lithos

Like I said in a previous post, I've had the Bontrager Lithos helmet since the Fall, but didn't wear it much because I don't like the way it fits with a hat.  But a trip to California was going to give me the opportunity to rock the helmet, feel the ventilation, and if need be, see how it protected my skull.

The Lithos is Botrager's (Treks's) top of the line helmet designed for mountain biking...

The helmet is pretty light, claimed weight of 330g for a size medium, and on the head felt very light.  I didn't have any issues with the retention system, the "Micro-Manager" fit system hug my head for the duration of the ride, easily adjustable with the dial in the back of the head.  I'm not usually a fan of dial system tension adjusters on helmets, they never seem to have "that" indentation for my head, but with the "Micro-Manager" system, I can get the helmet perfectly on my skull - without causing pressure points anywhere else on the head. 

 

The straps with their "Lockdown" adjust quickly and easily without fuss.

On the outside of the helmet, there is a bunch of well placed vents, keeping the air flow around your head, even when on a slow going uphill slog, like an out of shape rider trying to get up some steep ass hill in California found out.

Good intake vents in the front...

...lots of venting up top...

...and plenty of vents in the back to keep the air flowing.  I don't ever look at the amount of vents on a helmet, more important is how they are positioned.  On a mountain bike style helmet, you want big gaping ones in front to bring in the air on slow climbs, and channels along the inside to facilitate air flow to the vents in the back.  This helmet does that.  I will be interested to see how it works in a hot humid condition, like this summer.

The visor - it works. I found nothing super fancy about it, it adjusts up and down, and stays where you put it, even on 25 mph descents through washboarded trail ruts.

This helmet, in the week I got to ride it performed awesomely!  I don't have any nitpics about it yet except it doesn't work well for me with a thicker cap on - cotton cycling caps are fine - but not comfortable for me until the Spring finally hits for real, not this pseudo Spring like weather.

As always, more on this product later this year....

still not much

Since I've been back from SBCU, not much is going on.  Thought the mc frame was coming before/during my trip, but it hasn't.  Did sell the Transport, and the Tradesman is safely in my garage.  The bike is a blast to ride, and I have to say, it is one of the most comfortable steel frames that I have ridden - including custom.  I'll have an update on the bike in a week or two once I've gotten some more miles on it.

Also look for a review of my Bontrager Lithos helmet.  I've had the bucket for a while, but I don't like the way it fits with a hat on, so California was a great place to put it through its paces. 

As always, I'll have some more posts coming up, hopefully they are full of excitement, not just a post about why I haven't had anything exciting to post about.....

sbcu

Specialized was a fun week, learned some great information on selling strategies, merchandising, and of course, about the different technologies of bikes.  I also found out (not that much of a surprise) that I'm a very slow rider.  Not that it matters at all, the scenery was to awesome- and the temperatures in the 60's - to really care.  Got to ride two different versions of a Roubaix road bikes, a freeroad bike, a city bike and this S-Works Stumpjumper FSR :

Didn't take too many pictures on the rides, we were cruising at a pretty good pace on the non-mountain bike rides to be able to snap some pics, but did take some on the trail.

This trail system is part of where they race the Sea Otter Classic through.

After the class was over, the interesting parts began, drinking, eating, and most importantly meeting a lot of great people and making some new friends.  If anyone from my class is reading this somehow, and I didn't get your info, drop me a line.

Thats about it, more to come.....