For the last few years, helmets for casual cyclists have been growing more hat-like in their appearance. And while I have no objective data to back up my coming assertion, I’ve been seeing more casual riders on the road actually wearing helmets. I’d like to think these two things are related, but the bottom line is a good one.
To my surprise and surprising relief, more and more helmets do appear to be moving away from designs that include pointy bits and fins, in other words, less like the front end of a fighter jet. I have to admit, some of my favorite helmets ever had a very we-mean-business-about-aero look, but these days, I’m grateful for anything that makes me look less weird (he says while eyeing a drawer full of bib shorts).
I mean, I’d better be ready to own my many inconsistencies (I see them as functionally motivated carve-outs) right?
To that end, I’ve been wearing a new helmet from POC, the Cytal. It doesn’t have an especially eye-catching appearance, which is a big part of its appeal for me. That’s not to say it isn’t safe or aero.
POC used computational fluid dynamics, better known as CFD, analysis to optimize cooling and aerodynamics. By my count there are 16 vents. I’d be interested to see a comparison of its aerodynamic efficiency compared to some other designs, but even without that, I can report that it feels airy in a way many helmets do not.
This is a MIPS-equipped helmet and I can say that I haven’t seen another helmet incorporate MIPS as seamlessly as the Cytal; this is one helmet where the MIPS liner did nothing to reduce the effectiveness of the aerodynamics or ventilation.
POC also says they used a lower-density foam in the lower part of the helmet, i.e., closer to the rider’s head. They promote it for the way it reduces helmet weight, but they glossed over the bit where lower-density foam can help cushion the head more gently in impacts.
In Virginia Tech’s helmet testing, it received a five-star rating and a score 7.51, making it the third-best helmet in their testing.
The Cytal comes in three sizes: small (50-56cm circumference heads), medium (54-59cm) and large (56-61cm). I’m wearing the small and my head measures 55cm. The only way someone could comfortably wear the small with a 56cm circumference skull would be if it was free of hair. It comes in a whopping nine colors and the orange is killer, but I went with white because it matches more of my wardrobe.
The Cytal goes for $350, which is a good deal less than my deductible for an emergency room visit.
Final thought: Looking (more) normal never felt so good.
$350 helmets. $500 road shoes. $10,000 bikes. I ride bikes, but not like that, hard to feel like “one of us” these days.