I see the new Decibel on their site. This looks like a great helmet…I’m bummed I just got an Atmos… 
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=EquipHelmetTeamReplica
But does anyone know if the aero helmets that Vino, Kloden and others rode in the ITT yesterday are available yet?
The new helmet is the “Specialized 2D.” The Decibel is the previous model:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2007/features/specialized_equipment07
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Nope, they’re not on sale, and they won’t be. It’s to risky for them to sell it; they don’t want it to become a legal / liability issue.
The MIT wind tunnel guy (Mark) owns one though, mostly because he helped design it during his internship there. (=
It’s a nice helmet though, and comes with optional detachable visors, although I haven’t seen any of the protour riders using it so far…
Hello Chewgl and All,
Was the Specialized helmet faster with or without visor?
IIRC there was a note that helmets tested faster with sunglasses than visors in the MIT tunnel.
Cheers,
Neal
I don’t get why selling a TT helmet would be a liabilty issue and regular helmets arent…
And yes they can make them cspc spec. A few of the pro tri guys have custom ones from them all certified. TJ for example. They are cool helmets a bit different then the ones in the tour though.
Grant
Faster with the visor(s) (there’re 2 visors supplied with the helmet).
Even faster when we mostly taped up the vents at the back. Those vents were added for style, not on the consultation of any aerodynamicist. (=
I don’t really remember the sunglasses / visor test… was probably conducted when I wasn’t around…
It’s that issue with the tail being caught up in something in the event of an accident. It’s fine for the pros, cos they wear it for competitions; not so much for your average comsumer, who might train with it under non-race conditions. There is something that pros sign that promises not to sue for the special equipment they receive if they were to get involved in an accident with it; you can’t have that with a consumer helmet.
I’m not surprised if the helmets are cpsc spec (although the one I have on hand doesn’t have the sticker for it, just the CE EN 1078 one). It’s just an unnecessary risk for them to take.
Whats special about the tail thats different then any other aerohelmet?
Grant
It’s just a fairly big tail, probably twice as long as the Giro Advantage. You’d notice also notice that the giro and bell helmets that are commercially sold are not the same as the ones used in the TDF; the TDF ones have an addition to the tail that extends it further, and seals up the bottom.
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Specialized unveils '08 goods, plus a peek at SRAM Red>snip<
Milram’s Alessandro Petacchi debuted the 2008 Specialized S-Works helmet at the final stage of the Giro d’Italia, where he took the victory.
“That was entirely due to the helmet,” joked Sean Sullivan, Specialized’s executive vice president.
At 184 grams, the helmet has 20 meters of Kevlar laced through two types of foam. Besides balancing weight and ample ventilation, the helmet also features superlight straps and hollow buckles. Watch for special-edition lids on riders like Alexander Vinokorouv at the Tour.
(C) 2007 Velonews.com
=========================================Specialized showcases new products in Spain
** By Jay Prasuhn **
2D Helmet
Roadies might’ve noticed a new lid atop the head of Alessandro Petacchi at the Giro d’Italia finale this season. That helmet: the 2D, which was probably one of the most shocking debuts. Not because it has a heap of big vents.
No, the feature was bestowed upon us when it was laid in my hand; the thing weighs nothing. Like, seriously nothing. Like 184 grams nothing, to be exact. Lighter than a banana. In fact, Specialized product managers went to the lengths of a detailed slide show on the history of the Cavendish banana and why, while a necessity like a helmet, it’s much heavier at 230g than the 2D. Bottom line: The first helmet to earn Specialized’s coveted S-Works moniker, it’s the lightest helmet to meet CPSC certifications, by a landslide. How?
The 2D uses two separate foam densities. Since impact standards on side are different for side versus top, they made a helmet with higher-density sides and a lower (and thus lighter) density top. They used lighter straps and fittings to drop grams as well. The result is a decrease of 30 percent on weight.
It was a treat to ride, nary there and super-vented on a hot day through the hillside. A big feature we dug centers around the ProFit 360 retention device. Most just snug up the nape of the neck, fitting to the helmet at the temple. On the 2D, the device wraps clear around the front of the helmet, foam helmet padding covering its entirety. Not only does it create more airflow, the padding absorbs much of that brow sweat that typically run into the eyes. The thin straps didn’t stretch when soaked with sweat, either.(C) 2007 Triathlete Magazine
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Later!
Brian
Yes, I’ve seen that helmet too… it’s a very nice helmet. (= Feels like nothing…
Yeah i still don’t think you are going to have liability problems. At probably 250+ for the helmet like the other aero ones such as the LAS and Spiuk. I doubt there will be many people that buy it just to wear it around training.
Grant