Back pain - such thing as an aerodynamic helmet?

Is there such a thing, as a make model of helmet which is designed to cause less drag?

Remember what the winds were like Sunday & Monday? I rode home 320 miles from Belfast on Sunday on a Triumph Daytona. 165 of those were non stop, and about 250 were at high motorway speeds. Despite having a double bubble screen, riding into that wind required constant effort from my neck muscles.

My entire left hand side of my neck and upper back is completely busted, the pain is running over my shoulder into my left bicep, and down into the lumbar area of my back. My wife tried to massage my shoulder blade area last night, and I jumped about three feet off the bed as soon as she touched certain points.

Any suggestions? (other than keep the speed down, I've figured that one out for myself!)

[andrewsmith]

What helmet are you running at the minute ralph?
Purely asking for rough shape of your head

I'm using an HJC IS-16

can't help on the lip front but a generous helping of many pain killers and gells normally helps lol
sorry not much help really it does get ya neck and back the joys of riding sometimes !!

[andrewsmith]

Painkillers always work.
I've found that my old xlite to be fine for distance work, as its only got 2 small sets of vents and almost totally round (no spoilers etc..)

I've found the profiled shell AGV's and my Bell to be more uncomfortable at higher prolonged speeds.

bumpity bump

IS-16's aren't the most aerodynamic shape, there's no wing or surface to smooth the airflow over the lid, and the sunvisor system doesn't help as it catches windblow.

I'd personally recommend:

Shoei XR1100 or Qwest (both wind tunnel tested)
AGV S4

those are the two that I have heard positive things from customers in terms of aerodynamics (especially the XR1100 - the 'spoiler' design at the back helps to prevent buffeting at the back of the helmet by smoothing airflow) but it more depends on your head shape.

The shoei XR1000 that I use has got a spoiler on the back of it.. Blurb says it's to reduce wind buffeting but to me it does jack..
Changing my screen for an airflow has made life a bit better.

I have similar pains Col, but my left shoulder blade after 150 miles sometimes feels like a knife has been stuck in there and left.
I carry painkillers or ibuprofen gel most of the time now.

Originally Posted by Jamesy D

IS-16's aren't the most aerodynamic shape, there's no wing or surface to smooth the airflow over the lid, and the sunvisor system doesn't help as it catches windblow.

I'd personally recommend:

Shoei XR1100 or Qwest (both wind tunnel tested)
AGV S4

those are the two that I have heard positive things from customers in terms of aerodynamics (especially the XR1100 - the 'spoiler' design at the back helps to prevent buffeting at the back of the helmet by smoothing airflow) but it more depends on your head shape.

Great thanks. Spoilers, wind tunnel testing, interesting stuff. Do any manufacturers actually publish drag co-efficients?

Originally Posted by suicidesam

The shoei XR1000 that I use has got a spoiler on the back of it.. Blurb says it's to reduce wind buffeting but to me it does jack..
Changing my screen for an airflow has made life a bit better.

The Shoei blurb on the Qwest says "The Qwest has a weight of just 1400g (+/- 50) in the Medium and a spoiler integrated into the shell easing strain on the neck"

If it is true thats exactly what I'm looking for. I'll do some more reading around spoilers. Since you haven't found any improvement, what did you have before the XR1000? It's the difference between what I get and what I have now that's important.

Unfortunately for a sports bike, and me being 6ft, I think my double bubble screen is about the best I can do to reduce windblast.

Originally Posted by specialone

I have similar pains Col, but my left shoulder blade after 150 miles sometimes feels like a knife has been stuck in there and left.
I carry painkillers or ibuprofen gel most of the time now.

Yeah, I know you struggle. Normally I don't, but I just completely over-did it last weekend with the added strain of the high winds, as well as an extra 10mph on top of my normal speed to try and get some miles under my belt.

TBH when I was riding I could feel the strain in my neck muscles and knew I was going to hurt my neck, but told myself to MTFU, keep going and get home. What I didn't realise was that I'd be in this much pain 3 to 4 days later, I thought it'd be a few aches and a bit of a crooked neck for a few days, which is all it was Monday & Tuesday. I think I've actually busted something.