Our Guide to Aero Helmets for Triathlons

There is no equipment that will make a slow rider fast, so, if a rider cannot average at least 18 mph on a bike with aerobars, they simply need to train more to get faster. If you survey most bike splits in local triathlons, you do see average speeds for middle-of-the-pack athletes beginning at about the 18 mph area. This group of athletes will benefit from more aerodynamic equipment, and the place to start is an aero helmet. Nothing can make you faster instantly for less money than an aero helmet.

Aerodynamic Helmets

Many studies have quantified the benefit of tear drop shaped aerodynamic time trial helmets. While each of these studies produce varied results about what the time savings actually are, the end results are unanimous: an aero helmet saves time. Studies show time savings that range from as little as 30 seconds to as much as 2 minutes over 25 miles (40 kilometres: an Olympic triathlon bike distance). At an Ironman distance triathlon, an aero helmet could save between 3 and 6 minutes.

An aero helmet can easily mean the difference between fifth in your age category and a top three spot, depending on the time gaps. The real value of this research becomes obvious to the middle-of-the-pack triathlete when you start to compare pounds to time savings.