Helmets with in-built visors aren’t new tech, although because the Giro Air Attack in 2017, no model has actually tried to fill this specific area of interest, confining the visor to the monitor and in time trials.
Recently although it appears the highway helmet visor is having one thing of a renaissance. Oakley just lately launched its ARO7 highway helmet, full with Prizm Road magnetic visor, and POC is sizzling on its heels with its new Procen Air, launched right this moment.
It’s no nice secret, as we’ve seen it in use as early within the season because the Tour Down Under, however we will now offer you all of the juicy particulars on what’s already a helmet that has cut up opinion, each within the workplace and within the feedback part.
Time trial tech
You don’t should be a well-heeled biking tech journo to work out that this helmet is derived from POC’s well-established expertise in time trial and pursuit helmets. The truncated teardrop form means the main edges have all of the aerodynamic effectivity of a TT lid, with out falling foul of the UCI’s pesky guidelines on most helmet lengths.
The clean kind, particularly with the built-in visor hooked up, clearly have wind-cheating in thoughts, however curiously the three vents on the entrance are mentioned to make the entire bundle quicker. Positioned as they’re completely at the forefront of the bicycle owner’s frontal space, particularly in a full aero tuck, they sit proper on the high-pressure zone. POC says including the vents each drains the excessive stress zone making the entire helmet quicker, and has the additional advantage of aiding cooling. The truncated rear finish helps create a low-pressure zone to additional improve the airflow and enhance the effectivity.
Naturally, the clear visible give attention to pace could imply customers don’t see it as a viable choice for basic use, but when the wattage claims are to be believed, there are massive positive factors available. POC claims that at race speeds of between 30 and 60km/h, the Procen Air is eighteen watts extra aerodynamic than its Ventral all-rounder mannequin.
Luckily for you, we’ve got each of those helmets and entry to a wind tunnel, so shall be reporting again with our personal information shortly.
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Magnets and listening to aids
Producing a time trial helmet is one factor, however for the highway the place riders are within the bunch, compromises to each sound and imaginative and prescient are far much less tolerable than when a solo rider is towards the clock.
The ear flaps, much like these we noticed on an unreleased new Kask helmet within the early season too, should not simply there to assist maintain recent air away from turbulent ears. Partially occluding the ear with a flap apparently additionally drastically reduces the wind noise and due to this fact enhances the power of the rider to listen to whereas driving at max tempo.
In a lot the identical manner as on the Oakley ARO7, the visor on the Procen Air is detachable, held in place with magnets, and could be stowed away on a second set of magnets. In this case, the magnetic visor storage is on the rear of the helmet, tucked out of the wind. A transparent lens is included too, and the primary lens is identical Clarity lens used within the model’s sun shades.
Curiously it appears to buck the development of POC’s current helmet releases by not coming with a MIPS system.
Pricing and availability
Three sizes can be found protecting head sizes from 50cm to 61cm. There are solely white and black color choices, until you’re an EF rider, and if you wish to buy one it’ll set you again €400 / £360 / $400. The weight for a medium helmet is 350g.