Engner66 wrote:
I read this over and over again here in ST and I always question it. Not saying that the Aerohead is a slow helmet, but from a pure aerodynamics/fluid mechanics perspective, why will the Aerohead "always (95%)" test faster than all the other helmets that have similar shapes, materials, etc. ?
In my own testing, I could not find any difference between the Aerohead and the Bell Javelin or the Catlike Rapid Tri. All three of them were faster than the Air Shield.
If the Aerohead would have a proprietary patented shape different from the other helmets, I could see it...but . What am I missing? I would also argue that 95% of folks who do a lot of unbiased aero testing work, do not end up with the Aerohead (Say Frodo, Ditlev)
I've found all those helmets you mentioned to be faster than the aerohead for 1 maybe 2 people. Yet typically the aerohead, both in the wind tunnel and field testing I've done the aerohead is the best helmet for the most people across the most conditions the rider is likely to see. (n= >100)
I see helmets get close, or even tie it. For example I know a triathlete who on low yaw days wears the aerohead and on high yaw days the Poc cerebral. The POC tested faster at 7.5 and 10 the aerohead faster at 0 and 5 for her. She travels w/2 helmets. You will most likely be different.
Or in field testing I've seen helmets tie it but when you start looking at the times for the runs the aerohead is almost always :01-:02 faster. Let's say I do A/B/B/A/A/B and the CdA comes back the same but the aerohead is :01, :02 and :02 faster, I'm recommending the aerohead. :05 over 10-11km starts to add up as the distance increases.
IDK about you're 95% of unbiased people testing don't end up with the aerohead. I know a lot of people who test More often than not the aerohead is among the fastest choices. i've tested a lot of pro cyclists, a few pro triathletes, several AG triathletes and cyclists that didn't have a choice and had to wear/preferred to wear something slower due to sponsorship.
I do think there is a crop of helmets that are a lot closer to the aerohead than the crop of helmets that existed when the aerohead first came out. That was 2016 iirc. The EU has more helmet choices than we do here in the US. The aerohead also does not seem to be as much of a prominent / dominate brand in the EU/UK cycling scene. Probably bc of the greater selection of choices.
Brian Stover USAT LII
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