Bell Alchera

Price Paid:  $49.00 at performance

Favorite Ride:
rolesville nc

Bike Setup:
wudayoucare?

Summary:
The straps can be very uncomfortable for me, especially over my ears. I bought it a little larger than my head so I can fit a cap on in the winter. Sweat pads fall off way too easily. Stays Cool when it's hot. Better than my previous $30 bell el cheapo. yes, it's a little dorky looking, I had a kona ironman helmet that was much dorkier and I returned it based on dorkiness to buy this. For $50, it's a decent deal. If you want better, you had better be prepared to spend a lot more. Hate to sound so negative. Guess I just don't want to wear a helmet.

Strengths:
cool when it's hot
about as good as you'll find for $50
i have seen dorkier helmets
i like the pretty blue

Weaknesses:
straps irritate my delicate ears
mushroom head
sweat pads don't stay on

Similar Products Used:
bell $30 cheapo
ironman

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.