Since the last tour we’ve had a huge number of aero helmets - and they’re pretty much ubiquitous across the peloton except on the hottest of days and the highest of climbs.
It used to be that the Evade 1/2 was the pick of the bunch. Fidlock buckle, lowest drag etc. It also had the magic property of fitting my 59/60 head in a medium, whereas most helmets force you into a large but this is a mushroom.
Fit aside, have any of the new group been aero tested? Weight vs safety vs watts?
New Ballista, Evade 3, Furion, Aerohead etc.
Virginia tech has the safest (semi) aero helmet as the Helios Spherical. The first proper aero helmet is the old Ballista MIPS, which is level pegging with the new Evade 3. Bit of a jump, then the Met Trenta MIPS.
I have no aero data of my own but the old Ballista certainly feels a fast helmet, has MIPS, and something I didn’t note when getting it, is very light. Worst thing is you rcan’t hold you glasses easily.
Otherwise can also recommend the vanquish though looks a bit more of a log.
I am no expert, but what I have read is that you have to take any test results with a huge grain of salt cause there are small differences and all of those could be absolutely turned upside down with the way each helmet fits on your individual head. I would pick a newer design from a manufacturer that fits you well. Add in Virginia Tech’s for the safety factor.
And the watts saved changes by your position on the bike. Even one person’s hoods position is not another person’s hoods position because we all are different on the bike and have our head tilted slightly different angles.
I just did a test using the Gibli G10 Aerosensor. It takes wind readings and essentially creates a formula with forces slowing you on one side and forces pushing you on the other then solves it for CdA. It takes 6km per test so I used it to test 7 helmets. That was meant to be the 5 big ones plus two controls though it didn’t exactly work like that. I also tested hoods vs drops.
Yes they did. I worked so hard to try and make that happen while I was there then they managed after I left. Our results mostly agree though there’s some slight movement in the exact order. I also recorded slightly different power differences but our tests weren’t exactly the same so I’d say both of those things make sense.
Same as me they have the s-works as significantly faster and everyone else as pretty much the same.
Interesting that test seems to have a bit different results. Might be a good illustration that some helmets do better in an aero position and some do better more upright.
Take helmet designed for airflow parallel to main line of helmet.
Test it with helmet perpendicular to helmet in the kind of aero tuck that would compliment a British club time trialist but that 99% of triathletes won’t even come near.
Draw conclusions about the use of the helmet all of the time.
The Cadence is a great helmet, but I had issue after issue with the front forehead pad falling apart. After going through four replacements, I finally gave up and switched to an Evade. That was a few years ago, so hopefully they got the issue fixed.
