I’m about to order a new helmet. If you don’t know your position from a wind tunnel, what is the likely fastest helmet? I’ve read here that the MET Drone Wide Body II and the Rudy WINGDREAM are likely the best blind choices. What’s the vote here?
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Wingdream for me. Replaced my giro aerohead. Definitely a hair faster in my training runs but even more importantly more comfortable with more nose room, better visor and visor position. It is kinda big but I love it and I thought the aerohead would be my end all be all until I wore out the strap. Was going to get the strap repaired but I’m not going to since I’ll never wear it anymore compared to wingdream.
I did get the case Rudy sells for it I find it helpful.
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Anyone in Canada know how can get hands on the Specialized TT5. Can’t find anyone in Canada who has or US site who ships to Canada
Following. Also in the market for a new helmet.
I’m in the market too and intend to get the wingdream as well. Plus usat gives a 25% off so it’s a no brainer price wise
Dang, thanks for the tip. I never would have looked otherwise!
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Your fastest helmet could be a well ventilated aero road helmet like the Specialized Evade 3, depending on how warm and humid it is and how your body handles heat. The difference between a helmet like the SE3 and a time trial helmet will be around 5-10 W, which can easily be eclipsed by the difference in watts you can put out as your core temperature rises. And then probably more importantly is the run afterwards.
Something worth thinking about. I have both types of helmets and will decide which to use based on the weather.
My n=1 Chung aero testing shows the Rudy Project Wingdream is faster than the Giro Aerohead 1 for me. I’m happy with the wingdream so far.
If I had the ability I’d opt for the wingdream. Unfortunately here in AUS, our local contact for all things Rudy project has taken a lot of funds and has not delivered to the point where RP in Italy have gotten involved and to their credit, sorting out the mess of non delivered orders. RP is on hold here tho for the foreseeable future.
As an aside I’m curious to the general consensus of the Oakley Velo TT helmet. Not a lot of info on that one.
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Not to derail the conversation, is a fast Helmet worth the upgrade for someone just looking to finish? I am gearing up for my first full distance, I have the bike and working with a fitter to optimize my position for comfort to be able to go the distance but just using a standard Helmet (Giro Cielo) at the moment.
Go with the helmet that keeps you the most comfortable - ie, well vented for a hot race
Honestly, no. I would still with the helmet you have and then consider upgrades as you progress and either want to improve times or qualify for WC.
They look really cool, though.
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What’s the consensus on what the temperature / humidity tipping point is to make the switch? I’m doing my first “hot” 70.3 , Cap Cana in May.
Edit: for clarity my options are between a Wingdream and Evade 3
Everyone is different and everyone handles heat/humidity differently. I’ve raced a minimally vented aero helmet in Hawaii and Florida and being a smaller guy, was fine. I’ve raced Saint George in dry heat with a vented helmet where I was able to dump plenty of water on my head and have had the wheels come completely off by the time I get to the run. I feel faster in the aero helmet and I like the visor (wind protection) because I wear contacts…so 9 times out of 10 I’m going aero regardless of temp and humidity. Occasionally, I’ll see the forecast and the vented road helmet just sounds better…
Not sure if that helps.
Edit: there are experts in this thread on both of those helmets. I don’t have experience with either.
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Honestly, these helmet gains are just marginal gains, even though they are real. We’re talking like a few minutes saved in an IM, max.
I’m always trying to beat my younger self times and I can’t train any more than I am right now realistically so the fast helmet is totally worth it to me.
I’d also argue that if you’ve spent the $$$ on an aero bike frame and wheels, you probably should also get the helmet, as the aero gains from the helmet are arguably bigger than the aero gains from the frame.
But again, these gains are marginal. If you know you can train yourself to be like 10+ minutes faster in a race, probably work on that first.
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I’ve raced many hot 70.3 races, and I’ve never felt my aero helmet was too hot. Like, nothingburger on the bike. My past two lids were Bell Javelin and Louis Garneau P-09 (with the airflow plug installed). These are pretty much zero airflow helmets, and they have been fine for me.
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the general public is not going to agree with you on that one
Met Drone Wide Body + 1. Super fast, light and comfy!
I’ve gotten mixed results with the OG aerohead vs the wingdream vs the new aerohead.
it depends is the answer. The Rudy is more comfy, bigger visor, easier to see out of and allows a larger range of head positions to see where you’re going. Now is it universally faster? No.
Just checked testing data.
Olympian #1 where I tested the Met Drone, Rudy Wingdream, OG Aerohead, Kask Mistral and new Aerohead -
Results:
- Met Drone tied the Wingdream - athlete chose the Met Drone since it was already owned.
- see above
- kask Mistral - also had the widest CdA swings yet the avg put it in 3rd
- OG aerohead
- New aerohead
Olympian #2 tested Wingdream, Mistral, Aerohead 2, OG aerohead, Met Drone
Results:
- Wingdream
- OG aerohead
- met drone
- kask mistral
- new Aerohead - this was .003 CdA worse than anything.
I pulled some other Wingdream data from athletes I’ve tested:
Wingdream vs Poc Cerebral - Poc was faster by .008 CdA
OG Aerohead vs Wingdream vs Poc Cerebral - Aerohead then Wingdream then Poc
OG aerohead vs Wingdream vs Rudy wing - Aero head, Wing, Wingdream - .010 spread fastest to slowest
The best thing I can say about the new aerohead is, well, Beck said it best, “Give me two turntables and a microphone” and I’ll take on Daft Punk in the electro scene
Hope that helps or at least doesn’t hurt
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Thank you for the info. I am curious testing the new giro eclipse pro or manta aero helmet,specialized evade 3 against each other and verse these giroaerohohead, ruby wd helmets for hot races( kona, nice with climbing) . How much of a true difference it is? Are people feel better wearing the ruby wd in hot races as og aerohead feels like a sauna.