Not all helmets are created equal. A lot goes into your race day kit – tri suit, nutrition, hydration, sun protection, etc. But one of the single most important things you can consider is your helmet – including elements like the aerodynamics, ventilation, and fit. A well-ventilated and comfortable helmet can make the difference between a successful race day and a DNF accompanied by heat exhaustion.

• Fit – this is the single most important element to consider. When you try on a helmet, make sure you try it on like you’re going for a ride: If you wear a sweat band, put the sweat band under the helmet; If you ride with your hair in a braid or ponytail, pull your hair back into your style of choice and make sure the retention system fits around your ponytail or sits on your braid comfortably. Experiment with different padding —Rudy Project helmets come with various pad options—find what’s most comfortable for you.
  
  Simulate your riding position: Tuck into aero, make sure that you can comfortably and easily keep your head in a position like you are looking up the road, without the helmet slipping down. Some heads are more circular, some are more oval, and if you choose the wrong helmet for your head shape, you’ll notice uncomfortable pressure points on your forehead and temples, or even your neck.
• Aerodynamic profile – in an ideal world, we’d all be able to spend hours in the wind tunnel, finding the optimal helmet that matches our body position. Since that’s not realistic, it helps to think instead about the kinds of courses you’re doing (flat and in the aero bars = most aero; hilly and out of aero = most versatile). The pros and other athletes can be informative as far as what’s new, but bike fit is highly individualized, and pros vary widely in their helmet selection. For example, some rock a road aero helmet, while others go with longtail aero helmets, and others go for a more ‘jelly bean’ style – at the speeds pros are going, their savings from an aero helmet may be vastly different from yours, or the athlete next to you.

• Ventilation – The best way to evaluate ventilation is to take your helmet out for a ride. But, few stores will let you walk away with a helmet and bring it back if it doesn’t work out. Rudy Project offers a 90 day return window, so you can always order a helmet and test it out. If a helmet is not 100% satisfactory, you can send it back for a full refund.
• Weight – As you move above the $100 mark, you’ll find helmets are much lighter due to higher quality materials, like lightweight EPS foam. Advanced safety features enhance the protection provided by the helmet, while maintaining a light weight, and superior ventilation

• Warranty – Does the helmet manufacturer stand behind their equipment? Up-front savings can translate into costs down the road: if something on the helmet breaks, and you have to pay for a replacement, or buy a brand new helmet, you’re not saving money. Rudy Project helmets are covered by a 3-year manufacturing warranty, and a 6 year, industry-leading crash replacement guarantee. If you crash in the helmet within 6 years of purchasing it, we’ll replace that helmet at a very competitive price.

Most importantly, when you travel with or store your helmet, make sure you take excellent care to make sure it doesn't get damaged in transport or spend prolong amounts of time exposed to UV radiation. Store it in a dark, cool place that is temperature controlled, and take care to wash the straps and retention system, especially after a salty ride or race. We highly recommend our handy helmet carrying case!

National Sunglasses Day – held annually on June 27 – is The Vision Council's campaign to raise awareness of the importance of wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate Earth’s atmosphere at any time and place, but certain regions have heightened radiation levels. UV rays are particularly strong near the equator, since they travel a shorter distance to reach Earth’s surface. Cities at high altitudes also share higher UV levels because the sun’s rays can easily penetrate the thin atmosphere.

To determine areas of high risk, The Vision Council analyzed national UV index levels from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). More than 50 cities were evaluated for solar radiation strength, season, climatic conditions, ozone concentration, cloudiness and elevation. Below is a map showing the top 25 U.S. cities receiving the highest levels of UV exposure.

UV PROTECTION

• Eyes can be sunburned. Without protection, your eyes can be sunburned after exposure to harmful UV rays, leading to long-term UV-related eye damage. In fact, 75% of Americans are concerned about UV eye exposure, yet only 31% wear sunglasses when they go outside.
• Even on cloudy days, UV rays can infiltrate the eye causing strain and potential long-term damage. Lenses with a lighter tint offer the same UV protection with a higher light transfer than gray lenses for overcast conditions. Photochromic lenses offer the ultimate visual and UV protection as they change tint to match ambient light conditions.

EYE PROTECTION

• Less squinting means less strain in the muscles around the eyes. Over time, eye strain from sunlight can cause fatigue and headaches.
• Sunglasses act like windshields for the eyes blocking wind, dust and debris from entering your eyes during outdoor activities.

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE SUNGLASSES

Our Spinair series of glasses offers a range of fit, color, and lens options. In all, they provide a multitude of ways for you and your family to protect your eyes, improve eye comfort in bright conditions, and look awesome all the while.

PRESCRIPTION SOLUTIONS

In addition to our plano, non-prescription eyewear, we also offer a whole host of RX solutions for your corrective eyewear needs. Prescription glasses can be enjoyed with clear lenses or any of the many lens technologies we offer. For more information and to better explore the options, please contact your local Rudy Project eye care professional.

Ben Kanute has been on an absolute tear early in the 2019 triathlon race season. And by tear, we mean ripping down finish line tapes in a winning hot streak.

Already, Ben has won four races over a variety of distances. The first came at Oceanside 70.3 in early April, followed in quick succession by another win at the Barbados Conti Cup ITU race two weeks later. Then he crushed the field at St. Anthony's only a week after that, and just defended his Escape from Alcatraz 2017 and 2018 titles, making it three in a row at that iconic event.

HOT OR NOT

When sports pundits see an athlete winning in rapid succession as Kanute has done, they sometimes write it off as a bit of luck coupled with good form. The follow up question from there is invariably the same: Will the hot streak last?

It's a fair question to ask, but Ben's trajectory in triathlon would suggest that he's anything but a flash in the pan. With elite national titles to his name dating back to 2007, he's risen steadily through the ranks, winning the collegiate national championship in 2012, and taking the USA Triathlon 2014 sprint distance championship.

His Olympic team nomination in 2016 was a mile marker as well. But it was his silver medal at the 2017 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga that really turned some heads, and brought attention to Kanute as a true contender on triathlon's global stage.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE

Definitely more than a flash in the pan, some would see Ben's ramp up since 2017, and his 2019 list of wins, as a harbinger of what's to come. Kanute has seemingly found a good rhythm in his racing and training. Part of that can be credited to a good working relationship with his trainer, Jim Vance, but there's more.

Kanute is perhaps one of those rare individuals who is naturally gifted as an athlete, but it's his drive that makes biggest difference. As he states on his website, "I show up ready to race from the front. When the gun goes off, I race a calculated, but gutsy race, that forces athletes to race through the line." It's that combination of preparation and go-for-broke racing bravado that makes this young gun one to watch in every race he enters. And he's certainly one that many point to as a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

STAY FRESH

Ben's success doesn't really come as a surprise to many though. As already mentioned, he's been on an upward trend for a few years now, and there are plenty of good reasons for it. Besides natural talent and passion, Ben's also got a balanced approach to developing his career as a professional triathlete.

Part of that is keeping things fresh. The off season is of course full of training, but he also makes room in his schedule to inject elements of variety and recovery. Switching up the routines and heading out on the dirt for example to do workouts is a way to keep the mental batteries topped off. Heading into race season demands so much energy and concentration, so maintaining that mental edge makes a huge positive impact on race day performance.

WHAT'S NEXT

It's early days yet in the 2019 race season though, and anything can happen. Ben's got a full schedule of racing ahead of him, and will as always strive to push both himself and his competitors. One of his big focus races will be the 70.3 World Championships on September 7th in Nice, France where he assuredly hopes to go one step higher on the podium than his silver medal performance in 2017. There's pretty much still a full season between now and then, but rest assured that Ben will continue to race from the front, push through the line, and love every moment.

Sarah Haskins opened her season here, so she had no real gauge of how she might perform. Additionally, she had some question marks regarding her form after having recently taken some time off her training regiment to recover from an injury.

She is no stranger to this race though, and her experience served her well. In spite of her uncertain fitness, Sarah executed a great race using patience to wear out her competition. Coming off the bike, she kept pushing the pace, slowly distancing herself from her nearest rival.

In the end, Sarah capped the race off with her eighth win at St. Anthony's! Her amazing track record at this race really comes into perspective when you realize that she's won nearly a quarter of the St. Anthony's events throughout the race's history. Each win is a fantastic feat, but her consistency here is definitely something special.

Congratulations to both Sarah and Ben, and we're excited to see more great racing from them in 2019.