{"id":50832,"date":"2023-06-21T09:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-06-21T07:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=734855"},"modified":"2023-06-21T09:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T07:35:42","slug":"the-abus-gamechanger-2-0-is-designed-with-climate-change-in-mind","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/the-abus-gamechanger-2-0-is-designed-with-climate-change-in-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"The ABUS GameChanger 2.0 is designed with climate change in mind"},"content":{"rendered":"

New aero road helmet is optimised for more ventilation and higher speeds <\/p>

By Simon von Bromley\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 21 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

ABUS has announced the GameChanger 2.0, its second-generation aero road helmet.<\/p>\n

The new helmet is claimed to offer improved ventilation for the hottest days and to be aerodynamically optimised for the high speeds professional riders race at.<\/p>\n

Priced at \u00a3279.99\/\u20ac299.95 with a MIPS<\/a> Air Node system, or \u00a3239.99\/\u20ac249.95 without, the ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 builds on the original GameChanger<\/a>, maintaining a similar overall profile and style.<\/p>\n

The GameChanger 2.0 will be worn during the 2023 Tour de France<\/a> (and other WorldTour<\/a> races) by ABUS\u2019 sponsored professional teams, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Movistar Team<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Extreme temperatures<\/h2>\n
\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The world is getting hotter and bike racing isn\u2019t immune from its effects.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With temperatures during the 2022 Tour de France reaching 40\u00b0C, cycling is increasingly being forced to reckon with extreme weather.<\/p>\n

Of course, the best aero road helmets<\/a> have always needed to balance aerodynamic efficiency and ventilation, but such conditions naturally pose hurdles for manufacturers.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
ABUS says the extreme heat seen at recent editions of the Tour de France informed its design process for the GameChanger 2.0.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

ABUS\u2019 senior product manager, Lukasz Tamajka, told BikeRadar that increasing ventilation on a helmet is typically detrimental to its aerodynamic efficiency.<\/p>\n

Yet if riders opt to race with a vented helmet because an aero one is too uncomfortable in hot weather, that may not be optimal from a performance perspective either.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The goal for the GameChanger 2.0 was to improve ventilation without hurting aerodynamic performance.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The initial design goal for the ABUS GameChanger 2.0 was therefore to maintain aerodynamic performance but improve ventilation.<\/p>\n

In the end, Tamajka says ABUS was able to make improvements on both fronts by taking inspiration from the Airbreaker<\/a> (the German brand\u2019s lightweight, vented road helmet) and the GameChanger TT (its time trial helmet).<\/p>\n

Ventilation for modern sunglasses<\/h2>\n
\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
ABUS\u2019 senior product manager, Lukasz Tamajka, says the GameChanger takes into account the current trend for oversized sunglasses.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Though the GameChanger 2.0 appears similar to its predecessor at a glance, there are some key differences in terms of ventilation.<\/p>\n

Three large vents have been added along the brow, for example. These, Tamajka says, account for the recent trend towards oversized cycling sunglasses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When the original GameChanger launched in 2017, most cycling sunglasses were relatively small.<\/p>\n

Around 2020, though, many riders were suddenly sporting extremely large sunnies<\/a> reminiscent of those seen during the 1980s.<\/p>\n

According to Tamajka, these close off the space between a rider\u2019s sunglasses and helmet, reducing ventilation to the forehead.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Big sunglasses fill in the gap between the riders eyebrows and the helmet, which ABUS says reduces ventilation.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The new brow vents apparently improve ventilation to this area by 32 per cent, while the two outermost holes can function as a sunglasses storage port, too.<\/p>\n

ABUS has also redesigned the internal channelling of the GameChanger 2.0 and widened the diffuser at the rear of the helmet.<\/p>\n

This is claimed to result in 20 per cent more air flowing through the helmet, harnessing the Venturi effect in a similar manner to the POC Procen time trial helmet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Three large vents on the forehead are designed to draw in air and prevent a build-up of sweat in this area.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

ABUS doesn\u2019t make specific claims about how much cooler your head will be as a result of these changes, but our initial test rides with the GameChanger 2.0 suggest the results are impressive.<\/p>\n

For example, temperatures averaged 25\u00b0C and peaked at 29\u00b0C during one test ride (with lots of climbing) on the launch event.<\/p>\n

To its credit, though, I barely noticed it while riding \u2013 which is exactly what you want from a helmet.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hot weather and plenty of climbing greeted the assembled journalists on the GameChanger 2.0 press launch in northern Italy.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Optimised for higher speeds<\/h2>\n

Along with temperatures, the speeds pros race at have risen substantially in recent years, too.<\/p>\n

As a result, the GameChanger 2.0 has optimised speeds from 46-52kph.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Elite racers are getting faster, so ABUS has increased the speed it designs its aero helmets for.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the GameChanger 2.0 isn\u2019t effective at reducing drag at slower speeds, but the realities of modern racing have prompted ABUS to update its design parameters.<\/p>\n

According to Tamajka, the GameChanger 2.0 is around 2-5 per cent more aerodynamic than its predecessor, depending on the rider and their riding position.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The GameChanger 2.0 retains a similar profile to the original, but is claimed to be 2-5 per cent more aerodynamic.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This is said to have been achieved by widening the rear of the helmet, which makes the effective Kammtail aerofoil length 11 per cent longer.<\/p>\n

The trailing edge of the top of the GameChanger 2.0 has also been lowered by 8 degrees, which is claimed to improve the helmet\u2019s performance when riding in a head-down position.<\/p>\n

Lastly, a perforated plastic structure on the top of the helmet, which ABUS calls an \u2018aeroblade\u2019, is claimed to help improve the aerodynamics and ventilation of the helmet, depending on the angle of the rider\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The \u2018aeroblade\u2019 on the top of the GameChanger 2.0 works both as a vent and an aerodynamic aid, depending on the angle of your head.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

To arrive at a final design for the GameChanger 2.0, Tamajka says ABUS performed multiple CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations, and wind tunnel and track tests.<\/p>\n

Tamajka says ABUS performed 90 wind tunnel test runs with Movistar Team rider Enric Mas in one day, testing various helmet designs, yaw angles, head angles and wind speeds.<\/p>\n

He also noted pro riders frequently bring competitor products to wind tunnel or track tests, and is confident the GameChanger 2.0 is competitive with the best in its class.<\/p>\n

ABUS GameChanger 2.0 details, pricing and specification<\/h2>\n
\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The standard version (without MIPS) costs \u00a3239.99\/\u20ac249.95.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The ABUS GameChanger 2.0 is priced at \u00a3239.99\/\u20ac249.95 with ABUS\u2019 own padding, or \u00a3279.99\/\u20ac299.95 with a MIPS Air Node system.<\/p>\n

It is available in three sizes (S, M and L), 11 colours and with or without a MIPS Air Node liner.<\/p>\n

The claimed weight for a size-medium GameChanger 2.0 (without MIPS) is 265g, although our white, medium test sample weighs 279g.<\/p>\n

ABUS says helmets with the MIPS system weigh 6-8g more than ones without.<\/p>\n

\""ABUS\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The GameChanger 2.0 uses side straps sewn together below the ears to reduce bulk.<\/span><\/figcaption> ABUS<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Like its predecessor, the GameChanger 2.0 uses fixed side straps, with a weighted piping along the front edge to ensure the straps sit close to your face.<\/p>\n

This means the fit around the ears can\u2019t be adjusted, but ABUS claims this confers a small aerodynamic benefit.<\/p>\n

For those interested in where their bikes and kit are made<\/a>, the ABUS GameChanger 2.0 is produced in Italy at ABUS\u2019 own factories.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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