I post this stuff mostly in the “aero sensors for dummies” topic. But just wanted to post this up.
I scoured the interwebs for deals on these popular and “en vogue” TT and triathlon skid lids. I got the Tempor first as it was “the thing” at the time and I got one from the UK at fair retail BNIB before the “craze” threw them to rare air status and fetching $400 on Ebay. I didn’t pay anywhere close to that.
I got the Aerohead here on ST classifieds from a long time member for a good deal. I got the Aeroswitch at the UK TT forums for a freaking steal versus retail.
So, some opinions versus data first:
Tempor:
-I don’t dig the press fit velcro style visor attachment, but it works. Also this visor seems much less likely to break than the Aerohead.
-For me, it vents fine. I bought a white one though, so probably reflects some summer heat.
-Latching and padding is fine. Latch isn’t the “boa” style but works fine.
-Visibility when you wear it as a racer would is good. My sweat tends to drip and barely miss the lower part of the visor or hit the lower part I’m not looking through anyway.
-Very very fit specific and also discipline specific. If you cannot hold still, don’t use it. As in, if you think staring at your front hub is fast then look up every 15 seconds to see what you’re about to hit…forget it. Ahem, all those time trial FB group morons staring at the front hub.
-Nice case included.
-Super expensive and rare to find now.
-Quietest helmet for wind noise, almost makes you feel you’re going slower than you really are as it gives a false sense.
Aeroswitch:
-Visor is magnetic and easy, great up road visibility and optics. Super cool to look at. Only little complaint is if you do peek eyes down to your GPS for a second the optics looking down that way give the road a bit of a “Star Wars” warp speed look that’s a bit weird. Looking at the smaller visor than the Aerohead, you’d assume you feel claustrophobic or visibility worse. Nope, somehow you get the field of vision you really need. Best of the three.
-Vents fine, it is a bit loud of a helmet IMO. A bit tight on the ears to me. Traditional “boa” tightening. Nice case was included, I bought used but not sure if included new.
-Not US safety stickered and super expensive new. I will not race it, but likely keep as my “training or testing” TT helmet.
-Maybe a little less fit specific than the Tempor, but still a tail on back helmet. So same comment would likely apply about folks who rock, look up, move a lot.
-Probably my favorite helmet to “wear” and “be seen wearing” from the bunch
-2nd place on wind noise.
-Nice case included.
Aerohead:
-Frankly, the visor is shit. They all break/crack all the time. Magnetic. Luckily my head is such I can put it on without removing the visor. Next up, the front “angle” or wedge shape of the helmet between your eyes on the front does forward visibility no favors. Huge visor for that flaw. I tilted it back best I could to help with this, but for my fit this was by far the worst skid lid for looking up road. I think you need a more “heads up” Ganna style head position to eliminate this issue.
-Vented fine, boa style latching, comfy, roomiest of the three.
-Worst on wind noise, but not by much, about same as Aeroswitch. Both pretty loud.
-As I’m aware, these are sold without a case. Big minus there for the cost. Maybe this is why they retail a bit lower than some other TT skid lids.
-I’d assume less fit specific, but due to my fit not playing to this helmet’s talents, it didn’t shine.
-Case not included…so add $50 to the $300 new price tag…putting this lid into same price category as the other lids presented here. Which is disappointing. But I got mine a deal used, so that’s way to go.
The data: laps within 1 or 2 second time per lap, power consistent, cal factor identical for laps analyzed, some lap to lap variability but the trend was the same for all: avg’s, lowest lap, highest lap, etc… all matched the results. About 7 miles of lap data per helmet. Zero vehicle traffic affecting runs. Windy day, so I assumed the Aerohead was going to win or do well. I was wrong. Wind wasn’t completely side-on, it was more of a head/tail situation…but still.
Win: Tempor (baseline)
Place: Aeroswitch (.007 slower)
Probably for sale: Aerohead (0.016 slower)
I didn’t “gain” anything here, just prevented loss as I already race with a Tempor. I wanted to like the Aerohead so much as it is so popular and so well regarded. I really just don’t care for it. Personally for TT, it was slowest. Also, for all the parts of it that don’t make you go fast…I didn’t like it either.
Next I will probably sell the Aerohead and find a used Mistral as the Mistral carries the US safety sticker. If it ties the Aeroswitch or is “close enough” and the intangibles are good, I may sell the Aeroswitch at that time so I can have a “race day” US stickered helmet and a “backup” with the US sticker also.