Giro Air Attack

[Kjetil]

prend, when I get mine and if it ever gets warm this year (still Assos Bonka-temperatures 'round here) I'll test it with my rather substantial mane.
That's what my hairdresser tells me it is. She's a flirt, though.

[Kasparz]

^no, it won't actually. The savings are minimal and assume that a rider has a relatively aero position to begin with. Where your head falls in line with/above/below your torso has a much greater affect on drag than this helmet. Switching from poor to good tires has a bigger effect. Even raising one's bars to reduce the frontal area of the arms has a greater affect.

Body position is of course biggest factor. Second is clothing. Third is helmet. 15th...something is your carbon tubs.
Speaking of tubs...handmade top end tubs compared to cheng sheng industries nylon 5$ clinchers will have greater watt saving than low profile alu vs 50mm carbon is we take same spoke count in mind. I have all my gear and position sorted out to the level there is nothing to improve. I even stay to Campa 10, because it is lighter and levers are more aero than 11 speed ones.

[KWalker]

And tell me how that is winning you more races than otherwise?

Anyways, the bottom line is the people that I've spoken to that are required to wear them are heavily persuaded to do so, but otherwise don't seem to think its all that great aside from for cold weather.

[Cat6TT]

A helmet like the Air Attack represents a marginal gain. 12% less drag than an Aeon if Giro is to be believed. Do marginal gains matter? Perhaps if one adds enough of them -- as Team GB did at the last Olympics.

Cat6TT: quick question because it related to the 'cooling' affect you are feeling... How much hair do you have on the top of your head?

Sorry, I missed your question. It is a fair point. I usually keep my head shaved, though I wear either an Assos Robofoil cap or a Walz wicking cycling cap beneath it.

[Kasparz]

And tell me how that is winning you more races than otherwise?

For me it does, for you it will or might not. This is where difference happens.

[KWalker]

People on the internet- slowed down from bike helmet drag. Pros- paid to perform, but could care less

[Kasparz]

KWalker, Pro's very rarely do care about equipment, becasue they are paid to use that. If I'd be paid big bucks to ride a bike wth parts I would not buy with my own money, I would ride that bike.
In several races I do race with Pros and I'm trying to gain every advantage possible. If a rider is slow, of course, no helmet in the world would help. But once again, if it helps for me, I do not care about everyone else on the internet or in the peleton.

[Cat6TT]

I noticed Lars Boom had the forward and top vents of his Air Attack taped over at P-R today. I found an older pic:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/boom-unsure-how-to-deal-with-cancellara-in-paris-roubaix/253397

[KWalker]

Loved seeing the podium on normal helmets and Vanmarcke not use the air attack.

[bura]

Everywhere on this planet we will find people who are not enthusiastic about all the new stuff other people are trying to bring into their lives. Remember back any you will find how many people opposed current "normal" helmets. As the "norm" itself is a standard ,too.How many people are still on the market for "steel is real" etc.?
Here is some defininition of "normal".May be not very normal?
What is "Normal"?
Answer: I don't believe in normal. Everyone is different and a little weird. I think one boring person was "normal" and that just became what people wanted to be. Normal is nonexistent. If people act "normal" they are either boring or lying!

[Kjetil]

Loved seeing the podium on normal helmets and Vanmarcke not use the air attack.

I remember when helmets were abnormal.

[Cat6TT]

Indeed. I watched a documentary on Eddie Merckx yesterday, and not one helmet to be seen on anyone.

Loved seeing the podium on normal helmets and Vanmarcke not use the air attack.

Giro is merely one of the first to market. Just wait until Bontrager and the rest start marketing their own aero road helmets.

[petepeterson]

I am sure vent-less aero helmets provide some benefit however the offerings from Giro and Spec look really bad. For me it's not just an aesthetic preference it's the fact that they still have vents, it just says marketing bullshit rather than design driven by function. If vents are so bad then why not go all the way. If I'm gonna look like fascist space police to gain 0.025W advantage then I'm going to go all the way with something like this:

[UpFromOne]

Didn't Mr. Wiggins opt for one of those in a certain race?

[ultyguy]

I know this helmet would definitely make me faster...I could never allow myself to get dropped and then be seen in one of these