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
Kali Protectives Tava
Newly released for late-2015 is the Kali Protectives Tava road helmet. At first glance, its appearance shares a likeness with the Giro Air Attack, with its dome-like shape that begs for the helmet to be called aerodynamic. Although only two small vents in the front act as the intake for the total ventilation of the helmet, the Tava has four massive vents in the back. Not only priced to compete with most performance-oriented helmets on this list at $250, the Tava excels in the wind, beating most other helmets in a head-on wind tunnel test, and being the outright victor in the crosswinds.
Safety: The Composite Fusion Squared system, which acts like a series of cones in the helmet’s body, does the heavy lifting when dealing with major impacts and high G forces. Kali Protectives founder, Brad Waldron, also wanted a system that could take the smaller hits as well, and employed the Bumper Fit 2.0 system, that looks like a series of suction cups, and is designed to reduce both rotational low impact forces.
Fit: Say what you want about performance in a wind tunnel, but this helmet truly excels in the fit. As one of the first helmets to use a BOA retention system, the Tava slips on like a glove, which is not an easy task for everyone. The featherweight neck strap is not the easiest to adjust but it keeps things secure and keeps the overall helmet weight down.
Heads Up: The Tava’s Achilles heel is by far and away its poor compatibility with sunglasses. The only place to secure glasses is on the back of the helmet, and even then, it feels clumsy. Those who wear glasses sitting outside helmet straps will quickly discover that the straps are set too far outward on the helmet to wear sunglasses comfortably (we were told this was to help comply with Australian helmet laws). The Tava also has a slight tendency to overheat, although looking down provides a very welcome blast of air through the back vents.
Specs: Weight: Listed 190g for S/M // Safety: Rigidity Brace system // MSRP: $270 // Sizes: S/M/L // Options: Any color as long as it’s dark grey
More info: kaliprotectives.com
