Bell Z20 MIPS Limited Edition Helmet

For decades, Bell has been the choice for cyclists who want lightweight options but don't want to pay the peloton premium. This is despite the fact that models like the Sweep R have been ridden at the highest levels of cycling by the likes of Cancellara, Sastre, the Schlecks, and every other top gun of the old CSC team. The Z20 MIPS Limited Edition Helmet carries on the Sweep R's pedigree of low weight and high ventilation beneath the styling of special aesthetics that ensure theZ20's classic profile still stands out in a crowd. With MIPS solidifying its place in the mainstream, it was only a matter of time until someone brought another eye-catching safety feature to the table. Last year, Bell forged into new territory by introducing its dual-layer Progressive Layering technology, which returns in the Z20 MIPS, the brand's new all-purpose road model. Bell claims that this construction method, which utilizes two layers of variable density foam instead of the traditional single density layer, better dissipates impact forces in some crash situations. Pairing Progressive Layering with the thin, low-friction MIPS liner means Bell puts impact management firmly at the forefront of the Zephyr's design. Bell finishes the helmet with its Sweat Guide Padding and No-Twist Tri-Glides, A pair of features that only make sense to people who have suffered from the ills they address. Sweat Guide is a simple extension of padding under the front of the helmet that ushers sweat forward so it drips in front of your glasses instead of on them. This sounds like a small detail at first, until you remember that mid-summer interval session that left you squinting into the sun with salt-covered lenses sitting unusable in your helmet vents and realize that a tiny patch of padding is a pretty big deal. The No-Twist fasteners help prevent the obnoxious tendency for helmet straps to twist. We're not embarrassed to admit that we occasionally spend far too long trying to straighten the straps--a...