FEATURE

World champion Linda Villumsen wears revolutionary Smith cycling helmet

By Wright Communications

World champion road time trial cyclist, Linda Villumsen is already using the revolutionary Smith cycling helmets which are being launched in New Zealand, in her day job.
 
Villumsen and Rushlee Buchanan ride for top American professional road cycling team United Healthcare, which uses the Smith Overtake road helmet with its unique impact absorbing material Koroyd.
 
Villumsen is the Commonwealth Games time trial champion and was a multiple silver and bronze medallist at the world championships until she won the World Title at Richmond, Virginia in the United States last week, while Buchanan is a multiple national champion.
 
No other cycling helmets available have the honeycomb like material which is designed to absorb up to 30 percent more energy on impact than the international standard.


Linda Villumsen. Photo courtesy of Wright Communications

After 50 years in the snow sports safety and apparel industry, Smith, the Portland Oregon company has only entered the cycling market recently where the helmets have won multiple awards at recreational and life style shows, including at the highly regarded Interbike Show at Las Vegas.
 
The Koroyd at the heart of the helmets deforms progressively at all impact speeds, while its construction allows more ventilation ducting without sacrificing protection and comfort.
 


The helmets also feature a multi directional impact protection system – MIPS – which reduces rotational forces to the brain in the case of oblique or side on impacts. The impact in this situation is absorbed better by allowing a small rotation of the outer shell relative to the inner part.
 
Wind tunnel tested, the Overtake road helmet is as aerodynamic as other top brands of road cycle helmets, while offering better ventilation, protection and lower weight.




The Forefront mountain bike helmet is designed to accommodate goggles, a light or small point of view camera. Sunglasses can also be clipped onto both the Overtake and Forefront when not being used.
 
Adjustment of both helmets for a comfortable fit is controlled by a rotary dial with 5cm of adjustment in each of the four helmet sizes. The attachment points for the straps can also be moved up and down and forward or backwards to get the ideal position.

 

The Overtake road helmet is available in 12 colours and the Forefront mountain bike helmet has a 10 colour range.
 
The Overtake road helmet sells for $399 and the Forefront mountain bike helmet is $389. The Smith helmets are imported and distributed by Christchurch based Sportive New Zealand.


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