Aero has taken over the Pro road peloton, with varying results. While actual Pros don’t really care what they look like in the quest to get the ultimate performance edge, or are compelled to wear/ride whatever their team sponsors’ decree, we mere mortals sometimes blindly follow what’s ‘Pro’ without a thought as to how ridiculous we may look, and that any 0.2 of a second over a kilometre isn’t in the least bit advantageous to us.

So the effect in the Pro peloton is of some really good looking bikes and helmets, and a larger number of abominations. Giro’s Synthe helmet certainly sits in the former camp, offering most of the aero benefits of the full shell style helmets, without making you look like you’re wearing a giant ostrich egg on your head. The lines are more reminiscent of an 80s hairnet, which I’d happily wear for style points if it offered any protection at all (and was legal). The Synthe doesn’t have any crazy closed in shell, or any pointy protuberances out the back, just minimal, clean lines and one of the closest fitting profiles of any helmet I’ve seen. When I place it next to my other helmets, the compactness is well evident.

For all its good looks and aerodynamic qualities, the Synthe also does a great job of keeping the airflow high, something other aero helmets have been found to be short on. With its large number of vents (26!) the Synthe can’t be accused of not being airy. As a follicly-challenged rider, I nearly always wear a cap under my helmets, even at the height of summer (not that Wellington gets much above the high 20s) and I never suffered from excessive heat build-up throughout the warmer months just gone. The fit of the helmet over the cap worked well too, with the Roc Loc Air system being easy to adjust and micro-incremental for the perfect amount of tension and retention.

Honourable mention must go to the X-Static pad system, which does a great job of soaking up the sweat that a bald head and/or cap can’t. As I said, I usually ride with a cap even in summer, but when I removed it to check on the air flow, the anticipated flood of salty liquid didn’t really eventuate. Yeah, there was a bit more than when a cap would normally take care of, but nowhere near the amount I’d expected from so few pads.

MIPS seems to be popping up on a lot of helmets lately, and while I hope to never have to put its merits into practice, it’s kind of reassuring to me now to put on a helmet equipped with it. Giro is releasing most of their new range of high-end helmets with MIPS now, so peace of mind will be easier to procure with their lids.

The Synthe should ensure any roadie who thinks they need to be as Pro as possible that it can be done without looking like a try-hard. It’ll save you those precious seconds in your next C Grade TT, and keep you cool on the inside and out.