I have an option to get an aero helmet (barrowed) for steelhead, I average 21mph on flat courses can I benefit from aero helmet?
swimfan,
According to some of John Cobb’s early wind tunnel testing results, even someone like yourself could benefit from aero improvements, i.e., an aero helmet. The surprising thing is that you can benefit almost as much as the fastest rider benefits, i.e, 30+ mph! The explanation is that at any one moment, although your improvement (reduction in drag) is smaller than for a much faster rider, you are on the course longer than that faster rider. The sum of all your smaller improvements ends up totalling almost as much as the sum of the much faster rider’s imrovements.
There was an earlier thread recently that delved into just what improvement was the best bang for the buck aero wise. Many cycling and wind tunnel testing experts supported the notion that an aero helmet, used properly, yielded the lowest cost/benefit for any aero improvement.
I should do a search and read all the post regarding this because there are a lot to consider in a 56mile race. I can not keep my head still all the time, heat factor and types of aero helmets. Thanks.
You need one to be a true poser 
.
We’ve seen a big up swing in the number of aero helmets we’re selling this year. I think people are starting to feel they do get an advantage from them and the supposed concern over wearing one but not going 30 mph average is beginning to wane (thankfully).
I have no way of knowing what the benefits are. I’ve seen the wind tunnel data, but that is sometimes subject to interpretation and or manipulation. You can make test results say whatever you want.
Bottom line: If there is a chance it may make you faster with no additional effort- even a few seconds over 56 miles- it is worth investigating. If you can try for for free by borrowing it and you try it in training with no problems, by all means, us it on race day.
See you at Steelhead!
Tom, this is my first Steelhead, I did a bike ride on the course last Saturday, it was marked and hot as hell which made me to think twice wearing my Syton. How hot usually does it get in August??? Some parts of the road was newly paved and the heat was coming from the ground up!
Normally, I’d say yes, it’ll make you faster… buy lightening your wallet, but since you are borrowing it, no.
We’ve seen a big up swing in the number of aero helmets we’re selling this year. I think people are starting to feel they do get an advantage from them and the supposed concern over wearing one but not going 30 mph average is beginning to wane (thankfully).
This is the 3rd year I’ve competed in the time trial series at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. I’m not sure I saw a single aero helmet the first year. Last year maybe 10% of the participants had them. I got mine mid-season and was definitely in the minority. This year the number of participants is up significantly and I bet around 50% are wearing them - and just about everybody that is actually trying to be competitive.
I was at Steelhead in 2004 and it was hotter than hell, seriously hot day. But you typically will get a cooling breeze off the lake which seems to help a bit.
It will make you faster if it lowers your CdA. Now how are you going to determine if it does that? Dropping a huge teardrop on your head doesn’t necessarily make you more aerodynamic.
Maybe, but since what it’s likely to be replacing is a vented helmet of similar overall frontal profile, then I’d suggest there’s a high likelihood that the simple fact that it’s a nice, smooth dome is likely to be of significant benefit.
FWIW, I’ll be racing the UK National 12hr Championship this year, and I wouldn’t dream of wearing anything other than my aero helmet on my head, and I only expect ot average 22mph.
“I’d suggest there’s a high likelihood that the simple fact that it’s a nice, smooth dome is likely to be of significant benefit.”
Wait, I thought smooth was now bad and dimpled was good! Either way, it’s your money, have at it.
Good luck in the 12hr race. That hurts just thinking about it.
I somehow doubt that when aerodynamics experts talk about dimples they mean the great, big - nay whopping - canyon-like cavities you’ll find on a standard safety helmet.
Maybe, but since what it’s likely to be replacing is a vented helmet of similar overall frontal profile, then I’d suggest there’s a high likelihood that the simple fact that it’s a nice, smooth dome is likely to be of significant benefit.
FWIW, I’ll be racing the UK National 12hr Championship this year, and I wouldn’t dream of wearing anything other than my aero helmet on my head, and I only expect ot average 22mph.
Wearing an aero helmet and only averaging 22 mph, forget it… you’re a poser.
Oh wait, uh, did you say 22 mph for 12 hours??? So you are going to ride 264 miles in 12 hours?
Geez. You’re entitled to use whatever the hell trick equipment you want. Use that helmet with pride.
Yes. The fact that your speed is lower than some means the potential gain for you would be greater as you would be out on the course longer than the 25mph crowd. But it will only work if:
a) it fits.
b) it sits on the head and is postioned correctly.
c) you put your head into a position that maximises the benefit. Most people don’t think about this but for example, when you look down actually makes your head less aerodynamic than it would have been with your old helmet…
bryce.
Perhaps someone else knows where the data from the test is; however, I recall reading that in a wind tunnel test that an “aero” helmet is still more aerodynamic than a regular helmet even when the cone/tip is pointed up.
"Take this rider, and assume this is the position they will hold for 90% of an IM. Combine this position with the potential for some back stretching sit-ups…
http://www.trinewbies.com/phorum2/photos/show-album.asp?albumid=688&photoid=4218
Wouldn’t the above rider be more aero on a true, round, helmet, like the one pictured here?
http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/images/catpics/31-426.jpg
Or at least, is is safe to assume that the round helmet in the girlie photo above, would certainly be AS aero as the Atmos or Pneumo (can’t remember) in the first photo?"
It’s almost certainly going to be no worse and it might be maginally better (because of the lack of a sticky-uppy tail fin), but I’d only say marginally because both helmets have large vents that stop them from actually being smooth, round and aero.
It was an old John Cobb article about the Lance helmet, I think. Though I remember thinking at the time that the data had to have been specific to a 0 degree yaw.
Ultimately if two helmets have almost identical FAs but one has a smooth front and one has big vents, the smooth fronted one will be more aero. And if it makes the rider more aero they’ll be more aero at anything greater than 0 and smaller than infinity mph.
As for the ‘correct wearing’ issue I think that can be solved by looking for a smooth, tight-fitting helmet with no or small vents and no tail.
Oh wait, uh, did you say 22 mph for 12 hours??? So you are going to ride 264 miles in 12 hours?
That’s the plan, anyway.
Blantantly won’t be (depending on helmet design). If you look at the helmet shape you’d want the most effective width-length ratio for any shape to be aerodynamic. The second that helmet tips up you bring the ratio to a very unfavourable profile. It’s like raising the flap on an aircraft wing…