I am debating on the Rudy Project Wingdream in either black or white. I am going to be racing IM Texas and other hot races, so I was wondering if anyone had insight into this. I know there are some studies out there that say color doesn’t affect the inside temperature, but living in Texas my whole life this is hard to believe.
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I don’t have any data to back it up but I am with you on this. I wouldn’t get black just because of the heat. And I live in Nevada so I am all too familiar with how color absorbs heat.
The residue from the race number stickers is even more visible on black, and for no other reason I’d say go white. Visibility when out training may be a wash, or may increase a slight amount in white. So again, all other things equal then I’d go white (or rather I did/have).
Probably unlikely to be much difference when riding with airflow, but if you’re starting riding later and the sun has been on a black helmet in transition cf white then could take a while to come down, albeit you’ve got wet hair so who cares.
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why don’t you believe the science.
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The answer is to take them both to the wind tunnel and see which colour is faster. I’ve got my money on black, but I hear that red is the fastest colour overall.
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Ferraris are red
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color doesn’t matter. it’s what matches best with your kit and bike! ZOOM ZOOM.
Hi, I have gone back and forth on this too especially racing in hot conditions. From what I have experienced, the helmet’s ventilation and airflow matter way more than color when it comes to internal temperature. That said, in brutal Texas sun, white does feel a bit more forgiving when you’re standing around or riding at lower speeds. Once you’re moving, the difference is pretty minimal. If heat is your main concern for IM Texas, I do lean white but honestly, fit and aero gains should be the deciding factors.
^^^^^^This.
The exterior surface of the black helmet will be warmer, but with all that foam (basically a beer cooler) and the internal airgaps there is virtually no conduction of that heat to your head. The cooling in a helmet comes almost exclusively from the airflow (convective heat transfer), so exterior color is irrelevant.
The fastest helmet is black in the front and white in the back. I’m sure someone has calculated what fraction of a Watt this will give you.
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One trick to prevent the sticker residue is to stick the number to the back of some masking tape, and then apply that to the helmet (works for frame numbers too). That way it’s masking tape adhesive sticking to your helmet, which removes easily and w/o residue.
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Done insulating tape and clingfilm on frame (I saw a bike sticker take off the paint from someone with the same frame as me). Not done it with helmet, but then as above with a white helmet….
But good point, well made, and helpful contribution to the thread.
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