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Wild Giro Aerohead 2.0 TT Helmet Propels Team Visma-LeaseABike to Ludicrous Speed

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, spaceship
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An all-new Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet made its pro road racing debut today on the heads of Jonas Vingegaard and his Visma teammates at the opening stage individual time-trial of Tirreno Adriatico. Little is known about the concrete details of these spaceship-shaped helmets on the heads of the Team Visma riders. But the wildly unique shape is dividing opinions, with many claiming its forward position on the head pushes the limits of what offers functional protection and what is so clearly a non-structural aerodynamic fairing designed only to improve rider speed.

But what do you think?

Team Visma prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, Dark Helmet from Spaceballs The Movie
(All Photos/Team Visma-LeaseABike)

And here we thought the original Aerohead TT helmet was big and bulbous with its integrated wrap-around windshield. This new Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet takes it to another level. Maybe even to a “Dark HelmetSpaceballs level.

It is striking in profile – and more so with the wide-angle lenses of Team Visma’s photographers. But, the shape of this new Giro Aerohead 2.0 isn’t all that different from a number of other long aero TT helmets we’ve seen before.

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, racing

But the key feature here appears to be that the helmet protrudes as far in front of the rider’s head as it does extend behind it.

What do we know?

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, balanced side view front-to-back

What we can make out is that the new Giro Aerohead 2.0 helmet retains a conventional in-mold EPS foam construction, with a thin plastic outer protective shell. That foam at the front of the helmet includes deep cutout grooves. Presumably, those are crumple zones rather than ventilation channels since there does NOT appear to be any external vent openings.

Tech details

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, from the front while racing

The front of the helmet has very wide bulbous shape. Not unlike other top TT lids. And with a smooth transition to removable wind shield visors. At least 2 shields popped up at Tirreno Adriatico – a dark reflective visor and a completely transparent clear windshield. The clear shield reveals mounting tabs that appear to be magnets to hold the visor in place, just like the current Aerohead 1.0.

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, structural detail

Beyond that, the new Aerohead features conventional webbing straps to hold it in place. And we get a glimpse of some rear retention. There’s no visible mention of MIPS like the current Aerohead 1. But the open image showing the foam ribs has a continuous liner across the forehead that looks like the latest all-black MIPS solutions.

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, rear detail

Out back, the helmet shape thins to a point designed to fit almost against the rider’s back for the smoothest possible airflow.

Giro Aerohead 2.0 availability?

https://twitter.com/vismaleaseabike/status/1764619710094528603

Team Visma – Lease A Bike confirms that the name is officially the Giro Aerohead 2.0. And that it was the result of a long-term development collaboration with the team. When we will see it officially from Giro is still up in the air. But it is on the Giro Instagram feed now, so it’s not hiding any longer.

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, front detail

Perhaps we’ll get more info at Sea Otter in a few weeks?

prototype Giro Aerohead 2.0 aero TT helmet, aerodynamic time-trial protection for Team Visma at Tirreno Adriatico 2024, racing

And it probably will be race-ready by this summer.

Giro.com

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52 Comments
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Charles Thomas
Charles Thomas
9 months ago

Dear UCI:
Forget banning long socks. Ban this instead! And ban the Specialized TT helmet with neck sock, and the aweful POC TT helmets while you’re at it.
Cyclists are already a laughingstock, we don’t need more reasons for ridicule.

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
9 months ago
Reply to  Charles Thomas

They should ban TT specific bikes, helmets and aerobars. The rider should have to do the entire race (including the individual TT) on one frame. They should have to use the same gear ratios through the entire race. Use the same “normal” off the shelf helmet for the duration of the event. The only change allowed for the TT stage would be the use of an aero wheel set. If anything breaks, it’s replaced with an identical part.

JNH
JNH
9 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

In complete seriousness I would love it if they did that.

Craig
Craig
9 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

There is some merit in your suggestion. This in itself would make equipment selection just as strategic as it is now but in a completely different way. And would lower the running costs for teams. Yet be quite interesting for followers of the sport as people look to see who is running what compared to their competitors.

Taking it a step further, to even the playing field in cyclocross, why not one tread pattern for the race and only one spare set of wheels per bike.

The bike and equipment manufacturers would be protesting with pitch forks at the UCI’s gate though if any of this was to get implemented.

aerogeek
aerogeek
9 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

i totally support your proposal. that’s real road bike race.

Ed LLorca
Ed LLorca
9 months ago
Reply to  Eggs Benedict

I love TT tech (not this helmet) but I could see the whole race on one bike, mot climb bike switches or TT. ONE frame.

Billyshoo
Billyshoo
9 months ago
Reply to  Charles Thomas

Better ban shaved legs, too, if you hope to make cyclists less a laughingstock than you think they already are.

Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
9 months ago

Holy Lord Dark Helmet!

Tom
Tom
9 months ago

If you ever wanted to look like a Paris fire fighter, now’s your chance!

B Barber
B Barber
9 months ago

I’ll wait for the gravel version.

Nate
Nate
9 months ago
Reply to  B Barber

lmao best comment award

TheStansMonster
TheStansMonster
9 months ago

WhY DoEsN’T AnYbOdY RaCe rOaD AnYmOrE?!

Neof
Neof
9 months ago

What is the field of vision with that thing. Seeing the amount of overhang infront of the forehead, it seems that there will be visability issues.

Andrew
Andrew
9 months ago

Suddenly, recumbent bikes don’t look so bad now huh?

Sir Walter Reede
Sir Walter Reede
9 months ago

Safe?? how does a large boner out the front of your helmet safe, it will jack your spine in a crash. Schumacher is a veg from a camera on his helmet, this is worse

Greg
Greg
9 months ago

I’d have to retire from cycling.

Exodux
Exodux
9 months ago

I guess if I was on a team that uses this helmet for TT’s, I’d beg the team director to not have to use this helmet, even if it saved me 5 seconds over a 40K TT. As cyclist, we already appear dorky enough to non-cyclist, this pushes it over the top.

SomeGuy
SomeGuy
9 months ago

TT gear is so dumb. One of the reasons the sport exists is to develop equipment that is useable for the general public. If riders were required to use the same bike for every day of the race, the people designing this stuff might be forced to develop something well-rounded that makes sense for the rest of us.

Billyshoo
Billyshoo
9 months ago

Apparently I’m in the minority but I think this lid is GORGEOUS. And I’m not even a road or TT/Tri rider. It’s very similar in appearance to a speed-skiing helmet (also beautiful and super-functional). I just think the name should be the ‘Giro LeMond’ in honor of the progenitor of cycling lids.

Tom
Tom
9 months ago
Reply to  Billyshoo

I love that comparison, you are spot on! Some people will find it ugly, some won’t. At the end of the day, professional cyclists are not like the rest of us, they are looking for marginal gains and if this gives them even the smallest aero benefit it’s worth having it on their head. Sadly, I’m too slow to benefit from this or any other aero kit.

Yeah sure
Yeah sure
9 months ago
Reply to  Billyshoo

It looks like the cap from a highlighter. Go visit an optometrist.

Robin
Robin
9 months ago

Kill it with fire before it breeds.

Ingram
Ingram
9 months ago

April fool?

Ingram
Ingram
9 months ago

Nothing new here, triathletes have already figured out the advantage of reversed helmets.

Yeah sure
Yeah sure
9 months ago

One of the best things I did a number of years ago is sell my TT bike and just focus on competing in Merckx categories. It’s a frustrating category sometimes because you occasionally get rocked by some XC Cat 1 with a 390 watt FTP but I feel like it’s way better for overall road training and you don’t have to swap to a weird bike for 3 months prior to races to not get smoked. Bonus point you only look like a mild idiot in regular cycling kit and they now allow aero wheels in Merckx so you don’t have to dig out the Ksyriums to compete like in the old days.

Ken
Ken
9 months ago

Who knew d!*k heads were more aero

kevin
kevin
9 months ago

Can’t wait to see one of these at the local “everybody is welcome no prize money” triathlon.

Marcel
Marcel
9 months ago

Why are so many people upset? This looks just like a mountainbike helmet with a visor set up a little too high.

Billyshoo
Billyshoo
9 months ago
Reply to  Marcel

Tradition, methinks. 🙂

JNH
JNH
9 months ago

So, who else played MDK2 back in the day?

craig
9 months ago

Well at least now I have a suspect in the theft of the fairing on my cafe racer!

Greg
Greg
9 months ago

The Cheat is grounded!

Nick
Nick
9 months ago
Reply to  Greg

You win the day sir by infusing my biking news with Homestar Runner.

Chris
Chris
9 months ago

“Not really over, sir, more to the side.”

Jason DW
Jason DW
9 months ago

Well, they at least look stupid.

Mike K
Mike K
9 months ago

Only one Visma rider donning this monstrosity cracked the top 10 in the TT, and no other rider from the team made top 50. Make of that what you will ‍♂️

wwm
wwm
9 months ago

What’s next? Shaped aero body suits?

nooner
nooner
9 months ago

Newsflash! Today the UCI just banned this helmet for competition. 3/5/24

Joe Bond
Joe Bond
9 months ago

That helmet will look super awkward for the Giro GC leader.

Jase
Jase
9 months ago
Reply to  Joe Bond

genuine LOL

Exodux
Exodux
9 months ago

I wonder what the MTB version of this helmet would look like?

L Dawg
L Dawg
9 months ago

But can I get it in purple?

Yerma
Yerma
9 months ago

Wind faring’s for the bike vs wind faring’s for the body.
never thought I’d say this but the UCI is right.

esc8engn
esc8engn
9 months ago

Here for the comments.

Ed LLorca
Ed LLorca
9 months ago

Couldn’t pay me to wear the helmet. might be nice in a perfect head on but more likely it will twist the riders neck in a fall hopefully not to the ultimate degree. Let’s not find out and ban it now.

Il_Dottore
Il_Dottore
9 months ago

The full-fairing bodysuit is next.

Dude, where's my bike?
Dude, where's my bike?
9 months ago

I see his Schwartz is as big as mine.

Sajuuk
Sajuuk
8 months ago

LONESTAR!!!!

Came here for the comments and the SpaceBalls references and I was not disappointed!

Troy Walling
Troy Walling
9 months ago

Maybe it’s time to make gravel bike racing more prominent with the arrival of this monstrosity of a helmet. You know, a little more casual, independent racing, get away from the cold calculated boring road race scene. Kids these days.

JBikes
JBikes
9 months ago

Looks very much like a speed ski helmet. Not much of an innovation.

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