The new helmets

[Arnout]

A discussion on this is long overdue in my opinion. What's going on with those silly helmets? Sky and Lotto seem to be using them and it's ridiculous. Do they really think looking like an idiot is going to help them winning the race?

Please UCI do something useful for a change and ban them.

 

[Havetts]

Argh.. They are so UGLY. I'd vote to keep McQuaid (maybe not) to get those removed. Bahh.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Argh.. They are so UGLY. I'd vote to keep McQuaid (maybe not) to get those removed. Bahh.

Only if it also came with an outright ban of wearing skinsuits in road races. That is a crime worse than doping.

 

[Michele]

Aereodinamic is the new black.

They did start with aero frames, then skinsuits during roadraces (see yesterday winner at Het Volk) and the latest one is the helmet cover (see today KBK).

 

[hfer07]

lets back up a bit: Are those things "legal"? - I reckoned a thread debating the issue-even an article was published on this matter-SO?

 

[hwyrngr]

I bet when the weather warms up you won't see them.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I HATE them. They're fugly.

 

[Andy99]

Only if it also came with an outright ban of wearing skinsuits in road races. That is a crime worse than doping.

Agreed. skinsuits are FAR worse.

They should still be banned though. They look shyte.

 

[Andy99]

 

[Magnus]

New helmets are old news:
http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/04/04/team-katusha-tests-new-helmet-covers-at-flanders/

And didn't they have helmet covers in the early 90'ies late 80'ies?

 

[Arnout]

I also noticed Flecha didn't wear such a plastic thing, and was not hit in performance. It's absolutely lethal to look at. Also agreed on the skinsuit.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Maybe Flecha's just a better bike rider than them.

 

[goggalor]

It's the same as taking a tow from a car. Everyone who wears those stupid lids would be dropped without it. Ban the lot.

 

[Afrank]

I can't help but wonder if they have a benefit, I can see them as being useful on very cold, windy, or rainy days, or if the rider is spending a day in the breakaway. But I can't think of a benefit they would have for just sitting in the pack and waiting for the sprint. Anyone know what the teams reasoning for using them are?

 

[hatcher]

I also noticed Flecha didn't wear such a plastic thing, and was not hit in performance. It's absolutely lethal to look at. Also agreed on the skinsuit.

Did you not see his sprint?

Personally I struggle to find any helmet attractive to look at. They're all ugly as sin.

 

[usedtobefast]

New helmets are old news:
http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/04/04/team-katusha-tests-new-helmet-covers-at-flanders/

And didn't they have helmet covers in the early 90'ies late 80'ies?

yes they did. i wore them myself.

 

[Fatclimber]

Geez, who cares. If you don't like those, how do you feel about tt helmets? Anyway there's a distinct purpose for them. They probably save three billionths of a watt. That amounts to the width of a derailleur cable strand over 250k. What would you say if your favorite rider lost by that much?

 

[Martin318is]

On the track the ventlesss helmet is a bit of an aero thing but the reason that the covers were created for helmets on the road is weather - not aero. Given how much heat the body loses through the top of the head, covering the vents on the sub 5C or seriously rainy days makes sense. Lots of riders in colder areas used to do things like hats or plastic bags under the helmet. Its only later that people got on the aero advantage idea about them.

If you were a rider and wearing one of those covers solely for aero effect, wouldn't you want it to be completly smooth rather than following the pattern of the vents underneath?

That said, they are ugly but not as bad as skinsuits in road races.

 

[skidmark]

I dunno, I like them better than the vented helmets, aesthetically speaking. Maybe we are just used to the regular helmets so we don't notice how ugly they are in the first place.

 

[Alpechraxler]

FDJ Yauheni Hutarovich just wore a cap under his helmet => rain and cold issues solved.

 

[WillemS]

People don't like change; you'll get used to them. I actually don't mind them that much, the helmets are not that ugly to look at. If there is no better reason to ban them than that narrow, conservative thing called taste, then I would not ban them. Opinions change.

About the increase in performance, all little bits help. Alone, most of the innovations in gear do not add that much efficiency, but taken together they can make that noticeable difference you're looking for.

 

[jens_attacks]

well i hope they won't wear those in the mountain top finishes...

 

[online-rider]

New helmets are old news:
http://www.bikerumor.com/2010/04/04/team-katusha-tests-new-helmet-covers-at-flanders/

And didn't they have helmet covers in the early 90'ies late 80'ies?

Thanks for the intresting link. These would be brilliant for keeping mud and s h i t landing on my scalp and giving me nits. Also I think the helmets look great, Fassa bortolo had a similar one a few years back as well as some other teams.

yes they did. i wore them myself.

Really?, i dont remember any.

 

[Swabian Lass]

They're not the prettiest, but heck, this is a sport where men wear lycra. What do you expect, style?

 

[simo1733]

Surely you can't make it compulsory to have vents in your helmet!