Giro partners with former Assos R&D director; New Road rebranded as 'Venture'
Image 1 of 13
The Chrono Pro line has a few different styles, none of them loud(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
Giro's new Chrono line has race-inspired construction without the loud race-style graphics and logos (Courtesy Giro)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Chrono warmers are more of a ribbed knit than the typical warmer (Dain Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Chronos Wind Jacket is a lightweight packable layer (Dain Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The women's Chrono Pro jersey (Dain Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
About 30 or 40% of Giro staff are women, including many of the design staffers. This is one of the Chrono Pro jerseys (Courtesy Giro)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Giro Chrono women's line runs includes gloves and hats that match the kits. Also note the women's Empire SLX lace-up shoes (Courtesy Giro)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Giro Chrono accessories line includes jackets, vests and warmers, each with low-key branding (Ben Delaney / Immediate Media)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The valuables zipper pocket has a rain-jersey-like barrier between the body and the pocket to block sweat, but it isn't waterproof to the outside (Courtesy Giro)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Giro Chrono Pro jersey comes in a few styles; this is boldest (Courtesy Giro)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
Giro worked with Cytech for custom chamois, including this 'Cool Cube' antimicrobial top layer (Ben Delaney / Immediate Media)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
Former Assos R&D director Luigi Bergamo worked with Giro on its Chrono line (Dain Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
The Chrono Pro bib has a stretch-woven lumbar panel (Ben Delaney / Immediate Media)(Image credit: Dane Zaffke / Giro Sport Design)
After getting its feet wet with the New Road line of clothing, Giro Sport Design is going all in with technical road clothing with the 2016 Chrono line. Featuring Italian fabrics and some new ideas, the Giro Chrono line ranges from the affordable Sport line (think $80 / £50 jerseys and shorts) up to the high-end Chrono Pro line with $250 / £189 bibs. While the technical level is high and race-inspired, the overall aesthetic is subdued with subtle branding.
Giro apparel product director Nathan Mack, who drove much of the New Road design, led the Giro team on Chrono, and also partnered with Luigi Bergamo, the longtime Assos director of R&D who is now an independent consultant.
Giro has been working on the Chrono line for two years, Mack said. Giro worked with chamois giant Cytech for custom chamois pads for the entire range. Beyond jerseys and bibs — plus halter women’s bibs like the Ride Halter Bib — the Chrono line includes base layers, warmers, vests and jackets.
Style-wise, Chrono was designed to work with Giro’s racier helmets like the Synthe and shoes like the Empire SLX.
“We are in a pretty unique position as a brand to have head-to-toe performance products and graphic application,” Mack said.
In related news, Giro has rebranded the New Road line of baggier riding clothes as Venture, in part because of rider feedback who appreciated the clothes but for mountain biking or casual riding around town, Mack said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
There are a couple notable points with the Chrono Pro bibs, including a stretch-woven lumbar panel Mack and Bergamo added. Think compression wear for your lower back. Bergamo has a similar design in his own line of Q36.5 clothing.
The compression Lycra used for the remainder of the Chrono Pro bibs has a deeper matte finish, not the shiny polyester look of some shorts. Mack says this is because Giro starts with black Lycra yarn instead of white Lycra yarn that is dyed black.
The Chrono Pro bib lumbar panel
The Chrono Pro Jersey is a svelte, ligthtweight piece with longer sleeves and a zippered fourth pocket big enough to hold your phone.
The Chrono Pro pieces are available now.
Chrono Pro Bib: $250 / £189
Chrono Pro Women’s Short: $150 / £119
Chrono Pro Jersey/ Chrono Pro Women’s Jersey: $180 / £139
The women's Chrono Pro jersey
Giro Chrono Expert
The Chrono Expert line between the Pro and Sport in price and weight. (The Expert Jersey uses 160g/m2 fabric to the Pro’s 117g, for example.)
The bibs still get Italian fabrics and a custom Cytech chamois. The women’s Chrono Expert Halter bib has a breathable mesh halter that can be pulled over the head for nature breaks.
The Chrono Expert Jersey features stretch wicking polyester in a contoured, race fit.
The Chrono Sport line has similar designs and style features as its higher-end siblings, but with a slightly more relaxed fit and more approachable pricing.
Chrono Sport Jersey/ Chrono Sport Women’s Jersey: $80 / £50
Chrono Sport Bib: $120 / £89
Chrono Short Short/ Chrono Sport Women’s Short: $80 / £59
