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limar air-pro and air master helmets
i believe i am often a tad too much in favour of repeatedly pointing out that wearing a cycle helmet will be of little use if you're hit by a volvo when out cycling. but, in truth, that's not quite what helmets are for; there's really not much in this world that will fend off a large, heavy, fast moving car, at least not anything that is pragmatic on a bicycle. however, were you to take evasive action while attempting to avoid collision with the hypothetical volvo, there's an evens chance that wearing a helmet might just save your head from serious injury.
even when removing that hapless volvo (other vehicles may be available) from the equation, there's still a solid case for the wearing of a cycle helmet in most, if not all occasions. several years ago, the late lord carlos of mercian saved himself from a few weeks of hospital food by the wearing of a cycle helmet. having reached the top of a very short climb, i sat up to allow my fellow pelotoneers to catch up. unfortunately, lord carlos was not paying close attention and rode into my back wheel, falling off sideways as a result. one side of his helmet was pretty much destroyed in the incident, but he survived to tell the tale.
however, i am very much for personal choice when it comes to either the purchase of, or wearing of a cycle helmet. making it a compulsory factor in the riding of a bicycle does not, in my opinion, make a lot of sense. granted, they weigh little, the air conditioning is pretty darned good these days and, like an insurance policy, you wear it and hope you'll never had need of its primary function. but i still think it's up to the individual as to whether they wear one or not. just remember, however, that they generally make you look a lost faster than you might be and for that reason alone, i'd recommend a helmet purchase.
but which one?
currently, there are far more helmets on the market than was the case in the days of yore; some are pricey, some less so and one manufacturer that has made great strides in recent times is italy's limar helmets. i have featured limar's ultralight plus helmet in a previous review, an item that the manufacturer promoted as 'the world's lightest', a claim i always thought was likely to make them more of a target for their competitors. the air pro and air master editions reviewed here, in my opinion, are several levels of excellent above their predecessor, with regards to style, ventilation and fit.
perhaps the most important aspect of acquiring a new cycle helmet, is that of sizing: too small and you're pretty much stuffed from the off; too large and the effective protection on offer is compromised from the outset. the problem of purchasing the correct size is hardly a major consideration if doing so in a bike shop, but with a large percentage of cycle goods purchased mail order nowadays, to an extent, choosing the correct size is often the result of educated guess-work. it's a situation that is every bit as real for yours truly as it is for everyone else.
whenever a manufacturer or distributor offers to send a helmet for review, rather obviously, i have to let them know what size would be suitable. in some cases this is eased by the existence of only small-medium, or medium-large. the majority of adults (self-included), will be in the latter category. limar, offer a choice of medium or large in both the helmets reviewed here; i opted for medium, fervently hoping that this would still allow me the necessary luxury of wearing a casquette beneath their hardshell colours. it did.
limar are helmet sponsors of the astana world tour team and both the helmets featured here are worn by members of that team. i opted for the team colours in the air pro and lime green in the air master, though the latter can also be acquired in team colours, if you wish. weighing in at 240g for the medium version, the air master is designed to be compact, aerodynamic, yet with sufficient ventilation to allow for a cool head. the retention system is really no different from that featured on any comparable modern helmet; the web straps thread through the molded polystyrene construction, while a dial on the rear of the adjustable cage allows the wearer to have the helmet grip their head as tightly as comfort will allow. both worked precisely as expected.
sadly, my honed physique is less speedy than it once was, so i'm not in any position to decide whether the wind-tunnel tested aerodynamics brought me home any faster than usual. and short of throwing myself over the handlebars, or finding a volvo to avoid, i cannot truthfully attest to the veracity of the promised protection. but that goes for every helmet and probably every helmet reviewer. suffice it to say, its construction is impeccable, while the comfort and ventilation never gave cause for concern. the style that predicates the modern breed of aero road helmets is often open to debate; some verge on the demonstrably hideous. thankfully, limar obviously have more perspicacious designers, meaning there is little need to hide within the grupetto to save face.
the air pro is unarguably limar's flagship helmet in style, construction and weight, being some ten grammes lighter than the air master. its form emulates that which most of us would expect from a helmet, featuring a total of twenty air vents and molded inner channels to maintain not only a coolness of image, but a pragmatic and simultaneous cooling of the head. though islay was not on the receiving end of the temperatures experienced in the deep south, it was warm enough to allow comparison between the cooling properties of the two options on review. though wearing a cap underneath is probably always going to skew any proper appreciation, my vote for ventilation rests squarely with the air pro.
the internal construction of the pro differs from that of the master, by the inclusion of carbon fibre co-molded within the expanded polystyrene. this provides a stronger cage than seen on the master, while allowing the weight to be minimised. once again, there is the ubiquitous dialled ratchet system to tailor the helmet to your head, allied to the integrated, adjustable webbing to keep the whole edifice firmly in place. limar also reckon the air pro to be 20% more aerodynamically efficient than the ultralight plus mentioned at the outset.
for those who are firm adherents of velominati's rule #17 (team kit is for members of the team), the air pro is available in several colours other than astana team issue, and in the same two sizes as its air master compatriot.
these are both superb helmets that will serve well for many a long year and ultimately keep your head safe from any untoward and unplanned head/ground interface. and with the lower portion encased in a black hardshell material, neither edition is prone to the scrapes and bangs that spring from leaving the helmets on a variety of surfaces.
the limar air pro helmet is available in both medium and large and in astana team colour, blue, green, matt black, matt black/pink, red, or white. rrp is €259.95 (£235). the limar air master is also available in medium and large. available colours are astana, blue, green, matt black, matt white/yellow, or red. rrp is €159.95 (£145). limar helmets are distributed in the uk by pinpoint.
sunday 28 july 2019
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