It is not an epidemic simply but, however over-the-ear aero helmets are taking on the Tour Down Underneath.
The Ineos Grenadiers staff have already been stricken, courtesy of what we presume is the new KASK Utopia, however now earodynamics has unfold to the EF Training-EasyPost squad.
Harry Sweeney of the boys’s staff has been sporting what seems to be a wild new aero helmet from sponsor POC, which appears to be like like some form of road-going mashup of the Procen time trial helmet.
Such is the unconventional design and time-trial type of this highway helmet that, on first sighting, I assumed there will need to have been a prologue or time trial stage that I had in some way missed.
Whereas the KASK helmet bears resemblence to a highway helmet, simply with further bits over the ears. POC – a model that has type with wild helmets, let’s not overlook – has very a lot stated “maintain my beer” with the design, integrating a visor up entrance, ear covers that reach downward from the shell in a unique materials, and a full exhaust vent on the rear.
POC has evidently taken vital inspiration from its Procen time trial helmet, however has pared again the options considerably to make it extra applicable for highway use. For instance the tail is shorter, and the ear covers solely come down half approach, each prone to save a little bit of weight and retain the air flow.
Just like the Procen time trial helmet, there are three massive vents throughout the entrance of the pinnacle, and it even integrates a visor, one thing which has fallen out of style lately regardless of makes an attempt from the Giro Vanquish to maintain it alive. This visor seems to mount utilizing three magnets on the underside of the forehead, and appears as if it may be eliminated and refitted to the rear of the helmet, as Sweeny has executed within the photograph above.
The end result, it could appear, is a helmet that bridges the hole between aero helmets and time trial helmets; one that’s quicker than POC’s present aero highway line-up whereas remaining inside the UCI’s guidelines.
What do the UCI guidelines say?
There aren’t any guidelines within the UCI Technical Laws that say a helmet can or can not cowl the rider’s ears, however they most likely do nonetheless play an element within the ear sections’ design.
The UCI has guidelines that govern the dimension of helmets in observe and highway races, presumably to restrict aerofoil teardrop shapes that have been beforehand prevalent in time trials.
The rulebook says:
“For highway and observe disciplines, the size of the helmet (together with equipment) should not exceed the beneath dimensions: Size (L) might be much less or equal to 450 mm; Width (W) might be much less or equal to 300 mm; Top (H) might be much less or equal to 210 mm.”
For reference, a normal highway helmet measures roughly 160-180mm tall, so the 210mm peak is probably going limiting how far down over the ears a helmet can come.
When can I purchase it?
As this stage, we do not know. The UCI states that “commercialization will happen no later than 12 months after the primary use in competitors,” suggesting it have to be obtainable for buy inside the 12 months, however there are methods for manufacturers to push that again if wanted.
Regardless, we anticipate to see extra particulars within the coming months, and like it or hate it, you’ll be able to guess it’s going to present up at a crit close to you quickly.
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