Canyon has sparked some conversations about the future of cycling helmets with its unreleased lid that throws the conventional helmet straps out the window. Perhaps even more shockingly the structure might require you to wear your cycling glasses under the straps! We spotted the new, unreleased helmet on the heads of Canyon-sponsored riders Petr Vakoc and Jasper Ockeloen in pictures taken at the Santa Vall gravel stage race in Girona.
To call the new innovation featured on the new Canyon helmet a ‘strap’ of any kind is a stretch, as the design altogether forgoes the Y-shaped strap configuration we all are familiar with. Instead, there is a single, solid-looking ‘arm’ that extends in front of the ear and then attaches to a softer strap and buckle under the chin. The arm is coupled with what seems like an adjustable, pivoting strap anchor and yes, there really is nothing behind the ear at all.
With a sleek profile and strategic vent placements, the helmet has an aerodynamic vibe to it with only a few front vents paired with a closed top and three larger vents at the rear. Though, Vacoc was also seen riding another, more ventilated helmet with the same strap, which indicates there might be a few new products launched sometime in the near future.
As much as Canyon has used a camouflaged colourway on this helmet, there is one thing that cannot go unnoticed, and that is the fact that both Vakoc and Ockeloen had the arms of their glasses beneath the plastic-looking single arm. This could indicate a deliberate design choice or an unintended consequence of the bulkier anchor system – but it’s evident that when it comes to cycling fashion police, it’s nearing a crime.
While we can agree there’s nothing super remarkable about the look of the helmet itself, the new strap(less) design is very unique, and the tangible benefits of it remain unclear for now. If you have ideas though, let us know in the comments!
Of course, because this is a helmet it needs to meet all sorts of safety standards before it can be sold, and as it seems to be near impossible to find another helmet without a Y-strap, it’ll be interesting to see if there are safety claims attached to Canyon’s new design.
We approached Canyon for more details about the helmet and Aaron Budd, Canyon’s Head of Sales and Marketing in the UK, said:
“I can confirm that this is a Canyon product. We’re working with selected Canyon athletes on innovative developments. We rely on studying these real-world testing conditions to ensure these developments make the grade at the highest level so that they may eventually be brought into a consumer landscape.
I can’t say anything more specific about the technology or its release, but we are excited about the results.”
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19 thoughts on “Unreleased Canyon helmet that ditches traditional helmet straps in favour of new mono-strap leaked”
Quote:
In every race/event I’ve heard of, seen or been in since the advent of compulsory helmets it’s been obligatory to wear a helmet that is approved by the usual safety bodies, so as this was pictured in a race it is surely either already approved or breaking the rules?
Hmm, interesting…
Hmm, interesting…
…but why?
Bulkier attachments would be less aero, and I don’t see how fewer anchors could possibly make it more safe. And all that’s before you get into the whole people-won’t-like-it-because-its-different
Aerodynamics could be the why
Aerodynamics could be the why. One strap instead of two, and it may have a trip wire effect. It may also be faster on some people and slower on others
I thought the strap going
I thought the strap going arount the nape of your neck was a/ to make it a secure fit and b/ to prevent the helmet being rotated in the event of an incident. How do they get around this basic but essential requirement of the helmet doesn’t have anything beind the ears?
Good helmets grip the head
Good helmets grip the head via a well thought out cradle design, with the strap there more just to stop the helmet being pulled/bounced off in a crash. If your helmet fits well, you should be able to shake your head around/ride with the strap undone, even bend forward so you head is upside down, and it won’t move out of position.
If the “strap” is stiff
If the “strap” is stiff enough in the right direction, it could still be anchored behind the ear and achieve the same result as the missing strap.
As for the shades issue, I’ll go out on a limb and say I prefer under the straps anyway
NickSprink wrote:
Collect your things from reception. Security will see you off the premises.
So you have never had a wasp
So you have never had a wasp or bee that fluw into your helmet having to take it off fast ! .
I always make sure my glasses are under the helmet straps for that reason ??
Presumably effective against
Presumably effective against dinosaur attack?
They’re probably just trying
They’re probably just trying to get their own back for being made extinct, compressed for millions of years then turned into cycling PPE… (from here)
Exciting! A new strapless,
Exciting! A new strapless, erm, strap. On every motorcycle helmet I’ve ever had, the straps were fixed at only one point each end. And there are millions of engineers’ hard hats with no straps at all. This Canyon design seems to go down further round the head, behind the ears, than most; perhaps that’s enough to guard against rotation? Is rotation even tested for in the standards?
As for why, well it’s got attention.
You can not seriously call
You can not seriously call this ‘strapless’, because, well, it clearly has a strap.
The only difference is that the straps here do not end in a Y-shape – that usully provides some fore/aft stability. Here that same stability is provided by a solid extension.
Why are we acting as if this is somehow very complicated?
Searched the page for
Searched the page for “strapless”. The only matches were in the comments.
I wasn’t talking specifically
I wasn’t talking specifically about the article, but also about the reactions.
Must admit though that I thought they called it strapless in the article too. Maybe they edited it. I only found this:
While we can agree there’s nothing super remarkable about the look of the helmet itself, the new strap(less) design is very unique
Just need to reorder the
Just need to reorder the words, not strapless but less straps (yes, pedants (like me), I know it should really be fewer straps).
The article has been edited.
The article has been edited. It originally used the phrase “strapless”, now changed to “mono-strap”.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Try again, this time
Try again, this time searching for
strap(less)
Perhaps a new development to
Perhaps a new development to reduce 1/2 a watt by elite athletes, and for the rest of us a new must have to keep up with the jones’, that will cost an additional $100..?