ONEUP EDC PUMP

TROY LEE DESIGNS FLOWLINE MIPS HELMET

£100

SPECIFICATION Weight: 355g • Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL • Colours: 11 • Contact: saddleback.co.uk

For an entry-level helmet, the new Flowline MIPS from Troy Lee Designs is pretty darned pricey. Compare it to the open-face that preceded it – the £220 A3 – though and you can see the Flowline really is something of a bargain… at least when lined up with TLD’S other helmets.

I’m going to describe the new Troy Lee Designs Flowline MIPS helmet by listing the features it doesn’t have then, starting with the magnetic Fidlock buckle. Instead, you get the ubiquitous pinch buckle that served us just fine for three decades. It doesn’t get the dualdensity foam blend of EPS and EPP that the A3 sports either, swapping it for basic EPS impact protection. This makes it noticeably lighter in the hand, although it’s hard to feel that when riding. There’s no antimicrobial liner either, so you’ll need to wash the foam band if you want it to remain odour-free.

All of the above can be had, however, if you want to step it up to the other entry-level helmet from TLD, the Flowline SE. Launched alongside this, it has the same shape and look but carries more features and costs £40 more.

What the Flowline does have though, is a five-star Virginia Tech rating, and a NTA 8776 e-bike standard pass, which basically means it’s been tested at higher impact-protection speeds, and covers a larger part of your head. Most of our favourite helmets would pass this new standard by the way, but I’m listing it here because it’s a nod to say your noggin is in good hands. And to draw attention to the fact that there is now an e-bike standard, something that’s sure to light up the internet.

One of the biggest compliments I can give the Flowline is to say I forgot I was wearing it. Even without the premium padding of the A3, it’s instantly one of the comfiest helmets out there. The 360° retention band is good, although it doesn’t come down as low on your head as the A3’s, and as such it feels a bit perched. Nothing to write home about, but it doesn’t feel quite as secure. I also found I had to back it off a few twists to get my head in and out each time.

The simple buckle and nylon chin-straps do a good job, there’s no conflict with your ears because those straps are spread nicely, and besides, do you really need a magnetic buckle, even if they're nice to have? The other key feature of note is the multi-position visor, it’s not held in place with little magnets like the A3, but it is at least stable.

With weather ranging from chilly to bogging, I’ve not had many chances to bake my head in scorching temperatures wearing the

Flowline yet. However, it’s noticeably less breezy inside than the A3 or helmets like the truly budget Specialized Camber, and in part that’s down to the lack of venting. The Flowline is mostly domed, with vents at the front and exhaust ports at the rear but not much on the sides. Why didn’t TLD build in more space for airflow then? More vents means a more complex mould, and the basic yellow MIPS liner probably prohibits that function, it would get in the way and block the airflow anyway.

We’ve not yet mentioned the aesthetics of the Flowline, which are divisive. Unusual for a Troy Lee Design. The paintwork is much more muted than we’ve come to expect, although

£64.50

SPECIFICATION Weight: 140g • Options: 70cc (tested) and 100cc volume • Contact: oneupcomponents.com

Part of Oneup’s well-considered range, this EDC pump is a different beast to most. First off, it has a higher volume compared to rival portable pumps, which means the bigger (100cc internal volume) model moves over three times the amount of air per stroke than most smaller pumps. Even this more-compact 70cc model shifts significantly more air.

On top of that, the hollowed-out fully aluminium pump is very sturdy and well-sealed with weatherproof internals. Being hollow is important as it allows Oneup’s party trick of incorporating the EDC V2 tool. Yes, the same one concealed within the steerer used by many top enduro racers.

The smaller pump can accommodate the multi-tool (it includes a chain breaker and tyre lever as well as hex/torx keys) and a small storage tube, whereas the bigger pump can also hold a 20g CO2 canister that attaches via the pump’s valve head. Although the pump works great on its own, many riders will want this EDC tool inside too, but that does add £70 to the price.