commuting with a Giro Air Attack for at least a couple more weeks. Guess I should mention that in spite of the apparent reduced number of ventilation slots - this thing has more effective and active ventilation than any other helmet I've ever tried. And that in spite of having an integrated visor that you would think would further reduce airflow. Apparently sone design engineers finished at the top of their classes.

Thank goodness you have the intelligence to comprehend my point. As mentioned, you benefit from a better helmet on longer, more demanding, intense rides. Yes, your helmet is more than fine right now, and it will be fine on more demanding rides. My point is that you will feel a difference with a more expensive helmet once you do those more demanding rides, not that your helmet will not work, but you will feel the benefits as far as comfort and energy savings (whether it be due to design or weight).

If reads can comprehend the statements made in the article about the faster helmet, it reinforces what I have been saying the entire time.

But the reason you’ll continue to see these aero road helmets is because they are faster. They may not give an edge on a particular day, but they’ll save energy over the course of a three-week race even if used for only one of those weeks. Remember, stage racing is all about energy conservation.