Giro, Bell, Uvex and Selev all now make UCI race legal TT helmets but are they allowed in races held in North America? I noticed many of the Europeans wearing these helmets during the Hawaii Ironman but what about other M-dot events like Eagleman?
I’m thinking about buying the Selev Chrono in silver but I don’t want to waste my $$ on a helmet that I can’t race with.
So can I race with one of these models?
Dave from VA
Merry Christmas!!!
bump
.
UCI race legal TT helmets but are they allowed in races held in North America?
Why wouldn’t they be?
(And do you have a link for the helmets you mentioned- the only one I could find was the Selev.)
I know the bell is legal in Europe but not here. They don’t meet the US regulations. Unless you can buy them here, I wouldn’t wear it. If they were legal here someone would import them.
DC Pattie,
To be legal in the US I believe these helmets must meet or obtain CPSC (Consumer Products Safety Commision) and/or ANSIA? approval. If they don’t or cannot meet those standards and obtain the approval of either of those product safety testing organizations, then those helmets will not be approved or legal for US/North American? racing.
If those helmets are marketed as having either or both of those certifications/approvals, then you should be safe in being able to use those helmets in US/North American events.
.
The two rating systems that I’m aware of in North America are Snell and ANSI (both appended by some numbers and letters that change periodically, but the certifying body remains constant - Snell-B90 is one that rings a bell from a few years back). Here in Canada one can find helmets that are CSA approved as well, but I believe that the Snell/ANSI standards are more stringent.
These standards are a fair bit tougher than the ones in Europe/Asia, and as a result many of the products available overseas are not available here (this is the same reason you can’t buy a Lotus Elise here in North America either - it’s not crash rated).
While it’s highly unlikely that an AG racer would ever be busted for a non-approved lid, if you are a top AG contender or a pro then I highly suggest staying within the rules. Another matter to consider is that these standards are put into place for a reason, and I personally feel more comfortable knowing that my brain bucket has passed the most rigorous standards available worldwide - regardless of whether or not it “had to”.
Khai Hi,
Believe it or not I was busted for attempting to wear a Catlike aero TT helmet two years ago. I had no idea it was such a big deal but it was to them (USA Triathlon), luckily I had another helmet with me that day.
Dave from VA
Wild. I wondered about the Catlike helmets, because Excel sells them but does not mention their certification rating. Guess I’ll stick with my trusty Giro & Louis Garneau lids! 
Giro, Bell = 2006 maybe (in the US)
Louis Garneau Rocket = Late January (this helmet was my favorite from Interbike)
Rudy = possibly March (not a big fan)
Uvex = spring/summer 2005 (is nice, but I like the LG better)
Shain = ?? (not a big fan)
Selev = ?? (the Chrono is not legal, they have a new model that is legal)
My suggestion: get the LG, retail is $180
don’t forget the lazer. it is a pretty kick ass helmet and most retailers should be able to get them as QBP handles them. I just got a new lazer road helmet today, my giro got smashed in a fight between a car and a curb. pretty sweet. and, oh yeah, its got flowers.
flower power baby.
I didn’t forget the Lazer.
Have you seen it?
Yes, I have seen and tried it on at the Interbike dirt demo.
It has a much larger frontal area than the LG in my opinion.
I looked at a lot of the new for 2005 “legal” aero helmets at Interbike also. Very interesting. We have a couple models from a couple vendors on order but haven;t received any yet. I understand the Lazer helmet is available right now in two sizes and three colors from your LBS via Quality Bicycle Parts wholesale distributorship.
According to the USAT rules book, section “V” article “5.9 Helmets”** **a helmet has to comply with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI Z-90.4) helmet impact standard, (ii) The Snell Memorial Foundation (Protective Headgear for Bicycle Users) highest standard for cycling helmets (B90.4?), or (iii) ASTM F-1446 or F-1447 standard.
Out of curiosity I checked my brand new Giro Atmos, in super cool stealth matt black- the new '05 version. It has a very vague label that says “COMPLIES WITH U.S. C.P.S.C. SAFETY STANDARDS…” but does not name the standard.
A good friend and associate of mine, Joyce Donaldson, is on the USAT Technical commitee. Joyce has been responsible for testing the rule compliance of such triathlon equipment as wetsuits in the past for USAT. She is also an ITU certified official. I’ll ask joyce about these new helmets and if she or anyone else at USAT is planning on examining them or finding out if that is even necessary.
For USA Triathlon racing, any new helmets must be certified using the CPSC standard. The ANSI/SNELL/ASTM stuff only applies to helmets older than 1999. The only TT helmet that I know of that’s gone through CPSC is the one from Louis Garneau, but there may be more making their way through certification now?
Pretty silly of USAT to go with CPSC standards instead of ANSI or better yet Snell or ASTM. USAT may as well enforce the CPSC reflector rules. It would be fun to see everybody scramble to put wheel reflectors on a disk.
I remember about 10 or 12 years ago Kenny Fritz broke out a full flegded downhill speed skiiing helmet at Nationals on the track (I can’t remember if it was for pusuit or kilo) and everybody freaked out. They brought this huge box to the start line, pulled the helmet out, showed the Snell sticker to the judge, put it on his head, and he was off 15 seconds later.
It was one of those that covered the full face including the shoulders and had like a 2 ft tail on it, looking back, I don’t even think it was all that aero at bike speeds (I think they are more designed for stability) but sure scared the crap out of the competition.
He won the gold BTW.
Josh, you disappoint me.
When I saw you had replied to my post, I was hoping you were going to explain how to attach those darned wheel reflectors to a disk!
Merry Christmas,
Gerard.
I sure hate to let anybody down…
I would mold in a reflective film during the disc construction so as not to alter the dimple surface…The key would be finding a reflective material capable of withstanding the autoclave heat and pressure. Even so, I think we might still not pass the CPSC testing as they have pretty stringent angle of visibility requirements which more or less would require the use of some sort of 3 dimensional reflector to get the full 180 degrees of visibility. Unless of course we could make a reflective tire casing and tread…
happy holidays!