Headown

Sight Redirection for Time Trial Cyclists

Designed by Jamie Clarke

The adoption of the head-down posture in professional time trial cycling events - enhancing performance but compromising safety - has led to serious racing incidents. With a foreknowledge of the course layout, riders lower their heads below their typical line of sight, reducing their frontal exposure to wind resistance while effectively ‘riding blind’ in a bid to improve their time.

‘Headown’ redirects the rider’s sight to allow safer forward viewing while holding the head-down position. A combination of planar optical components - a plate beamsplitter and dove prism – integrated within an exterior visor, provides the rider with a simultaneous natural and redirected view. Lightweight, secure and designed for compatibility with existing time trial helmets, the system features adjustable positioning for a range of rider preferences and visual comfort.

Restoring safe forward vision while being mindful of the fundamental principles and fairness of the sport, ‘Headown’ provides safer navigation through visual cues, while reinstating rider confidence in their pursuit of marginal gains.

Designed by

Jamie Clarke | MEng