Scott Cadence Plus helmet overview: A powerful aero all rounder

Scott launched the up to date Cadence Plus helmet earlier within the yr. The model says it’s their quickest helmet ever and the mannequin is utilized by the riders racing on the prime stage on the Q36.5 and DSM Firmenich Submit NL professional biking groups. 

Scott says the helmet is designed for ‘excessive efficiency and most consolation’ and that the Cadence Plus has been extensively examined within the wind tunnel. 

The helmet has lots going for it by way of specs. It options MIPS Air Node expertise, comes with a chargeable clip-on rear mild, has a five-star Virginia Tech helmet take a look at ranking and is not unhealthy wanting both! The helmet has a retail value of £229.99 / $229.999 / €249.90 placing it in step with opponents, although you’ll find it on-line for a wholesome low cost at the moment within the UK at the very least. For context although, it’s over double the worth of the very competitively priced Van Rysel FCR I’ve additionally been testing. 

I have been testing the Cadence Plus for a number of months and have worn it for a variety of using. From regular highway rides, to highway racing to my longest bike journey ever at 311 Kilometres. We even took it to a wind tunnel ourselves for the Cyclingnews helmet aero take a look at. I’ve actually put it by means of its paces this summer season and am now prepared with my in-depth overview. You can even examine this helmet competitors in our greatest highway bike helmets information.

Design and Aesthetics 

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The Cadence Plus is manufactured from polystyrene with a polycarbonate shell. It is out there in 4 colors and comes with a pleasant smooth drawstring bag for storage. I examined the white model which has a satin white end. There is a silver Scott emblem up entrance and two small black Scott emblem’s both aspect. I’ve picked up a mark on the helmet that I can not seem to take away and it feels just like the end usually might have a bit extra care long run to maintain it wanting actually good.

The helmet has 13 vents in whole, seven up entrance and 6 on the rear of the helmet. Two on the entrance additionally double up as sun shades storage if required, although that is marginally slower; racers be warned.  

Vent plugs are additionally out there for the helmet to assist aerodynamics or so as to add safety from the weather., although none have been out there for us to check throughout our wind tunnel take a look at. With the helmet putting a powerful fourth with out the plugs I discover the actual fact you’ll be able to add them a lovely proposition and may make the helmet even faster. On paper, they need to additionally assist hold rain at bay on days when the climate is not good. These plugs do not include the helmet as commonplace.

The helmet does include a chargeable clip-on mild nevertheless that attaches to the center rear of the helmet’s vents utilizing two sprung items of plastic which are a part of the sunshine physique. It is a effectively executed piece of extra safety that does not take up further area. For those who journey at night time or are commuting and many others, it is a intelligent concept and I used to be glad of the sunshine after I began Chasing Cancellara at 2 within the morning. The sunshine was flat by the tip of the journey however it had carried out its job.

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The Cadence Plus is provided with the MIPS Air Node system. You’ll be able to learn our piece on MIPS tech right here when you aren’t certain about it.  The system consists of a low friction backing layer to the helmet’s inside padding which permits the rotational affect on the wearer’s head to be decreased within the occasion of an affect. I have not been in a position to take a look at it personally, and hope to not, however usually talking MIPS tech is fascinating in any helmet. 

When it comes to aero efficiency and our personal testing, it is nice to have the ability to say greater than ‘it feels quick’ and have some knowledge to incorporate for the helmet. I wore it within the wind tunnel throughout testing in a reasonably common on-the-hoods place which we went for to copy a real-world using place. The Cadence Plus positioned fourth in our take a look at and was solely crushed by the POC Procen with and with out a visor and the Specialised Evade III. It is protected to say it is a actually robust possibility when you’re searching for a quick helmet at the start.

Lastly, the helmet has additionally been included within the Virginia Tech helmet scores. It at the moment ranks 144 out of 241 helmets take a look at and importantly has a 5 star ranking. In Virginia Tech’s phrases ‘Our affect checks consider a helmet’s potential to cut back linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the top ensuing from a variety of head impacts a bike owner would possibly expertise. Helmets with extra stars present a discount in concussion threat for these impacts in comparison with helmets with much less stars.’ 

Briefly, a 5 star ranking could be very encouraging in case your searching for secondary testing in relation to a helmets security claims. 

Efficiency 

The Cadence Plus has ticked loads of packing containers for me in testing. Visually, I just like the aesthetics and design. Its aero form does not really feel too bulbous or massive on my head and I feel it nonetheless seems good, and it is available in white. Tick from me there. 

I discovered it took me a little bit of time to get used to the Scott Halo Match retention system and dial in my match. There are three totally different positions the helmet cradle may be worn in, you do that by merely pulling or pushing the cradle on the rear of the helmet up or down. You are able to do this with the helmet off or in your head with the retention dial wound out. Briefly, you’ll be able to transfer the cradle additional up or down the rear of your head, it adjustments how the helmet sits in your head and matches. No huge deal right here, It simply took a while to work out what was one of the best match for me and to make sure the very entrance of the helmet did not obscure my eyeline on the bike. 

The grippy rubber adjustment dial is straightforward to find and modify and I’ve comfortably tightened the helmet down each time I’ve worn it. It is not given me a single subject. 

The helmet examined fourth quickest in our wind tunnel take a look at and it is nice to realize it was one of many quickest fashions we tried. It takes the guesswork out of the window for racing or once you need to go quick you realize you are sporting a aggressive helmet that is not far off the quickest available on the market. 

I additionally wore the helmet for the Bern-Zermatt spherical of Chasing Cancellara in Switzerland. This was a 311km journey and over 13 hours of journey time. I used to be fully snug in it for the whole lot of the journey. Beginning at 2 am, using till daybreak, all day in temperatures within the mid to excessive twenties and at last in a rain storm. I am glad I did not have any points, however it was a superb vary of situations to check a helmet in. I knew it was a quick possibility, however it proved to be very snug over many hours of use. I additionally felt air flow was excellent on a lot of lengthy climbs, there was no saturated forehead pad or sweat drips. 

Verdict 

I actually just like the Scott Cadence Plus. Its aero styling does not go overboard and it seems good, it is carried out rather well for me on the bike. It hasn’t mattered what I have been doing the helmet has been snug. It is a stable all-rounder, and when you’re searching for a helmet to race in or simply to go quick in, we now know it is one of many sooner ones we examined from a reasonably lengthy listing. The aero credentials are backed up. 

Other than that, you are getting MIPS tech, an built-in mild to assist hold you protected, a great Virginia Tech ranking rating and a pleasant bag to maintain the helmet in. These items, plus barely extra premium ending in locations similar to higher high quality stickers spotlight the distinction between the Cadence and Van Rysel FCR which carried out the identical in our wind tunnel take a look at. 

Scott has produced a actually well-executed helmet within the Cadence Plus that greater than holds its personal in opposition to the competitors.