Collapsible bicycle helmets are convenient and portable, especially for people jumping on a hire bike. But new research from the HEAD Lab at Imperial College London suggests they might not be the safest choice.The study was funded by The Road Safety Trust and is said to be the first to compare protection provided by collapsible (or foldable) foam helmets and conventional helmets.It tested 30 commercially available helmets, including six collapsible models, across four impact locations, using a tall drop rig to measure linear and rotational head motion.The researchers found that collapsible bicycle helmets provide lower levels of protection against serious head injuries than non-collapsible helmets.This research will feed into the HEAD (Human Experience, Analysis and Design) Labs Helmet Impact Protection Effectiveness Rating (HIPER) system.Similar to Virginia Safety Tech, this provides consumers with safety data on different helmets and provides manufacturers with insights.Mazdak Ghajari, professor of brain biomechanics at the Dyson School of Design Engineering and a founder of the HEAD Lab, said any helmet is safer than no helmet and that innovative designs that appeal to more people should be applauded. You may like: Are bike helmets about to get safer? This test lab is on a mission to make that happen4 percentage points The MET Vinci MIPS was the top-rated helmet in the study. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media The study found that collapsible helmets presented a higher risk of linear injuries, which include skill fractures and focal brain injuries.The average predicted risk of a linear injury was 24% for collapsible helmets compared to 20% for conventional helmets.While the difference in linear injury risk may seem relatively small, researchers note that even a 4 percentage-point increase could translate into a substantial number of additional serious head injuries overall, a press release for the study reads.However, the study found no difference in protection against brain injuries caused by rotation of the head, which additive technologies such as MIPS are designed to protect against.The researchers said the greater weight of collapsible helmets and the limited use of technologies to protect against rotational impacts contributed to their lower average safety performance.Collapsible helmets were on average 57% heavier than conventional helmets (461g versus 294g). Increased helmet mass was associated with greater linear injury risk, with an average increase of 0.2% risk per additional 10g on a helmet.In addition, rotational protection technologies reduced both linear and rotational injury risks but were used in only 1 of 6 collapsible helmets, compared with 12 of the 24 conventional helmets, according to the press release.Room for improvement The presence of MIPS was found to be a key factor in helmet safety ratings. Sam Voaden / Our Media Overall, five of the six collapsible helmets tested during the study ranked in the bottom half of the protection rankings. But the researchers found the performance gap was not inherent to the helmet designs.This was illustrated by testing two versions of the Newlane Foldable helmet. One incorporated MIPS, while the other didnt have the technology.The MIPS helmet ranked second among the 30 helmets, matching or superseding most of the conventional helmets. It achieved a score of 82.3 out of 100 and a platinum rating, which is HIPERs second highest rating.HIPER moved from a star ranking to a ratings model in 2026 and no helmet has achieved the top ranking of diamond, which requires a score of more than 85.Meanwhile, the Newlane Foldable helmet without MIPS achieved a score of 71.9 and silver rating.So, despite their lower performance, the researchers found these collapsible helmets can be an excellent solution to make helmet use more accessible for cyclists. Which were the safest helmets on test?Out of the 30 collapsible and conventional helmets on test, the MET Vinci MIPS ranked highest, with a score of 83 and a platinum rating.The Newlane Foldable helmet with MIPS came second and the MET E-Mob MIPS came third with a score of 80.3 and a platinum rating.You can see the full results on the HIPER website.

The 2027 Giro Donne has been revealed this Tuesday morning in Rome, alongside the men's Giro d'Italia. The route will begin in Viareggio in 2027, and finish on the Valle d'Aosta. On the way are three major mountain stages and a mountain time trial. The race begins in Viareggio with a stage that wil...

The British Hill Climb scene is a unique cycling offshoot with its own ruleset, not governed by the UCI. The discipline has become a British staple, attracting riders of all abilities from across the United Kingdom, culminating each year in the British Hill Climb Championships. In simple terms, riders race up super-steep gradients ranging from one to 25 minutes, in a time-trial format, though recent editions have featured uncharacteristically shallower slopes. The fastest time wins.Helmets and functioning front and rear lights have been compulsory for all hill climbs since 2021 a move ushered in to improve visibility and rider safety. Previously, helmets were required only for riders under 18; adults could wear casquettes or forgo headgear entirely, something many riders fondly refer to as peak British Hill Climb culture. Because the discipline isn't governed by the UCI 6.8kg weight limit, bikes under 5kg are commonplace even in disc-brake configuration. Before the rise of disc brakes, however, bikes adopted rather unique Frankenstein-like facades underscored by cut-off bars, wafer-thin carbon-shelled saddles, superlight brake calipers and lightweight rubber or even tubular tyres. While many of these bikes still show up every year, and with many historic traditions still being adopted by participants, disc-brake-actuated bikes are on the rise, especially as a new wave of younger riders enters the sport. Disc-brake-equipped bikes benefit from being stiffer and safer to pedal down descents once the hill climb is over. (Image credit: Future / Andy Jones)Before the rise of disc brakes, however, bikes adopted rather unique Frankenstein-like facades underscored by cut-off bars, wafer-thin carbon-shelled saddles, super-light brake calipers, lightweight rubber, and even tubular tyres.Aaron Borrill(Image credit: Dominic Gill)While disc-brake bikes can often weigh as little as 5kg, depending on the configuration, many participants use off-the-shelf builds or team-issued bikes that cant be tweaked because of sponsor commitments. These bikes will often weigh between 6.8-7.3kg but can still be competitive depending on the course profile. This year's fastest rider, Ezra Bateman, rode a stock 6.9kg Van Rysel RCR-R Pro. Over the past ten years, however, one specific bike has dominated the winners' column: the Cannondale SuperSic Evo, which has racked up five wins between Dan Evans and Andrew Feather. Often built to under 5.5kg, the stiff, responsive high-modulus frame has also provided a solid base for a light, reliable hill-climbing machine.Men's British National Hill Climb Championships (2016-2026)YearChampionClimbTimeBike model2016Adam KenwayBank Road Matlock2:18.2Kuota Khan2017Dan EvansHedley Hill Northumberland3:54.3Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod2018Andrew FeatherPea Royd Lane Stocksbridge2:18.8Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod2019Ed LaverackHaytor Vale Devon11:37.0Tifosi Mons2020Andrew FeatherStreatley Hill Berkshire2:04.8Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod2021Tom BellWinnats Pass Derbyshire3:01.7Rose X-Lite2022Andrew FeatherThe Old Shoe Horseshoe Pass5:29.5Cannondale SuperSix EVO Hi-Mod2023Andrew FeatherThe Struggle Kirkstone Road11:48.0Cannondale SuperSix EVO Lab712024Harry MacFarlaneDipton Mill Road Hexham3:09.4Cervlo R3 SL2025Harry MacFarlaneBank Road Matlock2:14.7Trek monda SLR (modified)2026Ed LaverackPorlock Toll Road Somerset14:32.1Scott Addict RC UltimateIt's a bottomless rabbit hole, and riders will often spend an entire year mulling over and experimenting with various bits and bobs as they search for the best combinations. Most bikes will be built around that years Hill Climb Championship course. Routes vary significantly in pitch and distance one climb may suit a particular physique (or bike type) better than the next, adding an interesting dynamic and appealing to riders of all shapes and sizes. While the past two editions - the 1.2km Dipton Hill Road in 2024 and the 835m Bank Road in 2025 - were short, punchy efforts, the 2026 venue tore up the script as far as bike strategy was concerned. Porlock Toll Roads 6.6km was a much longer and steadier test for riders, and the average gradient of 5.5% forced riders to get creative with their setups - almost to the point where lightweight builds were ditched entirely for all-out aero setups.Having covered the British Hill Climb Championships over the years, weve trawled through our archives to bring you some of the most spectacular machines to have (g)raced the pages of Cycling Weekly.(Image credit: Unknown)Kieran Wynne-Cattanachs Giant TCR Advanced SL In hill climb spec, Kieran Wynne-Cattanachs Giant TCR Advanced SL tips the scales at 5.4kg, 6.8kg in everyday guise. What makes this rim-brake bike so unique is that it doubles up as his daily whip a model he picked up brand-new in 2024 from WeCycle in North Wales.Kierans TCR frameset measures in at a size small, which matches his height and weight of 5'8" and 58kg, respectively. Every component has been carefully considered to balance lightweight performance with everyday usability.(Image credit: Andy Jones)Dan Evans' Cannondale SuperSix EvoTwo-time British National Hill Climb Champion, Dan Evans, used a rim-brake-equipped Cannondale SuperSix Evo to win the 2014 Championships on the Pea Royd Lane climb in South Yorkshire.Evans' 2013 Cannondale SuperSix Evo Dura-Ace Di2 tipped the scales at just over 5kg, thanks to a lightweight full-carbon Selle Italia SLR Tekno saddle, Spada Breva 33 carbon wheels wrapped in 22mm Vittoria Crono Evo tubs, and a stripped-down 39T one-by Cannondale SiSL2 chainset.(Image credit: Mark James)Ed Laverack's Scott Addict RC UltimateEd Laverack won the 2026 British National Hill Climb Championship aboard a custom Scott Addict RC Ultimate. At a claimed 640g for a size medium frame and 270g for the fork, his rig is one of the lightest framesets ever made, thanks to the highest-end HMX-SL carbon. Thanks to his Brink Velix-Evo 2.0 wheels (approximately 865g for the pair), Gemini Rigel 1x chainring and 10-26T SRAM Red cassette, Laverack's bike weighed in at 5.9kg with pedals.To ensure he kept with tradition, the Welshman chose to strip his bars of handlebar tape something that would have saved him around 30-50g.(Image credit: Future (Andy Jones))Harry MacFarlane's Cervelo RSHarry MacFarlane, himself a two-time British national Hill Climb Champion, won the 2024 competition on a 2008 Cervelo RS frameset, festooned with graffiti and built up with somewhat obsolete spare parts. Lightweight wheels, sanded-down paint, and custom-made bike lights are just a few of the modifications MacFarlane used on his machine.He used a SRAM Red eTap rim brake groupset (one-by with 38T up front) and Shimano Dura-Ace C24 carbon tubular wheels shod with 25mm Vittoria Corsa tubular tyres to help keep the weight as low as possible. (Image credit: Future (Andy Jones))Andy Nichols' Orbea OrcaHill climb veteran Andy Nichols used the last-generation rim-brake Orbea Orca frameset at the 2024 British Hill Climb Championships. Mismatched in places, it reflects hours of meticulous calculations, all to achieve an overall bike weight of 5.70kg.The build comprises a Bontrager XXX handlebar and stem, an AliExpress saddle, seatpost and carbon-fibre calipers, and an 80mm front wheel to his bike to improve aerodynamics. Nichols finished in fourth place. View his Orbea Orca in detail.(Image credit: Andrew Feather)Andrew Feather's Swi Leve HCFour-time British Hill Climb Champion Andrew Feather piloted a Swi Leve HC bike at the 2024 National Hill Climb Championships. It's a superlight build, featuring a handmade monocoque weighing in at 680g. The bike features an array of Hill climb-specific parts, including a specially developed sub-1,000g disc-brake wheelset from Hunt, the Hill-Climb SL Disc Tubular.Feather's Swi Leve was built around a full 12-speed Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset with a Rotor Aldhu 2x chainring, and also used a Schmolke touchpoint configuration and 3D-printed computer mount to further keep the lard off. Feather's 11,000 (9,200/$12,000) Swi Leve HC bike tipped the scales at 5.4-5.5kg.(Image credit: Future / Andy Jones)Celia Brown's Liv LangmaCelia Browns hill-climbing machine started out as a standard Liv Langma, bought for around 2,000. After an Ultegra Di2 upgrade configured in a 1x setup, she swapped the standard cockpit for a Prime carbon handlebar, which she chopped down to save weight. She also fitted a 100g carbon saddle, which sits at an aggressive angle given the discipline's uphill nature. Her build came in at just under 6kg.(Image credit: Andy Jones)Rebecca Richardson's Specialized S-Works Aethos IRebecca Richardson's featherweight machine is built around a Specialized S-Works Aethos frameset, with hand-painted, Welsh-inspired graphics that make the bike stand out.The tubular wheelset comes from German brand AX-Lightness complete with Berd Polymer String spokes. At the heart of the bike is a 1x drivetrain using SRAMs Red eTap groupset, with an XX1 Eagle mountain bike crankset as yet another adaptation. The 28T chainring acknowledges the harsh reality of hill-climbing racing in the UK.The total build weighed in at 5kg dead.(Image credit: Andy Jones)Birtha Jones' Tifiso MonsBirtha Jones' Tifosi Mons blends a broad mix of road bike groupset components. It pairs Campagnolo levers and a Record short-cage rear derailleur with an Ultegra FC6750 crankset. The weight savings extend to the brake calipers and cables - with individual aluminium links used for the outer housing instead of a standard wound coil in a rubber sheath.Used during her 2021 British National Championship win on Winnats Pass in the Peak District, she opted to ditch a set of carbon Fulcrum Racing wheels for Fulcrum Racing Zero hoops shod with Continental GP5000 tires, because of the biblical weather. A closer look reveals the chopped-off handlebars to shave off more weight. (Image credit: Future / Andy Jones)Chris Potts' Specialized S-Works Aethos Starting at just 585 grams for a size 56, Chris Potts went through every possible component to build the lightest machine possible for the 2023 National Hill Climb Championships. Coming in at just 5.30kg without pedals, his Aethos ran a 1x Dura-Ace 12-speed groupset, complete with CeramicSpeed oversized pulley wheels for maximum efficiency. The Zed wheels were the star of the build. Weighing just 878 grams for the pair, this custom-built set is the lightest wheelset the brand has ever built. The bike was topped off with a Darimo carbon finishing kit and a feathery 63g AX lightness saddle.

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