Giro have been a long time sponsor of Lance Armstrong.   When he announced his return to racing this year, in conjunction with a high profile campaign for Armstrong’s cancer foundation Livestrong, it came as no surprise to see a special edition Livestrong helmet range from Giro much like Nike has done with some of its range.  A proportion of every sale goes to Livestrong for use in cancer research and support.

Heading up the series is the helmet that adorns Armstrong’s head the Giro Ionos.

The second from top of the Giro range has many cool features including a visible weave of composite called In-Mould Composite Sub Frame, which runs throughout the helmet‟s liner and around the vents. This provides incredible structural support, impact dispersion and resistance to penetration and it’s the secret to the Ionos‟ ability to offer great big vents without compromising protective capability.
Ionos features a sleek, four-piece shell. In-Mould construction fuses the helmet‟s outer shell with the impact-absorbing EPS liner. The two materials are fused together, and one is reinforced by the other. This „exoskeleton‟ allows Ionos to be lighter, more durable, and more ventilated than traditional road helmets.
After sculpting it around 21 massive vents, Giro carved a system of internal ventilation channels throughout the helmet‟s EPS liner with their Wind Tunnel technology. By tuning and optimising the system, they‟re able to thrust fifteen percent more cool air across the rider‟s head than their market leading Atmos helmet. Ideally the rider should be appreciably cooler than riders who choose to not wear a helmet at all.
If you want the coolest helmet on the road, you have to do more than carve a bunch of holes into a helmet. The Ionos was developed with Giro‟s proprietary Wind Tunnel ventilation system, which combines the Ionos‟ 21 active vents with internal exhaust channels that thrust cool, fresh air over and around your head-while forcing heat and stale air out. It‟s a difference you will see and feel every time you ride in the Ionos.
Tour Tested -At the 2006 Tour de France, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, the Rabobank Team, and the Phonak Team were putting in the miles needed to help fine-tune the Ionos prototypes. These guys logged over 50,000 miles in Ionos prototypes.
Giro‟s Roc Loc has been around for a long time and this is the 4th incarnation.   It is renowned for great adjustability, durability and comfort. It offers full adjustment of the fit tension and the helmet‟s vertical position, for a truly custom fit.

Also in the Livestrong range is the Saros, Rodeo and Rift pictured below.  Available nationwide from all good retailers.

L-R Saros, Rodeo (kids), Rift