Lego helmets, bowling balls… call them what you will, but aero road helmets are a reality in the Tour de France pelotonRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
AG2R has a version of the Ekoi CKR21 with a glued-on shellRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Bell’s new Star Pro features vents that slide open and closedRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Although the visual focus is often on the front, the rear shape of a helmet plays a big role in aerodynamicsRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
As with all Giro-sponsored teams, BMC can pick between the standard Aeon, the full-on aero Air Attack, or this new ‘best of both worlds’ SyntheRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Bretagne has a Spiuk Dharma with a glued-on shellRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Glued-on shells block the front vents, but don’t change the shape of the helmetBen Delaney / Future Publishing
Mavic does not yet have an aero road helmetBen Delaney / Future Publishing
Louis Garneau’s Course may not look aero, but wind-tunnel tests show otherwise. Even Giro acknowledged that the Course performs relatively wellRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Some Giant-Shimano riders are racing in the standard Uvex Race 5Robin Wilmott / Future Publishing
While other Giant-Shimano riders are racing in a Uvex Race 5 with the vents filled inBen Delaney / Future Publishing
In related news, Specialized recently tested beards in the wind tunnel and found they do not generate significant dragRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Rui Costa may be the world champion, but Kabuto does not have an aero helmet for himRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Lazer glues the Aeroshell on the Z1 to make it UCI-compliant, but the shell will be sold as a snap-on option later this yearRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
The Lazer Z1 features a magnetic attachment on the straps for special sunglasses. Note the absence of sunglass arms hereRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Movistar riders have the Catlike Mixino VD2.0Robin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Kask’s new Protone is heavily vented at the front…Robin Wilmott / Future Publishing
…but svelte at the rearRobin Wilmott / Future Publishing
Specialized sponsors three Tour teams with helmets, including Tinkoff-SaxoBen Delaney / Future Publishing
The Specialized Evade, shown here on Alberto Contador, is relatively narrow side to side, but long in the back and heavier than a standard road helmetBen Delaney / Future Publishing
Although ubiquitous now, aero road helmets are a relatively new development. Giro made waves when it launched the Air Attack in the summer of 2012; some loved it, many hated it, but all cycling fans certainly noticed the distinct, rounded shape. Now, at the 2014 Tour de France, the vast majority of teams have helmet sponsors with aero options of some sort.
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As with road bikes, the cycling industry is rotating through the process of differentiating new categories and then blurring the lines between them. There are a few clear out-and-out aero road helmets at the Tour like the Air Attack, the POC Octal Aero and the Scott Vanish Aero, which have
