To see how far cycling technology has evolved over the past 30 years—and why your own helmet is safer and cooler than ever—check out these 11 innovative helmets, all of which were first unveiled at the Tour de France. By Kip Mikler
Since the first Tour de France in 1904, racers have worn various forms of headgear for comfort, protection, and style. Those styles have evolved over the years: wool newsboy hats, brimmed cotton caps, leather hairnets, and a long list of wacky experiments in aerodynamics.
Though some purists argue that style went out the window in 2003, when certified hardshell helmets became mandatory, most riders today are happy to have the protection—even if we’ll never again witness the likes of Fausto Coppi and his perfectly pomaded coif slipping through the wind. Just like frames, wheels, and other components, today’s helmets are high-tech performance gear pieces, developed through advanced engineering and expensive helmet testing .
Here’s a look at some of the most notable helmets we’ve seen over the years at the Tour de France.
Early 1900s to the 1970s: The Hairnet
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The longest-lasting (to date) “helmet” style at the Tour was also the least effective for crash protection. In the early 1900s, racers began strapping on headgear made from strips of leather and wool. By the 1970s, some European countries including Belgium had begun to require helmets, and the hairnet became ubiquitous in the peloton among riders from those countries. The design and materials had evolved, too. Though the Tour didn’t mandate helmets until many decades later, some riders wore hairnets, such as this popular Cinelli Danish Helmet, all the way up until the 1990s. But lab tests eventually proved what was suspected all along—the hairnet provided little protection from impacts.
via Bicycling » Tour de France http://ift.tt/1MmTjkj
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