True benefit of aero helmet?
747
Member
789 days
CadenceGuy posted 1 year ago.
Not to not want to comment but if you do a search on your subject this topic has been covered on numerous occasions before. I think youll find a ton of pro's/con's/and who cares there.
-Im for em, I have one and think the aerodynamics of it make a difference. Ive raced in the 90's for temps before and found the ventilation just fine. Make sure you get one that matches the rest of your gear.....
3487
Member
1887 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
"...Also, if one is able to maintain proper head position for the entire ride, can this result is neck and shoulder stiffness affecting the run? ..."
This is not an aero or non-aero helmet issue.
If you are not able to comfortably ride in 'your' aero position for just an hour or so (assuming 40k) then I would be looking at your bike fit.
I race with an aero helmet - I also have no issue with riding in hot temps with it.
5333
Member
2119 days
kylie posted 1 year ago.
Another with no issues racing in hot weather with the aero helmet, and the same for the husband as well. Only time I see it being a big difference in overheating is if you rely on pouring water over your head to cool off.
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
307
Member
646 days
J.Michael posted 1 year ago.
I have no issue with my giro AV2. It has less than 1/4 of the vents on my regular helmet.
kylie wrote:
Only time I see it being a big difference in overheating is if you rely on pouring water over your head to cool off.
I'll never understand how people do that. If I'm hot and spray cold(ish) water on my face/head, it freaks me out and I have a hard time getting my breathing back on track.
Some sort of reflex?.....
The only issue I have with my aero helmet is practicing for a few bricks before a race. The looks that I get are priceless. But people do kind of give you the feeling you left the house without pants.........again.
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
— Winston Churchill
2433
Member
822 days
TriSooner posted 1 year ago.
This article includes an attempt to quantify the gains. IMHO, they are a prime example of trying to buy speed.
164
Member
438 days
dkhartung posted 1 year ago.
Thank you all for the helpful opinions. I don't generally need to pour water over my head to stay cool on the bike, so that's not an issue for me. My only concern is that I have a tendency to look down occasionally to keep my neck and shoulders loose. Obviously a bad habit I need to break since it is going to affect my drag regardless of what I'm wearing on my head!
I'm looking for opinions regarding aero helmets; specifically, I'd like to better understand the real impact on overall triathlon performance. After looking at some of the windtunnel research I have no doubt that an aero helmet when properly used helps to reduce drag leading to a faster bike split. Great for a timetrialist, but I'm wondering if anyone has seen any data on the impact this may have on real world performance in Olympic of 1/2 Iron distance races. My concerns are:
My biking improved last year (holding just north of 20mph pace for a 40K in Olympic distance tris). I'm working hard this offseason to improve, but "free speed" through lower drag is obviously attractive. That said, I assume that the drag improvement is only realized if one can maintain proper head position. Otherwise, the tail of the helmet could end up acting like a parachute! Also, if one is able to maintain proper head position for the entire ride, can this result is neck and shoulder stiffness affecting the run?
I race primarily in the MidWeststern US. That means the bike leg is often taking place with weather in the 80s and humidity in the 80% range. Aero helmets do not appear to have much ventilation for obvious reasons (more ventilation, less aero). To what extent does one end up with a faster bike split, but greater dehydration coming off the bike, and therefore a much tougher run. Sure, the obvious answer is to drink more on the bike, but I'm not sure if I can carry or consume much more as I already put down 60-70 oz. over a 56 mile bike leg, and often grab another bottle along the way.
So, is anyone aware of more holistic research that looks at both improved aerodynamics on the bike leg AND the potential negative effects on the run (if any)? Personal experiences?
Happy training,
Douglas