photo credits @ Team Bahrain Victorious
This has been the season for new, far-out aero helmets making their debut during this year’s race calendar. First, there was Giro’s wild Aerohead II which was unveiled at the start of the Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice races, followed by the news of Limar’s equally sci-fi-looking Alien that recently broke cover.
This week, Ruby Project takes center stage with its new Wingdream TT helmet, making its debut during stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia, with Team Bahrain Victorious donning the radical lid during the Individual Time Trial.
According to Rudy Project, the Wingdream underwent two years of rigorous development during both indoor and outdoor testing, focussing on improving the management of turbulence at the rider’s back, as well as its air penetration coefficient.
As a result, Rudy Project says its new helmet increases power by almost 10 watts compared to the previous Wing, which translates into about four seconds saved for every 10 kilometers, equivalent to more than a minute, for example, over an Ironman distance (180 km). Moreover, compared to a traditional road model, the new Wingdream allows a gain of 306 seconds over an Ironman distance (180 km), assuming a constant power of 200W.
Additionally, Ruby Project is keen to point out that aero gains don’t come at the cost of safety, as the new Wingdream benefits from certifications issued by Dolomiticert, SIRC and NEWTON, proving safe in every aspect, from impact tests to rotational tests. Furthermore, the UCI’s authorization allows its use in both professional and amateur cycling events.
“In introducing Wingdream, I feel a deep pride in what we have achieved with this revolutionary helmet. It is not only a step forward in aerodynamic studies, but also a testament to Rudy Project’s dedication to achieving excellence. Every detail of Wingdream has been meticulously crafted, reflecting our relentless pursuit to combine safety, comfort, and performance. Besides marking significant progress in competitive cycling equipment, this helmet embodies our philosophy that performance starts from the head,” says Simone Barbazza, Marketing Director of Rudy Project.
“The world of helmet development is similar to Formula One: it requires engineering creativity, 3D studies, prototypes, wind tunnel tests, and athlete testing. There is a lot of research behind a product like this, which is subjected to continuous verification by the UCI and certification bodies. And, of course, there are significant economic investments. Many models currently available on the market do not feature holes. Both Wing and Wingdream, however, have central holes to ventilate the cranial cap area. Our challenge was precisely to create a helmet that allowed good aerodynamic savings, but at the same time was also comfortable. Managing head temperature is crucial: cyclists push at speeds over 45 km/h for 40 minutes during a time trial and triathletes even longer. The advantages of aerodynamic penetration are quickly nullified if there is excessive head heating,” adds Norberto Fava, head of helmet production and industrialization at Rudy Project.
“With the Wingdream helmet, we really focused on increasing aerodynamic efficiency. Together with Rudy Project, we’ve expanded its structure to allow the airflow to move more fluidly from the head to the shoulders and back of the athlete. The rear part has been slightly widened for an overall more aerodynamic shape and better airflow control. Aware that the head position varies, we’ve optimized the design for the most common posture, still ensuring high performance even in less frequent conditions, like with strong crosswinds. The Wingdream incorporates everything that, with Rudy Project, we’ve learned from professional athletes and time trialists, offering a product that can make a difference in races like the Ironman, with a potential saving of precious minutes,” points out Martin Toft Madsen, Aero & Material Consultant for Team Bahrain Victorious.
“I tried it for the first time at this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico, and I must say I felt very comfortable right away. The Wingdream is an extremely comfortable helmet, not at all cumbersome during the race, and offers perfect visibility. It didn’t cause me any problems even in the position I usually assume during time trials: I tend to keep my face very close to my hands, and the helmet does not cause any discomfort,” attests Antonio Tiberi, pro rider for Team Bahrain Victorious.
The Wingdream will be available to the public in 2 sizes and 2 colors from October 2024, with pricing to be announced.
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