Louis Garneau Sets Course With Aero Helmet

Louis-Garneau-CourseWhen hitting the road sometimes you want to feel like you could take flight and this is where “aero” helmets come into play. The LG Course Aero resembles a regular road-ready helmet, with large massive vents, but Louis Garneau maintains it has aerodynamic performance that can’t be beat.

The helmet was created through extensive research at the Canadian National Research Council’s low speed wind tunnel facility, while Computational Fluid Dynamics Software was called into play to create a superior aerodynamic performance.

It features in-mold construction, with integrated strap system that provides support and protection while still retaining its lightweight status. It offers evacuation channels to increase airflow and wick moisture away, while the Spiderlock PRO II provides a snug yet comfortable fit.

Video after the jump

Aero Up There

KaskThe Sky is truly the limit, and while this year’s Tour de France is in the rearview mirror you can now try to take flight with Kask’s new lightweight aero helmet. The Infinity was developed with Team Sky and ridden by the team at this year’s big show in France. It was on the head of Chris Froome when he pushed it to the limit in the two time trials and by the rest of the Sky riders in the team time trial.

The 270-gram helmet, which will be available in two sizes and three colors (for those who don’t like Sky’s blue) combines the aero advantages of Kask’s time trial helmets with the lightness and ventilation of its road racing helmets. The Infinity allows the rider to adjust the vents from open — providing maximum ventilation — to closed for maximum aerodynamics. The adjustment can be made while riding without removing the helmet.

The only downside is that it won’t arrive in the U.S. until January.

Kask Official Website

When Every Second Counts, An Aerodynamic Helmet Aims to Increase Performance

If you’re looking to increase your efficiency when cycling, consider an aero helmet. These helmets are designed to maximize your performance. While it isn’t new, Rudy Project’s Wingspan Aero Helmet is still highly touted by many. Its radical design will turn some heads, but that is if you can catch a glimpse of it as it wooshes by you. Besides protecting your noggin, the Italian-made helmet is designed to help you fly (not literally, but you get our point). This time trial (TT) helmet has been extensively wind tunnel-tested to be faster than many leading helmets in the category, according to Rudy Project.

Designed with assistance from cycling’s aerodynamics expert John Cobb, the Wingspan exceeds Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) requirements and, at 12.3 ounces, is lighter than the company’s previous Syton model. The Wingspan uses Rudy Project’s R.S.R. 7 Disc retention system for one-handed on-the-fly adjustments and includes ear covers for maximum aerodynamics.

The tail design is the result of the wind tunnel-testing. Cobb and the company found that it works best for all TT positions and back profiles, including the “flat” and “U” shapes. There’s a removable mesh front vent cover for triathlon use and a closed ven cover for time-trial. There are exhaust vents for cooling, too. A removable tail cover helps to reduce turbulence. Plus, it comes in six colors (like this cool fluorescent yellow).

But, at $300, you must be asking, does it work? The helmet has been in-use by the pros (the helmet made its debut with Germany’s Team Milram during the 2009 Tour de France and made waves in the cycling press), and continues to deliver impressive results for many cyclists. You can watch Italian rider Ivan Basso testing the helmet at Gazzetta’s website.

Rudy Project