Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Helmet position, ventilation holes and drag in cycling

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sports Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although the primary purpose of cycling helmets is crash safety, helmets can also be used to help reduce aerodynamic drag. Commercial helmets differ from one another in their shape, length, mass, frontal area, number of vents, size of vents, shape of vents and location of vents, all of which may play an important role in terms of aerodynamic drag. In this study, the influence of helmet hole configuration and helmet position on the aerodynamic drag for one shape of aero helmet was analysed, to identify the significance of the number and location of ventilation holes. Wind tunnel tests were carried out on a model head with a 3D printed aero helmet with holes that could be blocked to simulate different configurations. In addition the drag was measured for different head angles and different positions of the helmet on the head with all ventilation holes closed. The results showed that head angle and nose-to-helmet distance were more important in determining drag area than the number or position of ventilation holes, with only a slight reduction in aerodynamic drag for a helmet with no ventilation holes compared to multiple, large holes. For an aero helmet, proper helmet fitting is more important than the details of the ventilation holes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grappe F, Candau R, Belli A, Rouillon JD (1997) Aerodynamic drag in field cycling with special reference to the Obree’s position. Ergonomics 40(12):1299–1311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gibertini G, Campanardi G, Grassi D, Macchi C (2008) Aerodynamics of biker position. In: BBAA VI International Colloquium on Bluff bodies aerodynamics and applications, Milano, Italy

  3. Oggiano L, Leirdal S, Saetran L, Ettema G (2007) Aerodynamic optimization and energy saving of cycling postures for international elite level cyclists. In: The Engineering of sport 7, vol 1, pp 597–604

  4. Brownlie L, Ostafichuk P, Tews E, Muller H, Briggs E, Franks K (2010) The wind-averaged aerodynamic drag of competitive time trial cycling helmets. Procedia Eng 2:2419–2424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Akbarzadeh A, Alam F, Subic A, Watkins S (2007) Effects of venting geometry on thermal comfort and aerodynamic efficiency of bicycle helmets. In: The impact of technology on sport II, Taylor and Francis, p 773

  6. Alam F, Chowdhury H, Elmir Z, Sayogo A, Love J, Subic A (2010) An experimental study of thermal comfort and aerodynamic efficiency of recreational and racing bicycle helmets. Procedia Eng 2:2413–2418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Alam F, Subic A, Watkins S (2006) A study of aerodynamic drag and thermal efficiency of a series of bicycle helmets. In: 6th International Conference on Engineering of Sports, Germany

  8. Blair K, Sidelko S (2008) Aerodynamic performance of cycling time trial helmets. Eng Sport 7:371–377

    Google Scholar 

  9. Chowdhury H, Alam F (2014) An experimental study on aerodynamic performance of time trial bicycle helmets. Sports Eng 17:165–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Mustary I, Chowdhury H, Loganathan B, Alharthu M, Alam F (2014) Aerodynamic efficiency and thermal comfort of road racing bicycle helmets. In: 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Melbourne, Australia

  11. Van Brecht A, Nuyttens D, Aerts J, Quanten S, De Bruyne G, Berckmans D (2008) Quantification of ventilation characteristics of a helmet. Appl Ergonomics 39:332–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Underwood L (2012) Aerodynamics of track cycling. In: PhD Thesis, Christchurch, New Zealand

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr Patrick Geoghegan and Gerry Kirk for their assistance with the wind tunnel at the University of Canterbury, and Eric Cox for his technical assistance throughout this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), Madras Street, Christchurch, New Zealand

    L. Underwood

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand

    M. Jermy

  3. National Engineering School of Saint Etienne, Saint Etienne, France

    P. Eloi

  4. Ecole Nationale Superieure de Mecanique et D’Aerotechnique, Poitiers, France

    G. Cornillon

Authors
  1. L. Underwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Jermy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Eloi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Cornillon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Underwood.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Underwood, L., Jermy, M., Eloi, P. et al. Helmet position, ventilation holes and drag in cycling. Sports Eng 18, 241–248 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-015-0181-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-015-0181-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation