Eurobike – The GameChanger 2.0 from ABUS

The news from German brand, ABUS, is an update to one of their top helmets, the GameChanger. The original GameChanger became one of my favorite helmets to wear when not reviewing other helmets. The GameChanger 2.0 steps up the bar to give Movistar Team, and the rest of us, an advantage when speed counts.

The GameChanger is already a great helmet. It was designed to be fast with your head up or down. My only criticism, and this is for just about any aero road helmet, is that it can be a little hot, compared to more ventilated (and less aero) helmets. The new helmet offers more ventilation but remains aerodynamic, especially when your head is down, sprinting for the line.

During the design process, ABUS worked with active and former pro cyclists to get feedback on how to improve what they already called a perfect helmet. They also pulled feedback from their sales team who work directly with the shops and customers. Part of the overall development and testing was done with Enric Mas of Movistar Team performing 90 runs (in one day) in a wind tunnel in Belgium, testing different concepts, head angles, and yaw angles. As the design was nailed down, additional real-world testing continued to help find a perfect balance of ventilation and aerodynamics, which usually work against each other as you improve in one area.

To add more ventilation, ABUS adds the AirBoost air inlet in the front to the Acti Cage vents carried over from the original, and a new Aero Blade on the top, along with revised rear exhaust ports. The AirBoost inlet along the bottom of the helmet replaces the small, mesh-covered side vents and increases the front vent surface area by 32%. Increased ventilation is a trend we have seen lately in some of the top aero-road helmets on the market, and has a lot to do with the trend of larger sunglasses cyclists are wearing. These larger glasses block much of the ventilation that would come in between smaller glasses and under the bottom of the helmet. The AirBoost inlets also act as glasses storage, which was a bit challenging on the front of the original GameChanger.

The Aero Blade is a new grid panel on the top of the helmet, that replaces the air scoops on the original. The shallow scoop and mesh vents on top allow the helmet to bring more air in at slower speeds to help push cool air through and warm air out. At higher speeds, it acts like a closed surface, letting the front vents push air through.

Inside, the 2.0 uses redesigned ventilation channels to help air get pushed through as quickly and directly as possible. This helps exchange air easily and makes for a smooth transition out of the back of the helmet. The new channels and widened exhaust ports pull about 20% more air through, using the venturi effect, which reduces air pressure and increases its velocity out the back. This widened rear and a slightly lowered trailing edge help create more of a Kammtail, making the helmet seem aerodynamically longer. All of this adds up to the new version being 2-5% more aerodynamic than the original. With the shaping of the rear vents, you should still be able to dock sunglasses in the back as well.

The straps and retention cage have also been redesigned. The front straps attach further forward on the helmet with the rear straps integrated into the rear of the cage. The straps are not adjustable on the sides, and have a small bit of piping on the front edge to help keep them in place against your head. All of this adds to the aerodynamic gains of the helmet. In the back, to adjust the cage, ABUS uses its Zoom Ace Pro dial to customize the fit around your head.

Another safety feature added to the 2.0 is the ability to run the brand’s QUIN system. Similar to other sensors like Specialized’s ANGi and TOCSEN crash sensor, the QUIN system connects to your phone and alerts emergency contacts in the event a crash is detected. Unlike ANGi and TOCSEN, QUIN mounts inside of the helmet and allows for an accessible micro-USB port for charging.

The GameChanger 2.0 also adds a MIPS model to the range. Along with MIPS Air Node padding, a Fidlock magnetic buckle is also included, a nice feature found on other high-end helmets. Sizes run Small, Medium, and Large, and 11 different colors will be available. Claimed weight for a medium without MIPS is 265g, with MIPS adding about 6-8g to the helmet. We don’t have USD pricing yet, but will update when we can.

www.mobile.abus.com