One for the testers?

[-Adam-]

Which is actually more aerodynamic... opinions welcome, but I'm sure somebody will have some link to an actual scientific test...

[-Adam-]

Yeah, we have to wear the saftey helmets in UCI/BC sanctioned events though. I know on the Road to Paris DVD Lance wears a cap in the TT at la Circuit de la Sarthe. Back then they just wore the old style fairing type helmets for serious races.

[Andrew G]

I'd go for a helmet as the pointy bit can help smooth the air flow over your back as well as the smoother surface of the helmet offering less wind resistance than a cotton cap. It may sound silly but I find it to be part of the pre-race ritual too, when getting ready at the HQ it helps to try and get in the right frame of mind. Pre-safety pointy hat you used a fairing and a lot of people still do use them (only need a safety version for a UCI rated TT). I bought a safety pointy number as the fairing can be quite hot inside if it's a warm day as there are no air vents, the Giro pointy has a few small ones at the front - still hotter than a normal helmet though.

There's a couple of schools of thought as to which type is better as the longer tapered point is more aerodynamic but on a lot of UK courses a shorter point can work better as you can move the point more when approaching a RAB or a turn and if the point isn't down your back it can be doing more harm than good.

At my speed I don't know how much difference it makes but with a lot of kit I think it's as much the effect it has on your mind. It has been said many times though that a pointy hat is the best bit of aero kit you can buy on a speed/cost ratio.

[Jon H]

All depends on how good your position is and how the pointy hat fits in relation to it. The ideal is for the point to be touching your back. If the point is waggling around miles above your back then it's a waste of time and you might as well wear a regular helmet or a cotton cap.

[Ivor]

Aero helmet cos it makes you feel faster, so you end up going faster.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Not being a fat tester on flat roads, I couldn't possibly comment

[-Adam-]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]Not being a fat tester on flat roads, I couldn't possibly comment

[Marky Mark]

She has neither....

But how does she steer?

[img]http://bikehugger.com/images/blog/HypeBike.jpg[/img]

[-Adam-]

Turn one wheel faster that the other... duh!

[-Adam-]

Another question, with a skinsuit, aero helmet, lycra shoe covers, riding my Cervélo with Zipp 404s, how much slower would I be than if I were riding a full TT bike with disc?

[quote="-Adam-"]Another question, with a skinsuit, aero helmet, lycra shoe covers, riding my Cervélo with Zipp 404s, how much slower would I be than if I were riding a full TT bike with disc?

[Paul H]

An aero helmet would make your head wider which would increase resistance perhaps more than the pointy bit reduces it.

What about a swim cap?

[Keith]

The airflow will separate off the rear of the swim cap giving a larger wake and hence more drag. That's the Idea of the pointy rear of the helmet - to prevent the air separating abruptly, keeping the wake small, the aiflow smooth, and hence minimising drag.

[Roy Green]

[quote="-Adam-"]Another question, with a skinsuit, aero helmet, lycra shoe covers, riding my Cervélo with Zipp 404s, how much slower would I be than if I were riding a full TT bike with disc?

[quote="Roy Green"][quote="-Adam-"]Another question, with a skinsuit, aero helmet, lycra shoe covers, riding my Cervélo with Zipp 404s, how much slower would I be than if I were riding a full TT bike with disc?