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Tech Gallery – Look for ‘em at Roubaix

  • By Zack Vestal
  • Published Apr. 10, 2010
  • Updated Apr. 11, 2010 at 11:59 AM EDT

When the cameras roll on Sunday at Paris-Roubaix, keep your eyes peeled. Lazer Helmets and Oakley eyewear both have new accessories that will appear on sponsored riders.

Lazer’s Aero Shell helmet lid is making a splash in commemorative limited edition graphics.

Lazer Aero Shell
Last week at the Tour of Flanders, riders from the Katusha team were seen in special edition yellow Lion of Flanders Aero Shell helmet lids from Lazer. This weekend, the Katusha Team will be wearing another special edition Aero Shell for the upcoming Paris – Roubaix. Look for the “Hell of the North” Aero Shell to be debuted the morning of the race

The Aero Shell is a plastic cover, designed to fit perfectly over the Lazer Helium road helmet. It snaps into place and protects the riders head from wind and rain while still allowing for some air flow under the front of the helmet and out the rear vents. The Aero Shell is unique in that it is easily removed from the Helium helmet when riding conditions are such that additional ventilation is desired.

Lazer provided the Katusha Team with the special edition of the Aero Shell to celebrate the Ronde van Vlaanderen event. Mikhail Ignatiev spent nearly 200 kilometers in a breakaway during the race and was very visible in his Aero Shell.

A transparent version of the Lazer Aero Shell for the Helium and Genesis helmets will be available to cyclists in May from Lazer Sport. Chris Smith of Lazer USA says that the company might make limited quantities of the commemorative Aero Shells available to customers.

Also on the way from Lazer is the Warriors Series of Helium helmets. They are the same in form and function as standard versions of Lazer’s new Helium, but they sport special graphics to honor race victories by Lazer’s sponsored athletes. The Warriors Series consists of Helium helmets with either Belgian, Italian, or Russian graphics. Smith suggested a Czech version may be in the works as well, in honor of Zdenek Stybar’s cyclocross world championship.

BMX Chrome versions of Oakley’s Radar and Jawbone eyewear include spare lenses and earsocks.

Oakley introduces BMX Chrome collection
The word from Oakley is that BMC rider George Hincapie will appear on Sunday morning wearing limited edition BMX Chrome eyewear. Oakley says the new BMX Chrome collection was inspired by the decades Oakley has been part of two-wheeled sports. Hincapie’s long time association with Oakley and the European Spring Classics make for a memorable match.

Oakley says the BMX Chrome frame salutes the chromed BMX bikes of kids who have grown up to become today’s champions. The three different lenses and matching earsocks that come with both Radar and Jawbone Chrome frame are a nod to the colorful stickers they plastered on their number plates. Oakley’s effort is meant as an homage to what they call “the young daredevils who stomped on the cranks to turn an obsession into a sport.”

Both Radar and Jawbone Limited Edition arrays are available at Oakley dealers for $350. Each includes two spare lenses and two pairs of earsocks, plus a carrying case.

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