Red conquers all: Giro Vanquish MIPS aero helmet

The Internet didn’t have a convincing answer for why Valentine’s Day is so synonymous with red and black stuff. It’s on the cards, the boxes of chocolate and the lingerie unimaginative spouses buy for their “better halves” each year. Who are they buying it for again? 

This colour combo is also as popular in cycling. Look and you’ll see red and black coursing through the heart of the peloton. CSC wore it, BMC wear it and sticking with the Valentine’s theme, lothario Cipollini (it’s got a ring to it, hasn’t it?) dominated the sport in the red of Saeco.

In a study conducted in 2005 on combat sports competitors at the previous summer’s Olympic games, athletes in red won more bouts than their opponents in blue. Manchester United has won more than City. Liverpool has won more than Everton. Maybe that explains why cyclists still demand the colours for their kit. Everyone knows red cars are faster, right? So maybe that’s why Giro sent us their latest aero helmet in red and black instead of any of the other five colours?. 

Also in red and black: Giro Empire E70 knit shoes

The Giro Vanquish supersedes the Air Attack, a design that when first launched in 2012 was controversial. “Aero road helmets?,” they said. “They’ll never catch on.” This is why the Vanquish isn’t at all shocking. It’s been done. This time round however, Giro has done it better.

The Vanquish has Giro’s TransformAir design that reduces drag, making it quicker. Quicker still if you wear the visor, allegedly. Inside the helmet, Giro has built in MIPS, which stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, which works to help prevent concussion. This is, after all, the purpose of wearing a helmet. 

We haven’t seen one in the peloton yet. Who’ll be the first to wear one?

Read: World of pain – facing up to the dangerous reality of racing bikes

Read: Punk rock to PR – ‘on tour’ has dual meanings for Giro’s liaison man

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