USA Cycling accepts the Europeon standard, but they still do not meet the US CPSC standard.

Is this why there is no real US distribution/sales?

Most likely, too much potential liability for the distributor/retailer.

They dont have a US distributor so maybe they never submitted them for approval?

Apparently at some point, Orbea is going to be selling them in the US. Orbea is the UK distributor also I believe.

I'm not realy familiar with the why's and wherefores of why the Catlike helmets don't pass the US standards. I think the origional Kompact helmet had a retention issue which was fixed with the Kompact Pro model.

Sometimes however its probably more a jurisdictional issue rather than anything serious. The Giro helmet that Lance wore which you guys all love doesn't pass the Australian standards however Catlike helmets do. I suspect management at Catlike took a dislike to the US standards people and simply decided not to resubmit thier helmets for evaluation. Who knows realy?

My two bobs worth was that the Catlike helmets had many desirable design features and the one feature I didn't like on the Kompact, the pointy bits at the back were removed for the Whisper design which looks better to me.

Regards, Anthony

Lot of people like them... they are different. I just like a cleaner look... I use a Rudy Project Kontact- light, sleek, not something every other guy is wearing... and although they go for a hundred something in the stores, I got mine off eBay for 40 shipped. Wasn't even listed in cycling, the seller had it listed as "Brand new and boxed sports/bike riding helmet"... steal. Sweet.

Hate to bring a thread back from the dead, but is there any word on Catlike distribution in the US?

I have looked around quite a bit but can not seem to be able to source a Whisper helmet without getting it shipped from across the pond.

They've been permanently banned for crimes against aesthetic design.

http://www.prendas.co.uk/

This place sells them and ships to the US as well....

It's funny that they don't list/have a US dist; http://www.catlike.es/english/index.html...I bought mine from my LBS (http://www.pedalheadroadworks.com/ $309),...I dont think they fit small either, My Whisper plus is a Small while my Specialized S-Works is a Medium, I guess it all depends on your head...good luck with your search.

They even come with a nice case :thumb:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...S/CatlikeW.jpg

I just checked the prices of these helmets here in France since they are supposed to be a Euro thing.. They are incredibly expensive. All the good looking models are about twice the price of top of the line models by other makers. Ouch!

How much are they?

:wtf: ?

Catlike Kompact Pro: £74.95 ($147.089375)
Catlike Whisper Plus: £119.95 ($235.401875)

I have not seen any model with a price below EUR 150 which is roughly USD 250. I hope they do fit as good as I'm told at this price.

stop. stop. stop...

WTF are you thinking?

$234 (todays ideal exchange rate for €150) is a ridiculous price to pay for a helmet when a giro pneumo can be had for $90, or an atmos for $100.

+1

The catlike helmets are not very good aero anyway. Those holes cause a lot of turbulence. Although they direct the air to your head well it causes more aero drag.

That is probably a moot point though when you consider they are just hands down way more expensive. I see a catlike helmet registering somewhere on my radar near carbon pulleys. Sure it would be nice and yes i might someday if i have the money burning a hole in my pocket but probably not.

I thought helmets with higher volume of lower-density foam are better at reducing impact forces. The deceleration of your head would be more gradual, the brain less likely to bruise.

Actually my Whisper was the quietest helmet I ever wore.. it just didnt fit all that well with my big melon.

ive always thought they looked like some kinda dried out sea creature... they do stand out really well though...

i prefer the look of my rudy kontact+

Catlike are using the same grade of foam as for motorcycle helmets where as most bicycle helmets are using lighter grade material. It may seem counterintuitive but a helmet made from the higher grade foam with a completely encompassing shell is much stronger and will provide greater protection to a blunt impact (Road) than a helmet made from lighter foam and a flimsy shell which is at risk of breaking. It sounds right to say that you want a slower de-acceleration but the forces are really great and a soft foam will completely lose its compression ability before the job is done or what usually happens, just disintegrate. Lots of people post commentary that their helmet broke in a crash and therefore must have saved their head where as from a technical point of view once the helmet has broken it has stopped absorbing the impact and isn't really providing protection. I know someone somewhere posted a picture of a Catlike Compact with the rear fin broken and this is one of the reasons why I didn't like that design element of the helmet but otherwise it was quite intact.

Regards, Anthony

They're a bit pricey! I got my Whisper from a shop in the UK for ~£96. However, it's the best bike helmet I've ever worn! :thumb:

That is without question the dumbest looking bicycle helmet I could ever imagine. But I'm sure it would look good on you.

More vents does not equal more airflow. Channeling inside the helmet (getting air to move across the head and out the back) makes for a cooler helmet.

Fabulous! I've got pics coming.:D:D