Hi Jim and other experts, thank you all very much for this great thread!
I'm a typical age group triathlete, just did my first Ironman. I've always used standard road helmets up to this point (Bell Alchera currently), and I already have a tri bike and old (non-Firecrest) Zipp 404/808 wheels. I understand that position and clothing aside, the only meaningful place left to improve from an aero perspective is helmet.
I was super interested in picking up a Giro Air Attack, but right as I was about to buy one, a friend told me it would save far less time than a "real" aero helmet (something with tail). Since I seem to have found the experts, I have a few questions:
- is the Air Attack the new shiny? Do you agree it's not as good as a traditional aero helmet? Are there numbers on this? And is it significantly better with or without the shield? (I wear prescription cycling glasses, so I'll have glasses either way.)
- for us regular middle of the pack triathletes, what would you recommend for an aero helmet? The Rudy Project Wingspan is a popular helmet but how does it compare to others from an aero perspective and comfort etc? Since I'm slow, I'll be spending more time in it but also averaging a lower mph.
- do you have to keep your head up / aero tail down near your back for the aero helmets to be effective? Like, if my head angle is 30 or 40 degrees down, and the tail thus lifted up, have I now destroyed the aero of the helmet and would be better off with my regular vented bike bike helmet and/or the Air Attack (since it has no tail)?
Thank you in advance!
I'm a typical age group triathlete, just did my first Ironman. I've always used standard road helmets up to this point (Bell Alchera currently), and I already have a tri bike and old (non-Firecrest) Zipp 404/808 wheels. I understand that position and clothing aside, the only meaningful place left to improve from an aero perspective is helmet.
I was super interested in picking up a Giro Air Attack, but right as I was about to buy one, a friend told me it would save far less time than a "real" aero helmet (something with tail). Since I seem to have found the experts, I have a few questions:
- is the Air Attack the new shiny? Do you agree it's not as good as a traditional aero helmet? Are there numbers on this? And is it significantly better with or without the shield? (I wear prescription cycling glasses, so I'll have glasses either way.)
- for us regular middle of the pack triathletes, what would you recommend for an aero helmet? The Rudy Project Wingspan is a popular helmet but how does it compare to others from an aero perspective and comfort etc? Since I'm slow, I'll be spending more time in it but also averaging a lower mph.
- do you have to keep your head up / aero tail down near your back for the aero helmets to be effective? Like, if my head angle is 30 or 40 degrees down, and the tail thus lifted up, have I now destroyed the aero of the helmet and would be better off with my regular vented bike bike helmet and/or the Air Attack (since it has no tail)?
Thank you in advance!