Before I make any purchase, I tend to do my research first and this helmet was no exception. There are a number of things that convinced me to select the
Rudy Wingspan TT over other aero helmets. The two that stand out are versatility and John Cobb. If you don't know who John Cobb is that's ok, I didn't either; we'll get to that. The Wingspan TT is a helmet designed for every time-trial or triathlon offering a wide range of flexibility when it comes to comfort. This comes in the form of removable vent covers at the front of the helmet allowing the user to choose between 3 options: open, netted, or closed. Obviously closed will give you the fastest results, but not if your engine overheats. That's where John Cobb and the team at Rudy Project have given us triathletes the ability to choose just the right balance based on the weather conditions and distance on race day. They have even provided a couple of charts to advise us on the best set-ups for various scenarios. You'll also notice the option to have an open or covered tail; this is referring to the area between the tail of the helmet and your back. There is not much documentation as to how much this helps, but they mention that it reduces turbulence at the back of the helmet. Logically thinking, I am assuming the airflow is directed out of the vents at the back of the helmet rather than between the helmet and your back. For my racing endeavors, I imagine I will usually find a happy medium with the vented cover and an open tail. As an aspiring product designer, another thing I like about the Wingspan is that it appears they have done their work understanding the triathlete. I'm not talking about the elite, all-carbon frame and racing wheels, $200 professional bike-fitted, in aero 100% of the time guy. I mean the triathletes who are doing the best they can and want to maximize their efforts. As a designer, I understand the value in observing what people desire, how they use your product, and improving upon those insights. This is exactly what Rudy has done with the Wingspan. If you are that elite triathlete, aka those guys I'm jealous of, then you can wear the Wingspan fully closed in the best aero position and reap the benefits of one of the best aero helmets on the market. On the other hand, if you're a less intense triathlete and you know you need some airflow because you're workin' it out there and you don't want to feel like you're losing the benefits by putting your looking down or sitting up, and having a huge helmet flopping around then the Wingspan, and it's compact form, is also for you. This is all thanks to the design work and intensive wind tunnel testing done by John Cobb and the Rudy Project team. Btw, I'll leave this link here if you are interested in reading more about who John Cobb is:
Who is John Cobb? Instead of only maximizing the benefits in aero position the Wingspan also minimizes the damages out of aero position, making it an ideal helmet for less experienced riders. Unfortunately the Wingspan carries a hefty price tag starting at $309, but Rudy Project offers plenty of promotions or discounts to bring that down making it a strong competitor to other aero helmets. With my Georgia Tech Triathlon Club discount I was able to have shipped to my door for $185, a reasonable price for the gains you can expect when compared to that of racing wheels or a lighter bike.
Before taking it for a test ride I made several first impressions
Pros
- The helmet has a nice matte finish
- The ear covers seem flexible and unlikely to break in T1
- It is very roomy inside with room for airflow
- Comes with extra pads
- Can slightly adjust angle of helmet
- It is incredibly lightweight
- I can easily put on or remove my sunglasses (Smith Pivlock V90 max)
- The vent covers attach with a satisfying click
- There is a pad that covers the helmet buckle
- Nice detailed owners manual
Cons
- Ed Hardy looking packaging and bag is not my taste
- Angle adjustment seems rather vague/unstable
- Tail cover blocks helmet adjustment when on
- The pad on the helmet strap seems prone to movement
- The vent covers clip directly to the expanded polypropylene making me nervous about loosing that connection over time
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