Bell Alchera

Price Paid:  $45.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Three Bears

Bike Setup:
Guerciotti with Dura Ace, Guru with Campy Chorus

Summary:
First, I have to say that this helmet has saved me from a potentially serious head injury when I crashed after hitting a deer on a morning ride. Overall, the helmet fit my head well, is comfortable, and relatively lightweight. I did find that the pads were a bit thin and are easily saturated with sweat. Because I sweat a lot, it doesn't take long for sweat to start dripping onto my glasses, or worse, into my eyes during a ride. This never happened with my other helmets. I think this is because of a couple of things - thin pads with minimal padding to absorb sweat, and the arrangement of the pads themselves on the helmet liner which I believe leads to this problem. It's gotten so bad that I have to wear a headband or a "headsweat" cap to keep the sweat from rolling onto my glasses during a ride.

Strengths:
Comfort, fit, weight, and it works!

Weaknesses:
Thin pads, and pad layout/arrangement which I believe leads to sweat dripping onto your glasses and eyes.

Similar Products Used:
Bell, Giro

Price Paid:  $81.00 at Banani

Favorite Ride:
road, mountains.

Bike Setup:
4 bikes, all custom build steel frames from Banani. Campy Record, Centaur and various older campy etc.

Summary:
Fits to my head with good airflow. Been using it for comuting and racing for about 4 years in temperatures from ca.
-5 to 35 degrees (Celsious) Using it 5 days a week for 4 years.

Strengths:
Relative cheap compared to performance, light, fine airflow, very easy to adjust while riding. Straps and mecs. work perfect after 4 years.

Weaknesses:
Inner helmet cracked up after 4 years.

Similar Products Used:
Had a Giro before, but it was hopeless hot in summer.

Price Paid:  $45.00 at performance online

Favorite Ride:
open road, no cars with a couple of nice climbs

Bike Setup:
Litespeed Firenze and Lemond Croix de Fer, both Ultegra

Summary:
Have had this for a while and only writing a review now because it saved my skull from serious injury. Hit some gravel making a turn a little too fast and went down, sliding until my skid was stopped by a boulder square against my head. The helmet cracked both inside and out, by my head was only slightly bruised from the impact. Didn't pass out, or even have a concussion. I always thought the helmet was a terrific steal at the price. Comfortable and snug. Always looked to me like any helmet costing 2 or 3 times as much. And it did its job to a tee.

Strengths:
looks good, fits good, and protects as it should, all at a great price

Weaknesses:
seems like the color selection at performance and nashbar are limited

Similar Products Used:
a giro something or other, cost a bit more and didn't fit as well

Price Paid:  $49.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere after a good night's sleep

Bike Setup:
Mostly stock Felt F5C

Summary:
If the fit works for you, it might be the best helmet you can buy for less than $50.

Strengths:
Fit. I can get my size 7 3/8 dome into a medium with room to spare for a cap and 4 weeks since my last haircut. And it doesn't look too much like a mushroom. Bell seems to fit more oval-shaped heads like mine better than Giro does.

Weaknesses:
The GPS wheel hangs a little low in the back of the head, so when I'm down low it pushes the helmet forward and low on my brow.

Similar Products Used:
Bell Image (early 90's). Hairnet. Clement cotton cap.

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Atlantic-Carbon-Corning Iowa

Bike Setup:
Customized Trek 950 Pro Columbus SL/SP with fork built and new top and down tubes for relaxed riding position by Jeff Bach, custom Pearl Essence White paint job by Jeff Hetrick. Upgraded to Campy Chorus 9-speed. (Of course, it’s not repairable.)

Summary:
The helmet prevented my death and limited injury to a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. On September 30, 2006, an 87-year-old driver in a mid 90’s Pontiac traveling at highway speeds hit me from behind. My career as a Risk Engineer with Zurich following 18 years as a Loss Control Consultant with Federated Insurance lead me to the Alchera since the side of the helmet had more temple coverage than most of the others considered. The temple coverage was critical since the entire initial impact was on the right temple area. The vent design permits ample airflow, good frontal and side protection with the adjustable lock to secure helmet. The locking system held the helmet in excellent position for the frontal area. The coverage for the temple area along with the chin retainer system properly adjusted holds the helmet evenly on the sides and prevents tipping. The helmet was in good shape cosmetically with the hard shell, resisting any stains. An excellent helmet in my opinion.

Strengths:
Strengths are the air vents design, the temple protection, vents design to provide impact cushion in critical areas compatible with most skull structures. The head locking system forces the helmet to be worn for excellent frontal protection. Very comfortable fit.

Weaknesses:
eaknesses are the foam pads for the inside deteriorate rapidly if you perspire readily. The rear design of the helmet is somewhat pointed to the back, but not as sharp as several other helmets. The pointed rear could cause adverse twisting if a rear impact should occur.