eduskator

What do you guys think about these? Is the aero obsession going to far?

I am not surprised to read that the UCI is looking at this. Looks like they'll be new rules to the size and shape of helmets .

Cycling-UCI bans 'head sock', will review TT helmet design | SaltWire
The Latest Cycling Controversy Involves a Big Helmet (outsideonline.com)





Their next prototype has been spotted:

RoadWearier

Dark Helmet is not amused......

terrymorse 

The cycling public reaction seems to be "we don't want to look any uglier than we already are".

Come on, public. It's ugly and fast, or pretty and slow. Make up your minds!

eduskator

The question must be asked... Is it safe in the event of a crash?

Iride01 

Seems reasonable to control helmets too. Bikes and their components are supposed to be technology that is or will shortly be available to the consumers. So shouldn't helmets be something that a few of us might can afford? Sort of brings into question the skinsuits doesn't it? Or can consumers of the top tier bikes obtain and afford them too?

tempocyclist

The question must be asked... How many watts will it save me? 😁

Zaskar

It has to be banned. The UCI banned fairings on bikes decades ago. These guys just figured out how to wear a fairing. I suspect they'll just edit the existing rule...

“A fairing shall be defined as the use or adaptation of a component of the bicycle, clothing or helmet, in such a
fashion that it encloses a moving part of the bicycle such as the wheels or the chainset, or _____.
Therefore it should be possible to pass a rigid card (like a credit card) between the fixed
structure and the moving part.”

genejockey 

I'm pretty slow, myself.

genejockey 

Well, they regulate sock height, so this will probably get axed.

delbiker1 

I have some interest in the next prototype.

Garthr

They are so over the top I find it amazing they were allowed to start the race wearing them. My first words after the laughter were "it's a fairing". Plus there's no way those would considered "safe" as if a rider goes down the flared sides and open space underneath now become a potential catch hazard in themselves. That assumes the UCI is really about "rider safety" and it's not just lip service.

May the Farce be with you

asgelle

As I've said to officious officials, "Show me the rule."

79pmooney

The bad news - a rider could have his head twisted off if this catches anything in a crash. The good news - it can be used as a wrench with excellent leverage to screw said head back in place.

Scale this up by 50%, lower it to cover the feet and now you have a helmet that protects the entire body, not just the brain. Far, far safer.

seypat

I don't think it will save any watts. In fact, it will add a bunch of watts.......as in WTF are those things?

eduskator

It's called a vehicle!

datlas 

I wonder how these would look in the VA Tech helmet ratings.

I am guessing not good.

rsbob 

Too late, it’s already regulated. They use the patented sock-a-sizer. Butt yes, the socks can only be X cm high.

McFlyRides

blacknbluebikes 

UCI Cycling Regulations, Rules in Force, Part 2, Chapter 5, Section 3: No organization shall outfit team time trial entrants to appear as giant yellow phalluses.

PeteHski

That won’t work, they will just make them a different colour.

eduskator

Yeah, I'm also of the opinion that it's a fairing. The part of the helmet that sticks out to deviate the air from the shoulders, that's too much.

genejockey 

Perhaps, but didn't that POC TT helmet from a few years back do the same thing? That thing's been around for a decade, apparently.

merlinextraligh

never have seen one of these newest in person, however, I’ve owned several generations of tt helmets. They all have been pretty much standard helmets on the inside, with a very thin plastic exterior in an aero shape. There’s no reason the underlying helmet structure in these should not function as a regular helmet.

As for the fairing exterior twisting your head around, the plastic exterior on mine has always been so thin, I think it would break off before it transferred much force, and you can always use MIPS to address any rotational forces.

Thus I really don’t see a safety issue. But they are stupid looking imho, and at some point start to act like a fairing.

i think the easy rule changes is that a helmet can only extend set distances from the riders head to the front back and side of the riders head, which would limit pushing this to an extreme.

Carbonfiberboy 

The issue is . . .we have to be able to see their faces to make sure they're human.

Sy Reene

MIPS can handle about 1cm of rotation -- basically the same amount as your scalp anyway. That won't solve for these monstrosities.

Wasn't the removal of rear spikes on helmets and going to rounder (POC was one of the early makers of these), largely based on making them easier to skid on pavement instead of grabbing.