While seemingly superficial, anyone who has ridden with an aero lid will know the challenge of trying to stow sunglasses when they’re not on your face. They’re meant to be best compatible with POC’s own brand sunnies, but we teamed the helmet with a whole host of brands and found them to hold tight to every single pair. The semi-aero lid did suffer a little with breathability however, and while the ventilation was very good, on the hottest of riding days it could have genesis bicycles done with the ability to suck even more cool air in. That said, on the sweatiest of days in the saddle, we found that the Protone’s water irrigation design is top-notch, managing to avoid channelling sweat down onto sunglasses or into eyes. Our test model in a small weighed in at just 170g (the claimed weight for the medium is 200g). We certainly found that this translated to a featherweight feel on the head, with the ventilation adding to the general comfort.
While there are slightly lighter helmets, such as the Kask Protone helmet, it was still an impressively low weight at just 269g (for a size small). With the invention of mountain bikes, thrill-seekers looked to conquer trails and other natural terrains. But now, with mountain biking being enjoyed by over 40 million Americans annually, it can be hard to figure out how to get into such a popular sport.
Kask uses its Ergo Fit retention system, which allows wide vertical and circumference adjustment of the rear of the cradle, allowing two sizes to suit most head sizes, and there is a comfortable synthetic leather chin strap. Rather than an additional layer like MIPS, Kask uses the WG11 protocol to test its helmets for rotational impact protection. For those going on gravel and long tours on their bike, a chromoly steel frame mountain bike might be something to look into. Being resistant to fatigue and easy to repair, these can handle long-term rides with a fair amount of weight. These bike frames are mainly available from custom frame builders and therefore have a large price tag.
Specialized’s updated S-Works Prevail 3 helmet is designed to be both airier and safer than the outgoing model. Unlike some other aero lids, the Utopia Y is not bulky looking, and it also comes in a wide range of nine colors so you’ll be able to find a look that suits your individual style or genesis bike matches your bike. Despite its closed-off silhouette, the deep channelling and vents under the brow keep your noggin cool and your sunglasses free of sunscreen-infused sweat. You can adjust the retention band down to the millimetre, giving the helmet an excellent snug – yet comfortable – fit.
V2100 from Genesis Bicycles is just what the doctor ordered for on and off-road exercise, and fun. Aluminum four bar linkage suspension frame with a strong spring loaded suspension fork, front disc brakes, rear linear pull handbrakes, and a 21 speed drivetrain with Revo twist shifters from Shimano are the vitals. All this set up with a comfortable riding position featuring a padded saddle and rise handlebars will keep you out of the chiropractor’s office. While her first riding love is mountain biking ,where she’s been European and UK 24hr Champion on more than one occasion, she’s not just confined to the trails and regularly rides – and occasionally races – on gravel and road too. The Lazer Vento is designed as an aero helmet, so ventilation is somewhat sacrificed for speed. That said, this helmet still compares very favourably to other aero helmets with regards to keeping your head cool.
Depending on the type of riding you’re doing, the frame material can either be a large help or a huge detriment. The benefit of rigid bikes is that they can be more efficient over smooth terrain since there is no suspension movement interfering with pedal efficiency. However, today many hardtail mountain bikes, including some Trail models, have a lockout on the suspension fork meaning you can have the benefit of suspension when you need it and the ability to lock it out when you don’t. Where we’ve been able to link to a review, it means that we’ve put the head protection through its paces. All of the members of the Cycling Weekly Tech Team have years of experience in riding bikes in all disciplines and have a huge wealth of knowledge and wear helmets almost every time we ride.
A long-term favourite with excellent all-round performance, Giro’s Aether definitely deserves consideration. It is light, airy and includes MIPS along with extra reinforcement in its construction. There are loads of colour options to choose from and it’s very comfortable to wear. However, recent technological advancements mean that many helmets offer extra systems that provide even greater protection. MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), for example, is designed to prevent damage caused by oblique or glancing blows that rotate the skull around the brain.
We found it was a very comfortable lid, which provided a close fit with Met’s ‘Safe-T Orbital’ fit system with retention dial. It also had sufficient ventilation thanks to its three small vents on the front and further two ‘exhaust’ holes at the rear – included to channel air out the back. It has a clever magnetic visor system, but bear in mind the visor is quite long and therefore may take some time to get used to. These are mainly suited for slopestyle, freeride, and dirt jump bikes, such as the Cannondale Dave, as they’re stiffer, stronger, and lighter than other sizes which means that they accelerate faster on smooth surfaces. Being a noticeable amount lighter than other types of frame materials, carbon fiber frames are sought after by those looking for a professional edge, as they’re commonly used for higher-end bikes.
Top tube length is the difference between the head tube and the seat tube, functionally the distance the rider is from the bars when seated. Reach is the distance between the center of the bottom bracket and the head tube, how far the rider is from the bars when standing on the bike. 26 inches used to be the standard size for mountain bike wheels, but now 27.5- and 29-inch sizes have taken over the market. It has a substantial amount of resistance to corrosion and the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all metals. And like chromoly steel frames, titanium frames are primarily available from custom frame builders. As mentioned in the previous section, different suspensions accompany different types of mountain biking.
The Ventral is one of the lightest helmets available, making it ideal for those who measure rides in vertical metres rather than horizontal kilometres. Excellent ventilation helps in the heat but the adjustment mechanism is a bit basic and there is no MIPS to save weight. Specialized Soil Searching is a movement to recognise, celebrate, and support the trail builders who help shape our sport and our stoke. That tender closed in mid-February, and Elevation Parks, Dirt Art’s bike park management and development arm, had won.