Measured against a standard helmet, an aero helmet can save you eight or nine watts at 25mph. You could knock 10 seconds at least off your 10-mile time-trial time, probably more.
It’s a cost-effective upgrade compared to, say, an aero-tubed frame. As there’s little to choose between aero helmets in terms of aerodynamics, it’s down to what’s comfortable.
This Bell Meteor II has an easily adjustable cradle with decent pads, 10 vents mean you don’t overheat and it’s light enough (410g/medium) that you can hold your head up to get the helmet tail against your back without extra strain.
The sides of the helmet are close against the head but don’t pinch your ears like some aero lids. It’s also a safety helmet, passing the EN1078 standard. While some events don’t require a safety helmet, others do, so it’s a useful extra feature.
Sizes are small (51-55cm) or medium (55-59cm), in CSC black, silver, white, black and other limited editions.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.