Rudy Project has upped their lid game with the new Sterling bicycle helmet.  It’s feature packed and comes in at around the same price as (or just lower than) the top-level helmets from other manufacturers.
Shown here on six-time consecutive Tour de France Green Jersey winner Erik Zabel, who helped design the Sterling, it uses a composite skeleton that’s made into a functional style element, and it’s functional in more ways than one.  First and foremost, it provides a strong platform to build the helmet around, helping to protect your head when other helmets might shatter.  Second, it actually serves as a sunglasses holder that’ll fit pretty much any sports shades, whether they’re from Rudy Project or not.
There are lots more great features to show, plus pricing, weight and colors, right after the break…
The skeletal frame is heavily exposed.  Rather than hide it with the shell and EPS, Rudy Project left it open and designed the side sections as an “Eyewear Dock” to hold the arms of sunglasses.
Shown with the new Noyz sunglasses in Titanium at top, it’s also available in White with either Red or Blue framing, or Black w/ Yellow, which we’re guessing will be a top seller:
The Sterling weighs in at about 250g, pretty good for a  for a U.S. CSPC model with a full range of adjustments and putting within range of the lightest helmets, but admittedly not the lightest.  Rudy Project North America president Paul Craig said that while low weight was a goal, it wasn’t the top priority.  Safety and comfort came first.  For safety, the skeletal system and in-molded shell create a solid protective barrier.
To meet Rudy’s comfort goals, they incorporated their RSR-7 Disc retention system to dial it to fit quickly and easily and adjustable side straps.  The big feature is their removeable (ie. washable) bug net padding system.  It comes out easily on really hot days, and each helmet comes with a second set of pads for use without the bug net.  The helmet also comes with a visor for mountain bike use.
The Sterling launched in November with an MSRP of $225.
The silver Terminator 2 looking helmet on the left here is an original 1996 Sweeto time trial helmet that Miguel Indurain used in the 1996 Tour de France.  Why are we sharing that?  Because Rudy also has a brand spankin’ new time trial helmet called the Wingspan, designed by legendary aerodynamicist John Cobb, which we covered here and in this video.
