Met Stradivarius HES 2014 Cycling Helmet

Are you going to choose it for its excellent weight/shock absorption ratio or because of its exceptional design which puts it amongs the most striking protective helmets for cyclists in the world.

In the event of an impact the pressure on the helmet shell is uneven; we can see that most of the pressure is concentrated within a limited area. HES (Homothetic Embedded Skeleton) construction, which involves embedding two homothetic shells, spreads most of the pressure built up by the compression at the impact point and thus dissipates the force of impact over the whole shell.

Air Lite Straps - The Air Lite straps on the new Stradivarius HES are made from a revolutionary technique of weaving polyester fibres which aids sweat evaporation and provides greater tensile strength with less weight. Air Lite lateral dividers go way beyond their primary function which is to lock the straps into position. Indeed, their ultra-flat design helps reduce aerodynamic drag.

In the events of a crash, the tensile stress that the straps place on their anchoring points can be violent. The fact that the Stradivarius HES' anchorage points are embedded in the polystyrene and not attached above the shell means that the straps' tensile stress is more evenly dissipated.

As well as gravity, cyclists have to contend with a high level of drag force. Drag slows down any forward movement. The helmet is a key element when considering a cyclist's aerodynamics. When moving, a helmet deforms the airflow around it like the wing of an airplane.

The shell of the Stradivarius HES has depressions which positively modify drag force and influence the behaviour of the boundary layer (interface between the helmet and the air around it), a fundamentally important aspect of fluid mechanics - aerodynamics.

Originating from the medical industry, Gel 02 is hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and made from thermo-stabilising polyurethane morpho-gel. Gel 02 holds the helmet snugly in place thanks to its natural capacity to adapt its shape to fit the head. Instead of absorbing the perspiration, the front pad sends it to the sides of the face and helps to keep the head cool, a key factor not just for comfort but also for the cyclist's performance. Easy to keep clean and fresh, simply hand wash it.

Key Features:

• HES construction: Two homothetic shells, spread most of the pressure built up by compression at the impact point - dissipating the force of impact over the whole shell
• Air Lite Straps: Made from revolutionary weaved polyester to aid sweat evaporation and provide greater tensile strength with less weight. Ultra-flat design reduces aerodynamic drag.
• Safe-T Smart occipital retention system:
• Stability - Occipital retention system. Its role is to ensure that the helmet is held firmly on the head.
• Reliability - A dial at the back of the helmet for easy one-hand size adjustment. The internal mechanism was designed for precision and reliability. The Safe-T Smart also includes a vertical adjustment to position precisely where the helmet touches the head.
• Comfort - Thanks to the broader and lighter contact area, the pressure on the head is distributed in a homogenous way for added comfort.
• Size - M: 54-57cm, L: 58-61cm
• Weight - M: 215g, L: 255g