POC’s all-new Procen Air aero highway helmet takes apparent design cues from time trial. But it surely dials it again only a notch, to blur these aerodynamic strains sufficient to drop again into all-rounder highway bike using versatility. There’s little doubt that this shall be some of the contentious helmets in your weekly group experience.
However in actuality, it feels nice – each mild and well-vented. Its magnetic snap-in built-in lenses/visors supply nice safety and clear views. The partial ear covers appear to successfully tune out some wind noise with out blocking peripheral sounds.
And POC guarantees that it’s going to make you quicker…
POC Procen Air aero highway helmet with time trial aerodynamics
I’ve been using in it for per week. EF Professional Biking has already been racing with the brand new POC Procen Air mini aero highway helmet because the begin of the season. With the EF Training-Cannondale girls already taking 7 professional wins this season carrying the brand new lid. It’s basically a pared-back model of the Procen TT helmet that POC launched final spring.
With a barely smaller visor that also presents eye safety and higher imaginative and prescient than sun shades. And to not restrict the flexibility to listen to every thing taking place round you, lowered facet protection, which additionally manages to chop down on wind noise by solely overlaying the highest half of your ear.
In truth, it’s a direct results of the EF Professional Biking growth collaboration on that point trial helmet. Seeing how the Procen’s easy 3 vent openings might scale back the height air strain on the entrance of the helmet, after which so successfully present inside air flow with Venturi impact airflow, the crew instantly wished an all-rounder highway model…
“After we developed the method to permit extra airflow by means of an aerodynamic TT helmet, the Procen, we thought, ‘Hey! That is going to unravel a whole lot of our limitations.’ …It was then only a matter of fine-tuning to make sure that a rider could be adequately cooled and would hear and see effectively so they may know what was taking place behind them and round them. Security is all the time primary. With that in thoughts, we had been in a position to develop this helmet. It’s definitely considerably sooner.”
– Peter Schep, EF Professional Biking Efficiency Director
The result’s that the frontal profile of the brand new Procen Air is nearly equivalent to the Procen. However the Procen Air will get a shorter chopped tail and tremendously lowered facet protection. POC’s Magnus Gustavsson calls it “a helmet with all of the watt financial savings of a TT helmet, not compromising security and bettering a rider’s capability to listen to and see“.
How a lot sooner is it?
POC explains that “The openings on the entrance of the Procen Air drain the high-pressure zone, which reduces stagnant air and extra air resistance {that a} rider must push by means of.” POC designed it in CFD and backed that up with wind tunnel testing.
Evaluating it to the vented aero Ventral, POC says the Procen Air is considerably extra aerodynamic. Aero good points vary from 5W saved at “low pace” to an 18W discount at “excessive pace” – roughly 30-60km/h in response to POC’s time within the wind tunnel.
How a lot time does that truly save? Taking a look at EF Biking rider Alberto Bettiol’s 30km solo assault to win Milan Torino in March, the crew calculated that his 39-minute effort at a median of 46.5 km/hr was lowered by simply over 10 seconds solely primarily based on his Procen Air helmet alternative vs. the already aero Ventral. Or you possibly can equate these seconds saved to greater than a 150m hole on the finish of a dash to the end line.
Tech particulars
This all-new POC Procen Air aero highway helmet options conventional in-mold building with a 1-piece polycarbonate shell over its EPS foam. The partial ear cowl cowls are fabricated from a versatile EVA foam core with a comfortable fuzzy interior face and aero material outer. They’re technically detachable (with a snap and velcro holding them in place) to allow them to be cleaned individually if wanted.
Inside deep front-to-back channels management airflow. 3 entrance openings join to five exhaust ports on the again.
It options the identical light-weight pads and 360° wrap match adjustment as Lite-series helmets (just like the Ventral Lite & Omne Lite). No MIPS. Plus, mild adjustable webbing straps and a primary plastic buckle.
3 embedded magnets securely mate with 3 extra within the detachable visor for a safe automated match. Plus, 3 extra molded into the rear of the helmet allow you to stow the visor when you’ll want to take away it.
However handle to maintain it out of the best way even in an aero tuck.
The Procen Air is offered worldwide with regionally acceptable certifications, together with EN 1078, CPSC, AS & NZS 2063. It has a claimed weight of 350g for an EN-certified medium, presumably with the visor.
The US CPSC-certified medium is claimed to weigh 3 390g. My CPSC medium weighs an precise 395g with the visor connected, 32g much less with out.
First Impressions
Clearly, it’s a bubble of a helmet on prime of my head. Its appears to be like are absolutely going to spark some dialogue. And never everybody goes to love it. It appears like a way more manageable mini Darkish Helmet in comparison with the time-trialing Tempor or Aerohead II. One other one for the Spaceballs followers on the market. And possibly we’ll see what the UCI says about it down the road. However, it’s permitted for highway racing now (and if the ear cowls had been contentious, they’re detachable.)
My considering although, is that I don’t have to have a look at it whereas using. I simply get the good view from contained in the wraparound Readability visor. I get the lowered wind noise. And I get these free 5W – at my “slower” speeds. Depart it to my using buddies to debate how bizarre I look using it.
Using Assessment
Out on the highway thus far, the brand new POC Procen Air feels prefer it has ample cooling. And good protections from the rain. However I really feel fairly positive I’ll nonetheless really feel a bit stuffy inside within the warmth of summer season. A giant a part of that’s that the big visor blocks a whole lot of wind from hitting your face. I discover the identical factor whereas using a mountain bike with goggles. It’s nice to eradicate wind blowing in your eyes, nevertheless it prevents pure cooling throughout a big space of my face. And it’s tougher to gauge the notion of pace with out a lot wind hitting your face.
The EVA foam facet cowls do gently contact the highest of my (fairly massive) ears. With a really comfortable fuzzy interior face materials. I usually solely discover it when I’m consciously adjusting the helmet on my head. (FYI, I’m carrying it as I kind, if you need a psychological image.) However whereas using, I can’t say I discover it in any respect. Possibly after a number of sweaty hours on the bike? All my rides with the Procen Air have been beneath an hour thus far. However I don’t really feel like will probably be a difficulty. And the marginally lowered wind noise is definitely an added bonus.
I believe I’ll put on the brand new Procen Air a whole lot of highway and – gasp – even gravel rides all through the spring, fall & winter. I think that I’ll follow a extra ethereal lid for correct scorching summer season using. Except possibly I’ve a race I need to go further quick in?
POC Procen Air – Pricing, choices & availability
The brand new POC Procen Air aero highway helmet sells for $400 / 400€. That embrace the helmet with each tinted Readability Street & clear lenses, a comfortable helmet bag, and a foam protector that you’ll want to use when storing the helmet so it doesn’t press on the visor & ear covers. The Procen Air is available in three normal POC sizes (S 50-56cm, M 54-59cm & L/56-61cm) and simply two colours – shiny Hydrogen White or matte Uranium Black.
Choose one up globally beginning at the moment direct from POC or by means of their retail companions. And spark some controversy as you go sooner within the group experience and break free within the native races.
