I wanted to buy the cheapest helmet I could (I got fed up of riding with my time trial helmet on gentle rides around the beautiful Yorkshire Dales). Apart from junior helmets, the cheapest I could find in my local cycle store was the Specialized Align for £29.99. I had hoped to get something cheaper. If I’d gone to Asda or Argos I could have picked up something cheaper. Argos for example, do a budget range of helmets from £12.99. This Bell helmet is only £18 from Amazon. which is really cheap, but I only found out after I’d bought this one.
Anyway I became impatient to buy from local cycle shop; this Specialized Align looked like a decent helmet and so I decided to buy it.
Specialized Align Review
I was really impressed by this ‘cheap’ cycle helmet. The truth is that it felt much better than my existing more expensive helmet. As a keen cyclist I tend to think I need to buy the most expensive stuff to get the best possible equipment. But, this experience left me realising, often we pay more money but don’t really get anything in return.
Ease of Fit
The strength of the Specialized Align review is the simple and effective system for adapting the helmet to exactly fit your head. There is a sturdy system to tighten and loosen. In the past, my helmet fitting systems have started to break down because they are a bit flimsy, but this feels more solid and durable.
You have to adjust the other straps a little so it fits behind your ears and is a snug fit under your chin, you can then turn the fitting at back of helmet so helmet fits exactly to your head.
Unless you have a very chubby chin, it should fit just about every head and chin size.
Weight
Wearing the helmet feels quite light. I can’t tell much difference with existing helmet. The latest version is said to have reduced weight somewhat – I haven’t got my weighing scales with me, but will weigh it soon. It felt lightweight on head and you soon forget about it’s existence.
It comes in choice of colours, white, white /red and black.
Ventilation
Ventilation is fine with 10 air vents. To be honest, riding in UK, I rarely feel the effects of overheating. Some of the top models of helmets have more air ventilation. If you are riding in hot climates or often feel the effects of overheating, you would be advised to look for a model with a greater number of ventilation vents.
A cycle helmet which meets UK safety regulations is strongly recommended when you get put in the stocks. However, helmets can only provide adequate protection from vegetables and fruit thrown at less than 15mph.
This is from village of Aldborough in North Yorks.
Helmets to Buy
- Specialized Align from Evans Cycles
- Cycle Helmets at Evans
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