With the decisive time trial of the Tour Of California taking place tomorrow, Road Bike Action took a look at some the time trial helmets that the riders will be wearing. Despite many similarities, it was surprising to see the different approaches manufactures have take to cheat the wind.
Tom Boonen and the rest of the Quick Step has switched to Specialized helmets for the 2009 season.The yet to be released Specialized time trial helmet could be the most sought after time trial helmet ever. Wind tunnel data ranks the Specialized as one of the most the aerodynamic helmets in the professional peloton. Currently the helmet is only available to Specialized sponsored teams, but word is they will be releasing it to the public in 2010.
The Uvex time trial helmet features a classic chrono design with a long tail that lies flat on the riders back and is covered on the bottom. The Uvex also features low sides to cover the rider’s ears and includes an integrated face shield. Unique to the Uvex is the absences of frontal vents
Cavendish waits for the start of the prologue with Team Type 1 rider Phil Southerland. At the Tour of California the Rock Racing and Team Type 1 debuted the Louis Garneau Superleggera time trial helmet. The Superleggera has 2 huge front vent inlets and 3 large back vent outlets for maximum airflow. Compared to its predecessor, the Rocket air, the Superleggera weighs 50-grams less and has the center of gravity adjusted to create less fatigue at the neck area and make it easier for the rider to maintain an aero position.
The most significantly addition compared to the Rocket air is that of a texturized frontal area that increases laminar airflow. The surface roughness causes the flow to transition from laminar to turbulent. The turbulent flow has more energy than the laminar flow and thus, the flow of air stays attached to the helmet longer.
The Giro Advantage 2 first made its debut in the 2006 Tour de France after being developed with countless wind tunnel hours and the feedback of professional riders – including Lance Armstrong.
Through tunnel sessions with Lance Armstrong and other professional riders the Advantage 2 was designed to be as aerodynamic as Giro's helmet fairings (a helmet shell with no impact absorbing material). The result was that the Advantage 2 produced remarkably similar drag numbers to the fairing design, and is one of the fastest of helmets on the market. For 2009 Giro is offering matching graphics and colors that go with Giro's Ionos road helmet. For 2009 Giro will be sponsoring several Professional teams including Astana and Rabobank.
The BMC team is riding Lazer helmets for the 2009 season. The Lazer Bullet features a teardrop shape with In-mold construction and fifteen vents. The Bullet also features low sides with flexible earpieces. The Bullet has been on the market for a few years and will soon be replaced at the top of Lazer’s product line by the yet to be released Tardiz.
Oscar Freire waits for the start of his prologue run. Rabobank is just one of the teams using Giro's Advantage 2 time trial helmet.
The new Rudy Project Helmet replaces the Syton Supercomp. The biggest difference is a longer profile that now extends to the riders shoulders, and reduction of the number of vents. Carrying over from the Syton Supercomp is the unique ear-covers on the sides of the helmet that extend down to the cheekbones.
Team Saxo Bank is using the Bell Meteor time trial helmet for the 2009 season. The Meteor offers a teardrop shape with a long tail that lies flat against the riders back. For safety the Meteor uses an EPS foam liner with Fusion In-mold construction. The Meteor features ten vents to provide cooling and is available in several color options.
Garmin-Slipstream rider Svein Tuft adjusts his Giro Advantage 2 before the start of the prologue. The Advantage 2 is one of the fastest time trial helmets on the market – even in argyle.
Best known for their sponsorship of the Euskaltel-Euskadi professional team, Catlike debuted the Chrono Aero Plus time trial helmet in 2007. It is constructed using a molded aero shell with four frontal vents with two exit ports on the back. For 2009 Catlike is sponsoring the Cervélo TestTeam, so expect to see the Chrono Aero Plus on the likes of Sastre and Hushovd.