around the early 2000s when Rudy Project helmets and sunnies were the slickest in the business. I’d wander the halls of the Cycle Tour expo at the Good Hope Centre and there would always be an admiring crowd around their stand.

   Then the Italian brand seemed to lose the plot. Big-hitting US brands such as Specialized, Trek and Giro improved the design of their helmets, and other European brands like KASK and POC gave customers more choice than they’d ever had before. Rudy helmets were as safe and well-made as ever, but the designs suddenly seemed a bit pointy and outdated. Same story with their glasses.

   That’s all changed, thanks in part to their recent sponsorship of World Tour team Bahrain Victorious. Pro riders demand the best from their brands, and Rudy Project has delivered: their new range is on the money when it comes to current design trends.

   Take the EGOS helmet: it’s a low, sleek unit that weighs only 250g, with 23 vents for maximum airflow. Rudy says the dual-density inner shell provides greater energy absorption in the event of a crash, and even though there’s no MIPS liner, the company does its own rotational impact test that allows the EGOS to pass all relevant European and US safety standards.

   The EGOS has become my go-to lid for all sorts of riding, from road races to gravel adventures and even XC mountain biking. It’s available in four colours: I chose matte white for heat reflection and extra visibility on the road.

   My head must be weird, because I always have to

fiddle with helmet straps to stop them from chafing under my ears. The EGOS is the first helmet I haven’t had to fiddle with at all: the curved ‘Ergo Dividers’ carry the straps around and below your ears, and the adjustment dial on the back is easy to use. The magnetic ‘FidLock’ buckle does take some getting used to; but once you’ve worked it out, it’s easy to operate even when you’re wearing gloves. Another nice feature is the mesh that covers the front vents – something you’ll appreciate greatly if you’ve ever been stung by a bee that’s somehow found its way into your helmet. However, the mesh does prevent you from stashing your sunglasses in the vents…

   Talking about sunglasses, I had the opportunity to test a pair of Cutline photochromic shades along with the EGOS. Coming from using a pair of Oakley Flight Jackets, the first thing I noticed was how light the Cutlines are. No scale I own is sensitive enough to confirm the claimed 36g weight, but they certainly feel that light. The adjustable nosepiece and temples allow you to customise the fit to your face, and the bumpers around the outside of the lens are removable if you prefer a rimless look.

   The model I’ve been testing is called Crystal Ash, and it comes with a brown photochromic lens designed to sharpen detail in darker areas when you’re mountain biking through forests and shadowy valleys. Compared to the neutral photochromic lens on my Oakleys, I definitely noticed an improvement in this regard. If brown isn’t for you, the Cutline is also available with a black, red or purple photochromic lens; or

you can buy a second lens (from R2 705) and change it in a matter of seconds by simply popping off the arms. They’re also compatible with an optical insert if you use prescription lenses.

   The fit of a helmet or a pair of sunglasses is a personal thing, and what works for me might not work for you. That said, Rudy Project has done a great job with the EGOS and Cutline to make both products as adjustable and broad-spectrum as possible, and also discipline agnostic: you can wear this combo for the CTCT, for Wines2Whales and on a gravel tour with your mates. Neither product is cheap; but they’re well made, easy to clean and live with, and designed to last many years.

around the early 2000s when Rudy Project helmets and sunnies were the slickest in the business. I’d wander the halls of the Cycle Tour expo at the Good Hope Centre and there would always be an admiring crowd around their stand.

   Then the Italian brand seemed to lose the plot. Big-hitting US brands such as Specialized, Trek and Giro improved the design of their helmets, and other European brands like KASK and POC gave customers more choice than they’d ever had before. Rudy helmets were as safe and well-made as ever, but the designs suddenly seemed a bit pointy and outdated. Same story with their glasses.

   That’s all changed, thanks in part to their recent sponsorship of World Tour team Bahrain Victorious. Pro riders demand the best from their brands, and Rudy Project has delivered: their new range is on the money when it comes to current design trends.

   Take the EGOS helmet: it’s a low, sleek unit that weighs only 250g, with 23 vents for maximum airflow. Rudy says the dual-density inner shell provides greater energy absorption in the event of a crash, and even though there’s no MIPS liner, the company does its own rotational impact test that allows the EGOS to pass all relevant European and US safety standards.

   The EGOS has become my go-to lid for all sorts of riding, from road races to gravel adventures and even XC mountain biking. It’s available in four colours: I chose matte white for heat reflection and extra visibility on the road.

   My head must be weird, because I always have to fiddle with helmet straps to stop them from chafing under my ears. The EGOS is the first helmet I haven’t had to fiddle with at all: the curved ‘Ergo Dividers’ carry the straps around and below your ears, and the adjustment dial on the back is easy to use. The magnetic ‘FidLock’ buckle does take some getting used to; but once you’ve worked it out, it’s easy to operate even when you’re wearing gloves. Another nice feature is the mesh that covers the front vents – something you’ll appreciate greatly if you’ve ever been stung by a bee that’s somehow found its way into your helmet. However, the mesh does prevent you from stashing your sunglasses in the vents…

   Talking about sunglasses, I had the opportunity to test a pair of Cutline photochromic shades along with the EGOS. Coming from using a pair of Oakley Flight Jackets, the first thing I noticed was how light the Cutlines are. No scale I own is sensitive enough to confirm the claimed 36g weight, but they certainly feel that light. The adjustable nosepiece and temples allow you to customise the fit to your face, and the bumpers around the outside of the lens are removable if you prefer a rimless look.

   The model I’ve been testing is called Crystal Ash, and it comes with a brown photochromic lens designed to sharpen detail in darker areas when you’re mountain biking through forests and shadowy valleys. Compared to the neutral photochromic lens on my Oakleys, I definitely noticed an improvement in this regard. If brown isn’t for you, the Cutline is also available with a black, red or purple photochromic lens; or you can buy a second lens (from R2 705) and change it in a matter of seconds by simply popping off the arms. They’re also compatible with an optical insert if you use prescription lenses.

   The fit of a helmet or a pair of sunglasses is a personal thing, and what works for me might not work for you. That said, Rudy Project has done a great job with the EGOS and Cutline to make both products as adjustable and broad-spectrum as possible, and also discipline agnostic: you can wear this combo for the CTCT, for Wines2Whales and on a gravel tour with your mates. Neither product is cheap; but they’re well made, easy to clean and live with, and designed to last many years.