In the fascinating world of professional cycling, where every second is precious and aerodynamics reign supreme, a helmet has arrived that has captured the attention of all cyclists: the Aerohead II.
The result of a collaboration between Line of Business, a well-known American helmet manufacturer, and the Team Visma/Lease a Bike, a Dutch cycling team, this helmet with a futuristic design promises to revolutionize time trial racing.
“Curious” appearance and links to history
At first glance, Aerohead II looks like something out of a science fiction (or other genre, but that's a bad joke) movie with its long "wedge head." The tapered tail that flares out to fit snugly around cyclists' shoulders is also noteworthy.
Every detail has been designed to maximize aerodynamics when the runner is in position, while a wraparound transparent visor ensures optimal visibility, significantly improving that of the original model.
Aerohead II is not only an innovative concept, but has its roots in the history of cycling. In 1986, Giro created the first Aerohead for Greg LeMond, do you remember it?
The American cyclist won the 1989 Tour de France wearing that revolutionary helmet, beating his closest rival by just eight seconds. That success turned the Aerohead into a commercial production model, laying the foundation for this new ultra-modern iteration. The rest is history, and today history repeats itself (in form
Tested and approved by the best professional cyclists
After an intense testing phase over the winter, the Aerohead II finally made its official debut on March 4 in the opening time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico, the prestigious Italian stage race. What reactions did the cyclists receive?
Racers were a bit perplexed at first by the extreme design, but after some testing and seeing the advantages in terms of aerodynamics, they were quickly convinced.
Mathieu Heijboer, responsible for the Team's performance Visma/Lease a Bike
Conclusion
Whether it's a revolution or a simple curiosity, the Aerohead II has already left an indelible mark on the world of professional cycling. With its extreme design and promise of unrivaled aerodynamic performance, this helmet has earned the attention of professional cyclists and enthusiasts. While its bizarre appearance may seem excessive, if the Aerohead II can provide even a fraction of a second advantage, it could mean the difference between victory and defeat in time trials.
The future of cycling is evolving rapidly, and the Aerohead II may just be the beginning of a new era of aerodynamic innovation pushed to the extreme.
