A long-term favourite with excellent all-round performance, Giro’s Aether definitely deserves consideration. It is light, airy and includes MIPS along with extra reinforcement in its construction. There are loads of colour options to choose from and it’s very comfortable to wear. However, genesis mountain bike recent technological advancements mean that many helmets offer extra systems that provide even greater protection. MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), for example, is designed to prevent damage caused by oblique or glancing blows that rotate the skull around the brain.
Generally made from steel and titanium, these are typically equipped with 26- or 29-inch wheels. Each kind of bike excels in different conditions and riding styles, so getting a few basics out of the way will help you determine what bike best suits your needs. Genesis are building a reputation for thoughtful and well designed bikes so it is fair to say that there had been a sense of expectation once we knew the Alpitude was winging its way to us. There has been much talk about the Alpitude and the clear design ethos behind it, which was to make a bike that you could… At around 27lbs the Core weighs in somewhere in the middle of the scale that you would expect for a 120mm trail blaster but it feels nippy and easy to spin up to speed thanks to the lightweight rims and fast rolling tyres. The wheelset is lightweight with an internal rim width of 19mm that will take good sized rubber which means you could add some float to the ride with some high volume tyres.
This comfort is further boosted by the addition of thick interior padding, which is very soft against the skin. The helmet is definitely towards the more expensive end of the market and is also not the lightest at 291g for size medium. The helmet looks rather good too, having quite a low profile and not being too bulbous. It was also very comfortable and the new retention system is a massive improvement on Lazer’s previous design – although still not as easy to use as a regular dial. The glasses port, sadly, is not particularly good as it is too wide to accommodate most sunglasses.
“From a high level, there are a couple of things we really want to achieve on the site, not just offset the loss of trail that’s coming up,” says French. French said they are also looking at creating some definition of a multi-park pass where a Mystic membership would offer a benefit at Maydena and vice versa. “There has certainly been a lot of water under the bridge, and Mystic has a long history in various management iterations. Dirt Art had previously put together a master plan for Mystic and, through that process, had conducted quite a bit of community consultation with locals and all the various stakeholders to gauge the situation. Elevation will take on everything, working with a contact manager who works for the council to make everything work.
Helmets with fewer or no vents are usually considerably warmer, though the latest crop of aero lids has shown the value of well-designed internal channelling. This might not be obvious when you try one on in a shop, but once you start working up a sweat climbing a big hill when hot weather cycling, it becomes invaluable. genesis mountain bike It has Smith’s VaporFit retention system, which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to allow for a snuggly fit for all head shapes, which is a rare feature, especially in aero-focused helmet options. The featherlight and comfortable Lazer G1 Genesis helmet feels secure when on and boasts a simple, stylish look.
Specialized’s updated S-Works Prevail 3 helmet is designed to be both airier and safer than the outgoing model. Unlike some other aero lids, the Utopia Y is not bulky looking, and it also comes in a wide range of nine colors so you’ll be able to find a look that suits your individual style or matches your bike. Despite its closed-off silhouette, the deep channelling and vents under the brow keep your noggin cool and your sunglasses free of sunscreen-infused sweat. You can adjust the retention band down to the millimetre, giving the helmet an excellent snug – yet comfortable – fit.
While seemingly superficial, anyone who has ridden with an aero lid will know the challenge of trying to stow sunglasses when they’re not on your face. They’re meant to be best compatible with POC’s own brand sunnies, but we teamed the helmet with a whole host of brands and found them to hold tight to every single pair. The semi-aero lid did suffer a little with breathability however, and while the ventilation was very good, on the hottest of riding days it could have done with the ability to suck even more cool air in. That said, on the sweatiest of days in the saddle, we found that the Protone’s water irrigation design is top-notch, managing to avoid channelling sweat down onto sunglasses or into eyes. Our test model in a small weighed in at just 170g (the claimed weight for the medium is 200g). We certainly found that this translated to a featherweight feel on the head, with the ventilation adding to the general comfort.