Helmet and Saddle Opinions
 

So when it gets hot out I sweat...A LOT...buckets even...looking for a decent helmet that will help keep my head cooler, I hesitate to say price not an issue....what's a great helmet out there for good ventilation?

Also looking for a good saddle to keep the tailbone more comfy, don't want to break the bank...so opinions on this would be great too.

Is this Fizik any good at this great price?

http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/st...effrsm@tds.net

From my experience, Catlike, Specialized Prevail, Echelon and Propero also works well for me.

As far as saddles are concerned, totally ass dependent. Some have been lucky enough to get them on the first or second try at a very cheap price and some had to go around the rings of Saturn and spend some money. The Fizik is excellent, if it works. Any saddle that keeps your ass on the bike is worth any money.

I tend to prefer Specialized helmets. They seem to fit my head better than the others I've tried. You might also consider getting a wicking cap to go under your helmet, often called a "do-rag". I like the headsweats shortie. I started wearing them last summer when my wife complained that I was returning from my rides with tiger stripes on my forehead. I've found they do help. Prior to using them I would find my head would start itching on a long ride. That's a rare occurrence now, since I started using the sweat-wicking liner caps.

Saddles are a tough call. Everyone's butt is different. That Fizik looks like a good deal, however. Many bike shops have a gel-filled bench that you can use to get a measurement of your sit bone width. That can help narrow the choices, but it's still a very personal thing.

Check some of the for trade threads here on BF. You may be able to get a steal on a saddle that didn't suit someone else.

$99 Lazer 02 with great fit + $15 skull cap. They work well for me in Houston and buzz cut head...

I just bought a Specialized Echelon II, seems to work well. Like everyone else said, saddles are tricky. Last year I demo'd 6 or 7 different saddles. I finally ended up with a Specialized Avatar pro. Not the priciest saddle out there but it works for me. See if you LBS has a demo program, if not there are a few online.

I currently use a Specialized Echelon helmet, and while I love the fit and finish I was hoping there was something out there with more cooling powers, I use halo headbands to divert excess sweat but in the middle of my ride on a hot day last week the thing gave out and I had it pouring in my eyes. I'll have to check out other helmets at an LBS and the head topper "do rags" as well...

The sadle on my Alum frame Jamis is a Bontragger from and LBS that I was "fitted" for and it's just OK...the saddle on my Jamis Xenith is the stock San Marco ASP and while comfy for the first 15-16 miles, if you get beyond that then it's not so great...I'll do more research as well.

Keep the opinions coming...

Thanks all!

JK

Giro Savant helmet - I'm a new rider and have a lower budget than most people here it seems. I just went from a Giro Transfer(universal fit) to a Giro Savant and must say that it breathes well and the adjustment mechanism is much better. Most reviews tend to say it is a great value for a road bike helmet. I got mine for $64 shipped from Amazon but prices fluctuate depending on size/color option. http://www.amazon.com/Giros-Savant-H...ds=giro+savant I bought it without trying it on and went off measurements when deciding on size to order and it fit just fine. Amazon returns are a piece of cake anyways.

The higher end MET helmets have neat gel pads instead of foam...very nice if you get very sweaty.

I will have to check them out...thanks!

Helmet ventilation - you can't break the laws of physics. Air can absorb only a certain amount of moisture in a given time. If you're sweating a lot and you're not moving very fast you'll overwhelm the air's ability to evaporate your sweat. No helmet will alter the laws of physics.

This means you need to manage your sweat. Most riders simply want the sweat to stay out of their eyes. The rest of the sweat, whatever. The padding in your helmet helps a bit but when that gets soaked the sweat just drips.

For me I use a Halo headband or bandana. This keeps the sweat of my eyes and makes going hard in hot conditions a lot more manageable. There's another product, the Gut'r, but I haven't used it.

For helmets I have a Bell Volt and Gage, used a Specialized S-Works and Prevail (or similar), Giro Atmos... they all fail to alter the laws of physics so I get sweat in my eyes even during a fast race. On hills the sweat can be overwhelming.

To reduce sweating you need to reduce core temps. I've done races in pretty warm conditions where I finished almost shivering because I was really good about dumping ice water on my torso. Insulated bottles really help - with heavily insulated Podium Ice bottles (no longer available) I can do 90 minutes of racing with about one bottle of ice water in 85-90 deg temps, 80-90% humidity. With non-insulated bottles I'd go through three bottles, two of which started out frozen solid, and still run out within an hour.

Saddles are like wives: A very personal choice. Choose the wrong one and, well, you will experience pain.

Good points all around, and as I stated above I do use th Halo headbands and they only work for so long....I was hoping the helmet issue would just help more of the moisture evap and help a little....found this MET helmet:

http://www.bikeinn.com/bike/met-sine...FYU-Mgod7gQAiw

Claims to have the best ventilation possible as the design is based on animal heads of some sort (such as turtles) where air helps dry water off more quickly....only issue here is the cheek clenching price!

Saddles are like wives...love it....maybe I should have my wife pick my next saddle...she's a keeper!

I have both the Echelon and the Lazer Genesis, and I'd give the edge to the Lazer for better ventilation. The Echelon is about 40 grams lighter (weighed on a very good digital food scale, not relying on published specs).

Both fit me very well.

Which saddle to she most remind you of? Oh God, please don't say Brooks...

I can't resist......

Giro Air Attack


*ducks for cover*

Wow - you sit on one of those?

yup and I wear a Brooks Swallow on my head!!!

Affleck, you the *bomb* in Phantoms yo!

The air traveling through your helmet will never ever be unable to evaporate the sweat if not, some of us would like steam trains while riding

You have picked the wrong sport. Check out something more budget oriented, like yacht collecting.

Oh she is definitely is a brooks or a high end Fizik, city girl born into the good life and likes the best...but she's a peach of a woman!

I already have a boat too! 21 foot yamaha jet boat, no yacht for me...

OK...sorry, but this one confuses me.....

Funny you mentioned that. I'm getting ready to have papers notarized today for selling my boat/yacht. I will have more money now though...a lot more