Bike racers generally obsess over the latest tech. And helmets have benefited from a quiet revolution in technology. Today's helmets are lighter, more comfortable and safer. 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 part 1 of this on-line feature, we showed you the latest in aero helmets. Here we take a look at some more traditional lids in case you're wondering what else is out there in terms of helmet options.
by the CXM Test Crew
Catlike Mixino
Grand Tour Spanish climbers are often seen attacking the steepest climbs with cat-like appearances. And those steep climbs probably have more in common with cyclocross and gravel than your average road race or time trial in terms of speed. Why is this relevant? The Catlike Mixino brings 39 vents, letting heat escape even if you’re walking that run-up, or not quite hitting Elite speeds at your local race, and doesn’t rely on you riding 40kph to channel air over your dome. One cent less than 300 bucks is a lot to spend on a helmet, especially when the covers are extra and not cheap. However, the Mixino offers a unique look, is one of the lighter helmets we tested, and brings high-quality materials like Outlast pads to increase comfort and temperature management.
Safety: Catlike calls its safety system CES (Crash Energy Splitter). Much like the Overtake, the Mixino has an intricately-designed material beneath the helmet’s inner skeleton surface, created to absorb more energy than traditional foam. Due to the overwhelming number of vents, the material between feels relatively high in density. However, the aramid fibers of the model’s roll cage, made with nano-fiber, are honeycomb on a micro-level, and the layer is designed to send an impact across the intricate structure of the full helmet rather than downward toward the rider’s head.
Fit: The Mixino is easy to adjust and stays put. It’s light, cradles the head well and because it’s relatively minimal in profile, it seems to fit many heads pretty well. It also doesn’t interfere with our sunglasses. With so many vents, the areas the helmet makes contact with your head are pretty small, narrow ridges. Unless you’re sporting a thick rug up top, you’ll feel these smaller points of contact compared to a less-ventilated helmet. We won’t call them hotspots, as they’re adequately padded, but it contrasts greatly to Giro’s Roc Loc Air system.
Heads Up: Trypophobia-suffers will run or vomit upon seeing you with this helmet, and the dull finishes can turn sticky after some use. At this price, we’d hope for one of the optional shells to be included.
Specs: Weight: 277g (L) // Safety: Aramid Roll Cage, Graphene fibers, Crash Energy Splitter, Shock Absorption System // MSRP: $299 // Sizes: S/M/L // Options: Rain shell ($64), Aero shell ($34)
More info: catlike.es
