Consider that your backstop, with equivalent certifications in place in different regions of the world. For more details about this helmet, take a look at our POC Ventral Tempus SPIN review. The two helmets share everything except for a change to a version of MIPS that is incredibly close to the previous SPIN technology. That means you start with a reasonable, though not quite budget, price. You also get the unobtrusive MIPS Integra rotational impact tech and a style that does a great job of being adaptable for whatever bike you match it with. The POC Omne Ultra MIPS then adds a strip of Velcro in the back with a buckle and strap with attachment points.
What’s amazing about the best road bike helmets in today’s world is that they’ve expanded beyond only offering added safety. Safety is always the backdrop but now there are options focusing on lightweight, breathability, and aero. Some brands even claim better breathability with a helmet than without while aero has become so ubiquitous that we’ve broken the best aero helmets out into a unique buyers guide with even more details. We’ve also done that with the best budget bike helmets if you just need something that won’t break the bank. If you want more specifics though, road bike helmets tend to split into aero, climbing, and city styles. Aero helmets are an excellent way to add aero optimisation without extra cost but they tend to run hotter and weigh a bit more.
Everything combined, Giro claims that compared to the previous Giro Aether MIPS, the Aries ups cooling efficiency by 2.3%. That’s on top of 4% less aerodynamic drag plus a Virginia Tech genesis mountain bike STAR value score of 8.40 making it the #1 ranked helmet tested at the time of writing. Amongst all the off-road cycling events within the area, the Veneto Trail definitly stands out.
Any helmet on our list will work with any kind of bike you want to use. That said, most riders prefer to match the gear they have with the type of riding they are doing. Some of that is about specific features but it’s okay that some of it is just about style. POC is obviously not ashamed to embrace that style element, and the POC Omne Ultra MIPS is unabashedly styled for gravel cycling.
If you match the style of helmet to the style of the rest of your gear you will almost always end up with exactly what you need. Outside of sizing, you might want to consider the vertical adjustability of the rear cradle. I generally prefer the rear cradle down lower to feel more locked into the helmet. Most brands allow easy adjustment but some don’t and it’s something to think about. With safety out of the way, you will want to focus on comfort but that can mean a few different things.
The final result is a helmet that makes it easy to stash glasses but also holds them incredibly secure. As an added bonus, I find the style integrates well with a variety of glasses and Sweet Protection has great quality options if you really want to match. While Ponca is more gravity-based, there still remains the occasional uphill burst that’ll keep the blood flowing.
And that’s exactly why, in 2022, USA Cycling chose to move their mountain bike program to Northwest Arkansas. The Lake Leatherwood Gravity Project is a downhill haven for the air-time enthusiast in all of us. Consisting of seven distinct gravity-fed lines coming off of two hubs, this trail system has a combination of man-made and natural features. Arkansas has a reputation for being rocky and ledgy, and Leatherwood makes great use of both of these assets. Rocking a bit of a bike park vibe, the more challenging features at Leatherwood will command your full attention.