July 14, 2004

Bell's new helmet debuted, proven at Tour de France
With the crash-filled start of the 2004 Tour de France, US hopeful Tyler Hamilton, Team CSC and Team Credit Agricole are glad to be wearing the new Bell race helmet, the Bell Sweep R, which made its debut at the race. Bell also debuted its new time trial helmet, the Meteor II, in compliance with new rules that require a protective helmet for time trials as well as road stages.

More than half the peloton has gone down in a rash of crashes during the race's first week, adding further legitimacy to the UCI's compulsory helmet rule. One man who's thankful for his helmet this Tour is CSC's Kurt-Asle Arvesen who crashed heavily in the sprint finish of stage two and again during stage nine after another rider plowed into a traffic island in front of him. In the stage two crash Arvesen's head bounced violently on the tarmac, while he impacted the back of his head hard enough to flatten the back of his helmet in the stage nine incident. Amazingly, he suffered only scratches and soreness from each of the crashes and was able to continue.

The Sweep R is a road racing model in a pair of new helmets in Bell's pro-caliber Race series--helmets designed specifically for racing. The other, the Sweep XC, was designed for cross country mountain bike racing and will debut in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Both helmets will be available to consumers in the spring of 2005.

The Meteor II time trial helmet will be available in Europe only and will hit stores in the spring of 2005 as well.

The Tyler Hamilton edition 2005 Bell Sweep R

2005 Bell Sweep R Road Racing
With 20 functional vents actively channeling airflow over the head and out the rear, a feathery curb weight and a bevy of top-level features, the new Sweep R has moved to the front of the pro peloton. Bell's signature GPS Fit System insures an optimal fit, while the Fusion In-Mold Microshell and bottom wrap along with an internal reinforcing skeleton make the Sweep R strong yet svelte. Dialed race graphics-including a Special Edition Tyler Hamilton model-accentuate this design masterpiece and make it worthy of its 2004 Tour de France debut.
SIZES: Small: 51-55 cm, 20"-21.75" o Medium: 55-59 cm, 21.75"-23.25" o Large: 59-63 cm, 23.25"-24.75"
COLORS: Black/Titanium, Blue/White CSC Team Red/White, Tyler Special Edition, White
WEIGHT: 10.3oz o 292 grams
CERTIFICATION: CPSC Bicycle Safety Standard Certified, CE 1078
VENTS: 20 (12 front, 8 back)
TECHNOLOGIES:
- Fusion In-Mold Microshell for durability
- In-Mold Bottom Wrap
- GPS Retention System for one handed fit adjustment
- Internal Reinforcement for structural integrity
- Channeled Ventilation for cooling air flow
- Cam-lock Levers for easy strap adjustment
AVAILABLE: Spring 2005

The 2005 Bell Sweep XC

2005 Bell Sweep XC XC Racing
The new Sweep XC picks up where its road racing brethren (the Sweep R) left off and adds Bell's new Variable Position Visor (VPV) to the mix. The VPV allows for 15 degrees of horizontal adjustment by using an imbedded clutch mechanism that holds the visor firmly at the desired angle, but allows for easy, on-the-fly changes. Couple this with the 20 breezy vents, Bell's signature GPS Fit System, Fusion In-Mold Microshell and bottom wrap, internal reinforcements and clicked-in graphics and you have a helmet that's destine to go from box to podium in no time flat.
SIZES: Small: 51-55 cm, 20"-21.75" o Medium: 55-59 cm, 21.75"-23.25" o Large: 59-63 cm, 23.25"-24.75"
COLORS: Blue/Silver, Matte Black/Charcoal, Red Pewter, Silver/Titanium
WEIGHT: 10.9 oz o 309 grams
CERTIFICATION: CPSC Bicycle Safety Standard Certified, CE 1078
VENTS: 20 (12 front, 8 back)
TECHNOLOGIES:
- VPV Adjustable Visor
- Fusion In-Mold Microshell for durability
- In-Mold Bottom Wrap
- GPS Retention System for one handed fit adjustment
- Internal Reinforcement for structural integrity
- Channeled Ventilation for cooling air flow
- Cam-lock Levers for easy strap adjustment
AVAILABLE: Spring 2005

Sweep Quick Hits
- The Sweep R makes its international debut in cycling's ultimate test--the 2004 Tour de France, June 3-25.

- American hopeful Tyler Hamilton along with the CSC and Crédit Agricole teams will be the first to wear the Sweep R in competition.

- Tyler Hamilton, Bobby Julich and Jason McCartney will all wear Sweep Rs in the 2004 Olympic Road Race in Athens, Greece.

- The Sweep XC will make its debut at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

- Miguel Martinez of France will be one of several Bell riders to use the Sweep XC in the Olympic Mountain Bike Race. Several countries, including the US have yet to name their final rosters.

- US Olympians will be issued special red, white and blue Sweep helmets.

2005 Bell Sweep, rear view

Photo: Lars Ronbog