Mavic Plasma
RRP: $400
Distributor:
Armstrong Sport NZ.
When riding a bicycle on the road, you are required by New
Zealand law to wear a helmet. By no means is this a bad thing; in a high speed
impact like those found on a mountain bike that polystyrene shell is all that
stands between you and a trip to A&E. Helmets I have owned over the years
are a testament to this; the little dings and dents from rocks would otherwise
be moulded into the surface of my skull.
Not all helmets are born equal though; a bad helmet can be heavy,
sweaty, uncomfortable, unfashionable and potentially dangerous. A good helmet
fitted correctly is the exact opposite, maintaining a good fit and level of
protection without giving your head a distinctively mushroomish profile. I
believe I have found the right helmet for me, the Mavic Plasma.
Known affectionately in my family as the “mutant space fish”
the Plasma from French company Mavic is a distinctive looking XC/Road helmet
that isn't all too common in sunny Aotearoa. 20 large vents adorn the outside
with internal channeling from the forward vents to the back in order to
maximise airflow and stop you from losing your cool in the heat of a race. The
hottest days have proven no match for the Plasma with my head staying cool no
matter what. The Plasma comes complete with a removable visor, anti-static
padding and Mavic’s top “Ergo Hold SL” retention system with 3 different height
settings to get the correct fit. The knob that controls the tension on the
Plasma’s retention system is very easy to find without being bulky, and adjusts
in minute increments to help fine tune fit, a feature I like a lot seeing as my
head seems to change size slightly as I ride; such fine adjustment is
surprisingly handy.
The entire package weighs in at a claimed 310 grams for a
medium size, which although slightly heavier than some high end race orientated
helmets is still right in the ball park with most of the top players in the
helmet market. Once set up properly I found I didn’t really notice the Plasma
when riding which I suppose is the highest praise you can really give a helmet’s
fit. The straps are easily adjustable and stay where they are told to, the
ratcheting system is padded to make it even more comfortable, and the removable
padding does a good job of trapping sweat on hot days. Although I haven’t had
the chance to test how it performs in a high speed crash the construction
certainly feels solid enough to take whatever is thrown at it thanks to glass
fibre reinforcing. Colouring is in my opinion stylish and not outlandish,
unless you choose to upgrade to the Plasma SL which is available in bright
yellow…
So who exactly is this helmet for? If you want a high end,
well vented helmet that none of your riding buddies have, prefer Camembert cheese to cheddar and don’t have an allergy to space fish, then the Mavic
Plasma might just be the helmet for you. The Mavic Plasma is très, très bon.
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