Home made aero helmet

I couldn't resist having a go any longer. I peeled of the masking tape, got into my kit, clipped in and set off.

For the first run I didn't plan any special route, I just went for a ride around.
My initial thoughts of the helmet were that it was comfortable, stable, visibility was good and that it felt like it was doing its job. After a little while I also realised that my head was getting pretty warm. The lack of ventilation might be an issue on longer runs, but essentially the project was successful. I was pleased.

A bit further down the road I was spinning along in top gear (53x12), thoroughly enjoying the speed. I was flying along the road and suddenly I took off and was flying through the air.

Literally.

A man from the forum's favourite team of bad drivers had decided to turn right, right across my path, but he misjudged my speed and did not get past in time. I had a fraction of a second to react. I don't think I eased off at all and I certainly didn't apply the brakes. Straight into the side of the black people carrier I went. At full speed. This launched the bike, helmet and I right over the top. I remember next, lying on the ground on my back looking up at the bystanders starting to stand around me and say things like 'Oh my god, are you ok?', 'Don't try and move'. Mostly I was thinking, ffs, this is rather annoying. Amazingly the helmet was still on my head and was pretty much unscathed just the tail having been clipped. I distinctly remember taking it off at that point and putting it down by my side so I could lay my head back on the ground in exasperation.

When the driver walked up I knew it was him before he said anything. That look they have: thirty something, tired, unshaven and wearing a cheap suit. I said to him 'You're the last person I want to see right now'. After some moments of contemplation and assessing my condition I decided to get up and I asked after my bike. I hobbled over to the pavement and sat down to have a look at my bike. There was no way I could ride it home. A friendly lady put her arm around me whilst I got over the shock, one gentlemen handed me his card, saying 'If you need a witness' and the driver offered to give me a lift home. As we were about to go a paramedic arrived on a motorbike. My nature is such that, if I'm not gushing blood or don't have a bone sticking out of a limb I don't like to trouble emergency ambulances, so I said no thanks.

After I got home I decided that I probably should get the once over from a medic after all. My right knuckle in particular was not in a very good state. In anticipation of the usual wait in A&E I got changed. I left the crippled bike and the helmet at home and rode the trusty steel bike to the hospital. By the time I was seen I was finding it quite difficult to walk. They checked me over and told me that luckily I had, aside from some surface wounds, only some bad sprains and strains.

By the time I left the hospital all the adrenaline that must have flooded my body upon impact with the car and had enabled me to ride to A&E had completely dissipated. Every step was extremely difficult and I could only walk at snail's pace. I managed to get on my bike and pedalling very lightly I made some progress home. This was much faster than shuffling along on foot, but I had to stop after a while because although I could roll along ok, going over the slightest of bumps was agony and I couldn't lift off of the saddle. I continued home on foot and eventually I heard a black cab approaching and managed to hail it.

Since then, proof of concept having been achieved, the helmet has sat on a table in the corner of my room collecting dust.