As bike racers, we obsess with the very latest tech in wheels, drivetrains, frames and tires. Yet the one item that can help us get faster, be more comfortable, and most importantly, save our life, often gets neglected until it’s so nasty it needs replacement, or until we take a tumble and wreck it.
While many have debated the benefits of tech trends like single chainrings, disc brakes and thru axles, helmets have benefited from a quiet revolution in technology. And they have emerged faster, lighter, more comfortable and if you are to believe all of the company literature out there, safer as well, all of which is awesome. We rounded up a selection of the latest lids in Issue 30, and in true Cyclocross Magazine fashion, looked to see which ones are are best suited for your mixed terrain racing and adventures.
In this first installment, we're reviewing some of the top aero offerings. While the benefits of such helmets are greater at road racing speeds, there are still advantages to be had. Aside from being aero, some of these helmets can keep you warmer on a cool day and a measure drier on a rainy one. While aero helmets aren't every riders' cup of tea, they fit the bill for some. In the next installment we'll show you some more traditional lids.
For now, let's look at some wind-cheating head gear.
by the CXM Test Crew
Specialized S-Works Evade
Safety is priority one for all helmets, but for riders in the peloton as well as grass crit-loving cyclocross racers, aerodynamics certainly comes a close second. With the Evade, Specialized designed a model that pushed the boundaries of reducing drag. Typically, massive vents and aerodynamic qualities are not combined in the same descriptor, but unlike the dozens of small vents or just a few vents from other helmets on this list, the Evade has a few large vents that create what the company calls a 4th Dimension Cooling System, with entry vents aligning with exhaust ports in the back. Much like the Smith Optics Overlook, the physical appearance of the Evade might segment riders into different camps.
Safety: The Specialized Evade continues the company’s tradition of using a kevlar-based underbody to help the helmet withstand impacts. The technology is called the Aramid-Reinforced Skeleton, which supplements the larger mass of EPS foam in order to provide a management system for displacing impacts during a crash.
Fit: The Evade, like the Prevail, offers a good amount of rear cradle height adjustment, and the Mindset dial snugs the helmet down, but it’s mostly a fore-aft adjustment. With wide forward anchor points, the Mindset system might leave oval-shape heads with a slightly loose fit, side-to-side. Bike shop employees may love the Tri-Fix strap junctions below the ear, but we were still longing for the ability to move them to fit different heads and ears.
Heads Up: The Evade has the least amount of EPS Foam out back. There’s a large cutaway for ventilation, and it’s a rare spot to see impact in a crash, but cyclocross can be unpredictable. Specialized has recently adopted MIPS, and may be adding MIPS options to these helmets in the near future.
Specs: Weight: 335g (L) // Safety: Aramid-Reinforced Skeleton, EPS Foam // MSRP: $250 // Sizes: S/M/L // Options: Comes in five color schemes
More info: specialized.com
