CyclistBest aero road cycling helmets reviewed 2024Aero helmets have taken over road cycling. A helmet is something that the majority of cyclists wear for every single bike ride, and while increasing rider safety remains their primary objective, in recent years the trend has moved away from solely focussing on safety and ventilation to also using helmets as a means of improving performance.The best aero helmets feature some compromises in ventilation for the sake of reducing the amount of power required to travel at a given speed, ideal for those looking to increase the speed of their rides or find an edge in races. This compromise in ventilation can be enough to offset the aero savings though, especially on warmer days. A hot head is uncomfortable and can also impact performance. This is where a semi-aero helmet can be optimal.It is still important to look out for safety and fit features, such as an independent five-star safety rating, the inclusion of anti-rotational impact protection, and adjustability at the cradle and straps/webbing.As far as aero performance goes, key features are often a narrower profile, extended length, fewer vents and deep internal channelling to allow plenty of airflow through the helmet and out the back. This can also aid ventilation but is often more effective at higher speeds.Reviews of the best aero road cycling helmets Abus Gamechanger 2.0: RRP 225 Read our full reviewEko Aerodinamica: RRP 335 Read our full reviewGiro Eclipse Spherical: RRP 239 Read our full reviewHJC Furion 2.0: RRP 180 Read our full reviewKask Nirvana: RRP 320 Read our full reviewMet Trenta 3K Mips: RRP 290 Read our full reviewPoc Procen Air: RRP 360 Read our full reviewScott Cadence Plus: RRP 230 Read our full reviewSpecialized Propero 4: RRP 165 Read our full reviewTrek Ballista: RRP 230 Read our full reviewHow do we test and why trust our advice?All of our product reviewers are avid cyclists who have been riding for many years. They have all built up a huge array of experience from riding in various conditions and testing what kit works and doesnt work in these situations.These helmets were tested in a mix of conditions, terrains and speeds to help determine the effectiveness of the ventilation both at high speeds and low speeds, as well as in warmer summer weather.Over the course of thousands of kilometres these helmets have all been put through their paces to bring you a definitive guide to how they fit, how practical they are, how well ventilated they are, and in theory, using company supplied data and their in-house aerodynamic assessments, how quick they should be. Related Posts Aero vs lightweight vs all-rounder: which is the fastest road bike? Best cycling helmet: Road and gravel bike helmets from under 100 reviewed Bike helmet safety: Standards, testing and tech, plus Virginia Techs top-rated helmets How to get more aero on your bike Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort Best aero road helmets 2024 tried and testedAbus Gamechanger 2.0Price: 225 / $267.69 / 249High venting at faster speedsImproved cooling via brow ventFit is more suited to oval headsVersion two of the Abus Gamechanger adds new features, such as a brow vent to reduce sweating into the eyes, although venting isnt very effective at lower speeds and the head can get hot. Theres also a Mips option. Its a helmet designed to be aero at speeds above 45kmh. A size M weighs 268g.Two glasses ports, one at the front and one at the rear, work well with a range of cycling sunglasses, although glasses can knock against the helmets rim when worn. To up the aero, Abus doesnt include strap adjustment, while the fit works better for those with oval heads.The Gamechanger 2.0 is good value for a pro-level aero helmet and there are nine colours sold for the non-Mips variant, offering plenty of choice.Read our full Abus Gamechanger 2.0 helmet reviewEko AerodinamicaAndy TurnerPrice: 335.10 / $420.93 / 389.99Impressively well ventilatedVery expensiveBig aero brand names back up performance claimsThe Eko Aerodinamica adds to the standard makeup of EPS foam and polycarbonate shell with the inclusion of Koroyd crumple zone inserts in strategic locations to aid protection from high speed direct impacts as well as rotational impacts.Meanwhile the body of the helmet has been designed with aero experts from SwissSide and Pininfarina who have decades of experience in cycling and motorsports aerodynamics.The helmet comes with some strong performance claims, however limited data to back them up. One thing that is tangible is the impressive cooling at speeds above 30kmh and even in temperatures nearing 30C.The lack of glasses storage is a shame, and the rear dial feels a little cheap. Although the helmet is on the heavy side at 332g, this isnt really noticeable.The big number is the price: 335 (although Eko prices in Euros and its products are frequently discounted) making this one of the most expensive road helmets on the market. However, for fast paced rides and race days it may perform well enough to warrant that expense for some riders.Read our full Eko Aerodinamica helmet reviewBuy now from Eko (335)Giro Eclipse SphericalPrice: 239 / $250 / 260Great ventilationMips Spherical technologyGood valueThe Giro Eclipse helmet features the Mips Spherical rotational impact protection system from Giro that includes two separate layers of helmet that can move independently of each other. It was also used in Giros previous generation pro-level Aether helmet, which is still highly rated and is effective enough to have achieved a five-star safety rating in Virginia Techs independent testing.Aero performance comes from virtual aerofoil technology that makes the Giro Eclipse helmet behave as if its longer than it is. The large number of vents and channelling result in impressive ventilation not just at higher speeds but also at lower ones, while clever padding helps reduce the chance of sweat getting into your eyes. All this comes at a good price for a helmet of this calibre, making it an impressive all-round performer.Read our full Giro Eclipse Spherical helmet reviewHJC Furion 2.0Andy TurnerPrice: 180 / $199 / 199Self-adjusting fit system without a dialLow weightNo rotational impact systemTagged as a semi-aero helmet, the HJC Furion 2.0 uses the Venturi effect to help keep your head cooler. It features a self-adjusting fit system, which does away with the usual rear dial and which I found to be effective with the option to adjust just how tightly the rear cradle sits on the head.The majority of vents are at the front and provide decent cooling at higher speeds, although not when riding more slowly and theres minimal internal channelling to promote airflow. The vents arent well positioned for sunglasses storage either.The Furion doesnt include any additional rotational impact system, despite this becoming a feature of most modern helmet designs. At 224g for a size M its weight is low and the 180 price is competitive.Read our full HJC Furion 2.0 helmet reviewKask NirvanaAndy TurnerPrice: 320 / $400 / 360Multipod 3D printed paddingEar covers to improve aerodynamicsOne of the most expensive helmets availableKasks latest aero helmet has ear covers that partially envelop the ear lobes and, Kask says, improve aerodynamics by 35% over its Utopia Y. Ventilation is also claimed to be improved, although I didnt find it very effective at lower speeds.The Nirvana incorporates Kaskss Multipod 3D printed pads, which shear in a crash to provide rotational impact protection, fulfilling a similar role to Mips. There are additional merino wool pads at the brow.The ear covers make it a little tricky to put on sunglasses and take them off, as they get in the way of the sidearms. Sunglasses stowage wasnt easy either. Although airflow over the top of the head is good, its less so at the sides and the Nirvana felt a little hot at lower speeds.Read our full Kask Nirvana helmet reviewMet Trenta 3K Carbon MipsAndy TurnerPrice: 290 / $379 / 330Superb ventilationLightweightMips Air nodeThe Met Trenta 3K Carbon Mips is not a dedicated aero helmet like many in this guide, but it includes a good number of aerodynamics-enhancing technologies and features while being both the lightest and best-ventilated helmet on test.This is in part thanks to the inclusion of carbon fibre in the shell of the helmet to lower weight, while the Mips Air Node system provides lightweight rotational impact protection and assists in achieving a five-star safety rating.On the road, the helmet performs exceptionally well in warmer weather, and while its hard to quantify aero performance, absence of overheating should enhance performance in hot weather.The Met Trenta 3K Carbon also features great fit adjustability and glasses storage. But at 290 it is very expensive. Exposed EPS foam on the underside and the Mips Air rubber tugging on hair prevent performance from being perfect.Read our full Met Trenta 3K Mips helmet reviewPoc Procen AirAndy TurnerPrice: 360 / $400 / 400Uncompromisingly aero helmetBrilliant visorVery high pricetagThe Poc Procen Air is very much a time-trial helmet for the road. In fact the Procen is Pocs TT helmet, while the Procen Air shortens the tail slightly and makes the ear covers removable and smaller to comply with UCI rules..It still uses the Venturi effect, where the vents at the front are situated where the highest air pressure location is. Air is then funnelled through the internal channels in the helmet and out of the exhaust ports to reduce turbulence at the rear and aid ventilation.In fact, above 30kmh the ventilation is impressively good, but at lower speeds or climbing the Procen Air can get uncomfortably warm.The included visors are very good, with the magnetic attachment being effective at the front while the magnetic visor storage at the back is practical.The price is sky high at 360, but the inclusion of both a mirror and a clear visor do boost the value nicely. Although the weight is high at 355g with the visor or 323g without, it is not really noticeable when riding. For those looking for every marginal gain, this helmet may well be worth the sizable investment.Read our full Poc Procen Air helmet reviewBuy now from POC (360)Scott Cadence PlusPrice: 229.99 / $229.99 / 249.90Included rear lightGood ventilationFast in more positionsThe Scott Cadence Plus includes many of the now commonplace aero road helmet features such as larger vents at the front, deep internal channelling and exhaust vents at the rear. This is complemented by a Mips Air node liner to provide rotational impact resistance without adding much weight.A large rubber dial is used at the rear for retention and has a particularly good feel. Although the helmet is only claimed to be one watt faster than the previous version, according to Scott it is better across a wider range of speeds, wind angles and positions.Practical features include vent plugs for cold weather or another 2W saving (12.99 extra), a clip-in rear light, helmet bag, magnetic buckle, and vents for glasses storage. All this for 229.99 makes the helmet great value, but in the white colour sweat can stain the shell.Read our full Scott Cadence Plus helmet reviewSpecialized Propero 4Price: 165 / $200 / 190Great valueGood balance of aero and venting5-star safety ratingThe Specialized Propero 4 has been designed using technologies and lessons learned from the S-Works Prevail 3 and Evade 3 to create a helmet that bridges the gap between the two but is nearly 100 cheaper than either.A standard EPS foam and polycarbonate shell are used, and instead of Mips Air Node the Propero features a Mips Evolve liner, but still scores five stars in Virginia Techs safety testing.The fitting system is the same as found on the S-Works models and allows plenty of adjustment to ensure a comfortable fit.The Propero is a semi-aero helmet with aero features from the Evade and venting features from the Prevail. In practice it is neither as vented as the Prevail nor as aero as the Evade, according to Specializeds data, but it does a decent enough job at both while at 165 it comes in at less than half the price of several of the helmets in this buyers guide.Read our full Specialized Propero 4 helmet reviewTrek BallistaAndy TurnerPrice: 229.99 / $299.99 / 299.99Good valuePretty lightweightCan get very warmThe Trek Ballista combines claimed aero performance the fastest helmet it has ever made, according to Trek with many highly practical features. A Boa dial is used for the retention and works very well compared to other dial offerings, while the cradle can also lie flat to make storage that little bit easier.The side vents feature rubber inserts, meaning pretty much any pair of glasses sits securely in the vents. The helmet is also quite lightweight for an aero helmet, with the open rear assisting in this, along with the Mips Air Node system, which also helps the helmet towards a five-star independent safety rating.However even with the very open rear and some large vents at the front, the Ballista can get very hot quite quickly when travelling at lower speeds, and the padding gets saturated with sweat very easily. Overall it performs well, and at 229.99 is good value, but in warm weather it was not ideal for me.Read our full Trek Ballista helmet reviewBuy now from Trek (230)How to choose the best aero road helmet for youSimon Gehr / CanyonWhat is the benefit of an aero helmet?The biggest benefit of an aero road helmet over a standard road helmet is the promised watt savings and therefore improved speed for the same effort. The difference between a good aero helmet and a less aero one can be as much as 10-15 watts at 35-40kmh and even more compared to a standard helmet, so its worth checking the numbers to see if a helmets aero claims stack up.Why use an aero helmet over a more vented design?Over the course of a ride, an aero road helmet should mean you finish a given distance in a faster time than a less aero one. Those wanting to shave time off their 10-mile time-trial, 100-mile bike ride, or Ironman bike leg could all see significant improvements by using an aero helmet over a standard one and its free speed for all riders too.Do I need to be fast to see a benefit?Although there will be higher watt savings at the higher speeds such as the 40, 45 or 50kmh at which brands often quote their watt savings, at slower speeds there can also be potential for an increase in speed or reduction in energy output.At 45kmh a 10W saving will not result in a huge speed increase, whereas at 30kmh a 5W saving will likely result in a relatively larger increase in speed as the power required to overcome aerodynamic drag increases at a cubic rate proportional to speed.How do we tell if a helmet is aero?We cant validate aero claims without testing them individually using a wind-tunnel, velodrome testing, or controlled aero sensor use. However, there are several aero design cues we can see in helmets such as reduced frontal profile, reduced or sculpted vents, extended tails, or internal channelling.Helmet makers typically provide plenty of data about the watts saved by their aero helmets, as this is their major selling point, although as with all aero testing its difficult or impossible to compare like for like as testing conditions vary. Related Posts Aero vs lightweight vs all-rounder: which is the fastest road bike? Best cycling helmet: Road and gravel bike helmets from under 100 reviewed Bike helmet safety: Standards, testing and tech, plus Virginia Techs top-rated helmets How to get more aero on your bike Best aero road bikes 2024: Ride faster for less effort The post Best aero road cycling helmets reviewed 2024 appeared first on Cyclist.

In 2024, respect for Remco Evenepoel among the wider cycling community has seemingly growing. Showing more and more maturity, the Soudal - Quick-Step silenced many doubters with his performances at the 2024 Tour de France, finishing best of the rest behind Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in 3rd o...

Our latest Collective Reward is a bundle of assorted tools, bags, accessories, apparel, and more worth over $425. See everything included in our 190th giveaway and join the Bikepacking Collective for a chance to win this or one of many other prize packages here...The post Collective Reward #190: Grab Bag 1 appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Particularly when temperatures rise, hip packs become a pretty attractive option for hauling your ride essentials. Keeping most of your back uncovered works wonders for keeping you cool, and with options like Thules Rail 0 and Rail 2, you can haul just an essential trailside kit or a fair bit of cargo and enough water for a few hours of riding.Ive been riding the Rail 0 and Rail 2 packs since mid-March, and found each has its place; The Rail 0 is great for those who dont like riding with bulky items in their pockets, and it can hide under a jacket easily. The Rail 2 offers more cargo space and can haul two water bottles although it gets a little less cozy as you add weight to it.Thule Rail 0LThe Rail 0 is a slim, small pack that can haul a few extra items or get everything out of your pockets. With a 0.5L capacity, its just big enough for the essentials, and not big enough to get bulky or heavy.For storage, the Rail 0L offers a full-size main pocket with two smaller pockets, webbing loops, and a key clip inside. The pack also has a phone pocket on the outer face and two small mesh pockets with hook-and-loop closures on the straps. To enhance visibility the Rail 0 has reflective accents and a web loop to attach a rear light to the bottom.The Rail 0s waist strap is a bit over 2 wide, which isnt huge but is enough to keep this small pack comfortable. The strap has plenty of stretch to it, and a hook-and-loop panel and waist buckle keep it cinched in. In the Rail 0, Ive carried a multi-tool, tire plugger, spare plugs, a c02 cartridge, inflator head, and some Skittles in the main pocket. I also threw my smartphone in the outer pocket. Theres easily room in the main pocket for several more small items, but as for layers, anything less than an ultra-compactable jacket would not likely fit.Ride Impressions:The first few times I wore the Rail 0 I hid it under the Patagonia Dirt Roamer Storm jacket (review coming soon!) easily. I find it pretty easy to access your phone or cargo with the pack still on your back. Even under the jacket, grabbing my phone or some Skittles during a ride was no hassle.Ive had the Rail 0 pack since Spring, and throughout my test rides, Ive had no notable comfort issues with the straps or back panel. Nothing is amazing about the back ventilation, as this pack doesnt include a perforated panel like the bigger Rail 2, but it leaves a small footprint.My only minor gripe is that Thule didnt include a better way to tuck away or bundle the excess waist strap. Luckily I only have about 4-5 of strap left dangling, but if it were any longer Id give it a trim (those with larger waists may not have an issue). One last detail I liked is the bright yellow interior fabric, which makes it easy to see inside the pack.The Rail 0 sells for $69.95 and comes in Dark Slate Grey only.Thule Rail 2LThe Rail 2 is a larger hip pack that can haul a fair bit of cargo plus two water bottles. Its main pocket offers a 2L capacity, and its divided up into three smaller pockets and webbing loops inside. Theres also a key clip inside, external mesh side pockets on both straps and a smartphone pocket on the front of the pack.The Rail 2 gets a perforated back panel for ventilation and uses the same stretchy waist strap as the Rail 0. Since it can carry a fair bit of weight, the Rail 2 includes two cinch buckles at either side to snug it up. Other details include a top carry handle, a high-visibility yellow interior fabric, reflective accents, and a web loop for a rear blinker light.Along with one or two water bottles, I carried a multi-tool, tire plugger, spare plugs, a c02 canister and inflator, some candy, bug spray, and even my very packable Dainese AWA wind shell. I easily could have squeezed a few more small items in the main pocket, and I carried my phone in the outer pocket.One or two water bottles can be carried in the pockets on either side of the pack. When empty, the fabric bottle pockets fold down nicely and almost disappear.Ride Impressions:Ive ridden the Rail 2 pack for up to three-hour rides, primarily with one bottle but once with two. All in all the Rail 2 is fairly comfortable, and I had no particular issues with any part of it. That said, its tough to ignore something cinched around your belly while you ride, especially as you add more weight to the pack. I wore it pretty snugly, which did keep it from moving around quite well while I descended.With one full water bottle plus cargo, the weight is still reasonable and the pack remains comfortable. With two water bottles, however, the pack gets heavy and hard to ignore. Frankly, I cant imagine any hip pack feeling great with the weight of two bottles added. A wider waist strap might help disperse the weight a bit better, but with one bottle or none the strap is totally adequate.I tried to do a long ride with two water bottles in the pack but moved one onto my bike after 30 minutes of climbing. With the weight of two bottles, I found the pack putting pressure on my belly, and you have to keep it pretty snug (even while climbing) to keep two bottles from shifting around.Im having 50/50 success getting bottles back into the holders while riding. Ive had to stop several times because the bottle gets stuck on the inner wall of the flexible pocket and wont slip in. Now with more practice getting bottles back in might get easier, but initially, the soft-sided pockets were an issue for me.On two rides (with water bottles), the Rail 2s waist strap loosened up on me while climbing. During one ride the pack sagged down until it was resting on my butt, and on another ride, it loosened up to a lesser extent. On both occasions, one snug-up was enough to keep the waist strap in place for the rest of the ride but not having to stop and fix it would be better.As for ventilation, the Rail 2s perforated back panel is nothing magical, but the footprint of the hip pack is still much smaller than any backpack. This pack is still a cooler option than having anything on your back, but youll get sweaty underneath it.On my first ride with the Rail 2, I wound up using the top carry handle during a rest stop. Its a nice addition to the pack that I found myself using on almost all my test rides.Like on the Rail 0, Thule missed an opportunity to include elastic loops to bundle up the excess waist straps for the smaller waisted crowd. On me, both straps leave 6-7 of excess length dangling around, and it would be nice to have them wrapped up or tucked away neatly. MSRP for the Rail 2 is $99.95, and it comes in Dark Slate Grey only.thule.comThe post Thules Rail Hip Packs Carry Just The Basics Or Cargo Plus Water appeared first on Bikerumor.

CyclistPinarello focus: Pronto bikes, FromeWhen husband and wife team Justin and Kate Hoy moved to the Somerset market town of Frome in 2019, they cant have known how much their lives were about to change. But since navigating the challenges of Covid lockdowns to open the doors to Pronto Bikes in 2021, the couple have not only built a business and community around their independent bike shop, but have dined with Fausto Pinarello himself and seen Pronto become one of the top Pinarello dealers in the country one of just six select locations given the honour of stocking the all-new Pinarello Dogma F. What makes this shop a must-visit destination? Justin and Kate take up the story.The snowball effectJustin: We have a huge cycling club attached to the shop now, but it wasnt until the end of March 2021 that people were allowed to ride in groups of six or more. When we advertised our first group ride, about 40 people turned up.Kate: I had to set them off in groups of six. Then a couple of weeks later we did another group ride and had 80-odd riders. I think everyone was just pleased to be able to ride with other people again. Now we have a club with about 160 members, with ten rides a week covering all different abilities and disciplines: gravel, road, even the odd mountain bike. We also have a mens and womens race team. (Kate is a triathlete, and Justin is a former domestic pro rider.)PinarelloIn for a wild rideJustin: The roads around here are great. Frome itself is pretty lumpy, but you can get out on to country lanes within three or four minutes, and then take a National Cycle Route straight through Longleat Safari Park. There arent many rides in the UK where you can see giraffes.Kate: We rode out to Cheddar Gorge the other day, an 80km loop. We have good gravel rides around here too Salisbury Plain has about 130km of gravel tracks.Justin: We also do an annual club ride down to Portland Bill near Weymouth. This year we had our first alternative chase the sunrise ride there was a group that did just over 320km.The pull of PinarelloJustin: Pinarello is our biggest brand by far. We sell the full range here, including mountain bikes, while electric road and gravel bikes are a strong part of the market for us.We sell quite a few Dogmas. We have a wide range of models in stock, in sizes for everyone. And we have a disproportionate number of female customers.Kate: Weve sold about half of our Dogmas to female riders.Justin: We sold a 43cm Dogma to a woman the other day; she was 5ft 1in. There arent many brands who can cater to such a range of differently sized riders, from stock. You shouldnt have to wait for a bike just because youre shorter or taller than the average.PinarelloMore than a bike shopJustin: We have an extra room in the shop where we offer bike-fits, as well as a fitness studio, sports therapy, analysis setupKate: We also work with a company to do sweat-testing here, and Bath University plans to start offering lactate testing here later this year. Plus we have a Castelli cafe on the premises, perfect for a mid-ride stop for cake and coffee.Justin: We offer test rides, too. And in our experience, if you send someone off down the road on three bikes, and save the Pinarello until last, theyll end up buying the Pinarello. The ride quality just blows their mind. Click here to find out more about Pronto Bikes in FromeThe post Pinarello focus: Pronto bikes, Frome appeared first on Cyclist.

In a true race for the ages and a brilliant advert for the sport of mountain biking, Tom Pidcock secured his second successive Olympic gold medal on Monday afternoon in Paris, seeing off the challenge of home crowd hero Victor Koretzky in a thrilling battle.Pidcock's long time coach, Kurt Bogaerts...

After two World Championship titles, a Grand Tour and two monument wins among numerous other successes, Remco Evenepoel added a coveted Olympic gold to his palmares last weekend, taking victory ahead of Filippo Ganna in the individual time trial at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.In the few days since...

Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Jan Tratnik has had a very busy calendar already in 2024 with both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in his legs, plus the Tour de Romandie, the Volta ao Algarve and a number of Belgian classics. Currently representing Slovenia at the Olympic Games, the 34-year-old...

Teased at Sea Otter this spring, the new Ritchey Montebello is purpose-built for long all-road rides and multi-day efforts, and it features a number of thoughtful little frame details. Check it out here...The post The Ritchey Montebello Has Landed appeared first on BIKEPACKING.com.

Nick Clarke bounced back from being hit by a car driver to competing at the National 24-hour Time Trial Championships last weekend