Louis Garneau

Vorttice Black Knight Helmet

It was Nietzsche who famously spoke the aphorism: 'Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.' But after a mesmerizing stare into the cold, mirrored lens and stealthy black finish of the Louis Garneau Vorttice Black Knight Helmet, we're already more than a bit tantalized by the allure of the dark side, taking little heed to Nietzsche's warnings. The Vorttice has an imposing, almost medieval appearance that looks as deadly as it is fast. And that's before you're even in the start gate. This is especially critical, because when your battles are against individual riders and the clock itself, nothing is more important than the power of pure intimidation. Can you imagine the thoughts running through an opponent's head as he glances behind him and sees only darkness approaching as you bridge the gap? Absolute demoralization.

While the Vorttice looks fast, its spell-binding powers are more than psychological. The front of the Vorttice is dimpled like a golf ball to disturb the air just enough to speed its flow over the surface of the helmet. The angled ridges that follow the dimples are vortex generators that compress air as it flows over the helmet, again speeding its flow down the backside of the helmet. The combination of the two technologies cuts drag by 11 percent.

A single, front vent situated at the point of highest air pressure takes air in and directs it over the head through three different channels to help keep you cool. The Vorttice includes that aforementioned mirrored lens to improve airflow around the face. It can be removed or flipped up if desired. Keeping the helmet stable on the head is the Garneau Spiderlock SL which can be adjusted on the fly with just a simple twist of the retention dial. Steplock SL Dividers adjust the length and position of the straps quickly and easily with a locking cam design. Unlike many aero helmets with a heavy, elongated tail, the back of the Vorttice cuts off abruptly, making the helmet exceptionally light and keeping it out of the wind when you put your head down or look to the side.

The Garneau Vorttice Black Knight Helmet is available only in the color of darkness, and includes a matching black mirrored lens to block road glare and strike fear into the hearts of thine foes. It's available in three sizes from Small through Large.