Aside from staying in your bars, wearing the aero lid may be the best thing you can do to ride your best.

...unless you look around a lot when you ride.

even if you look around a lot.

To the OP: Aero trumps just about everything else. P/CdA is one of most important measurements for predicting performance. A person with low power but really low drag can and will often outride someone putting out 50-75w more with a horrible position

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Just curious as to why you are having this internal debate. It seems like you'd want to go with the best equipment in your closet, during a race. This question seems as strange to me as someone with racewheels asking if it's better for them to race with their racewheels or their training wheels.

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My marathon PR is "under three, high twos. I had a two hour and fifty-something."

Unless you are really concerned about overheating (Which is why you test equipment on long rides ideally in similar conditions to a race), why give up all that time.

I'd even argue that with an aero helmet, you could just ride slower at the same pace and mitigate heat issues somewhat. OR compromise with a slightly less aero but well vented helmet. For many "slower" rider with high positions, they might be best with a tailless helmet anyway. IF the tail of the helmet isn't nearly flat of your back, you won't get as much form it.

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TrainingBible Coaching
http://www.trainingbible.com

Do you have the LG vorticce? If yes, and if you actually like that helmet, then....you should definitely take it.
I did an IM with it, super comfy, airs well, and fast. I went with the visor. I was a rocket. LG rocks.

Also, try it out and if it feels faster, it probably is.

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Swim with swimmers, bike with cyclists, run with runners. Train with those who are hard to keep up with. Soon you will be hard to keep up with.

Aero helmet at Cedar Point. That course is relatively flat and when the wind is out of the east (is was last year) you'll have long ride into it.

Here is the course from when I pre-rode it, never mind the wrong turns :P

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/360516909

jaretj

No, I have SuperLeggera with visor

Can't think of one single reason to not wear your aero helmet at IM. The usual poo poo is this pretend issue of poor ventilation, yet having ridden Austria in the hottest year on record I can say it mattered not at all that I wore my Rudy Wingspan and would wear it again under the same conditions. In fact I did, the following year (on a different but equally boiling course).

The good bit is you go faster!

It's all Chrissie's fault.

Should be good as well. What is your concern as to using the aero helmet?
Unless it is a super hot lid (no vents etc) and the race will be hot, then maybe no.

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Swim with swimmers, bike with cyclists, run with runners. Train with those who are hard to keep up with. Soon you will be hard to keep up with.

Great! Thanks for your input!

My concern was that on the long run the aero helmet will be less comfortable, because I will have to keep my head straight to get the most of the aero advantage.
But I will definitely wear it on.

I just have to ask: how can you ride "slower at the same pace"? I mean, I haven't had coffee yet, but that seems impossible.

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The point is, ladies and gentleman, that speed, for lack of a better word, is good. Speed is right, Speed works. Speed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

I think I get it now, so you are wondering
1. Is using an aero helmet in non-aero position, slower than a regular road helmet in non-aero position?
I did an IM with a aero helmet (vorticce) and have broken aero position a few times. This was probably slower than in aero position, but I think the same or faster than with a road helmet.
I did not measure it in a wind tunnel or anything though.

2. Is an aero helmet without the correct position uncomfortable?
I train with my aero helmet sometimes and climb hills or ride on the base bar, it is not uncomfortable for me.
If the aero helmet does not fit right however i would not take it. I noticed that on really long rides like IM, a tiny problem can become a huge one and all you can think about.
So go with something you are comfortable with.

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Swim with swimmers, bike with cyclists, run with runners. Train with those who are hard to keep up with. Soon you will be hard to keep up with.