POC Procen Air, Mini Aero Street Helmet Makes You Quicker, However Not Full Darkish Helmet: A Evaluation
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POC’s all-new Procen Air aero street helmet takes apparent design cues from time trial. Nevertheless it dials it again only a notch, to blur these aerodynamic strains sufficient to drop again into all-rounder street bike using versatility. There’s little question that this might be one of the crucial contentious helmets in your weekly group experience.
However in actuality, it feels nice – each gentle 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 street helmet with time trial aerodynamics
I’ve been using in it for every week. EF Professional Biking has already been racing with the brand new POC Procen Air mini aero street helmet for the reason that begin of the season. With the EF Training-Cannondale ladies 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 provides 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 actual fact, it’s a direct results of the EF Professional Biking improvement collaboration on that point trial helmet. Seeing how the Procen’s easy 3 vent openings may scale back the height air strain on the entrance of the helmet, after which so successfully present inner air flow with Venturi impact airflow, the staff instantly wished an all-rounder street model…
“After we developed the method to permit extra airflow by way of an aerodynamic TT helmet, the Procen, we thought, ‘Hey! That is going to resolve quite a 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 properly so they may know what was taking place behind them and round them. Security is at all times 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 an identical to the Procen. However the Procen Air will get a shorter chopped tail and significantly 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 enhancing a rider’s potential 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 way 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 positive factors vary from 5W saved at “low velocity” to an 18W discount at “excessive velocity” – roughly 30-60km/h based on POC’s time within the wind tunnel.
How a lot time does that really save? Taking a look at EF Biking rider Alberto Bettiol’s 30km solo assault to win Milan Torino in March, the staff calculated that his 39-minute effort at a mean 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 may 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 street helmet options conventional in-mold development with a 1-piece polycarbonate shell over its EPS foam. The partial ear cowl cowls are product of a versatile EVA foam core with a smooth fuzzy interior face and aero cloth 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, gentle adjustable webbing straps and a fundamental 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 must take away it.
However handle to maintain it out of the best way even in an aero tuck.
The Procen Air is on the market worldwide with domestically 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 seems 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 perhaps we’ll see what the UCI says about it down the road. However, it’s authorized for street 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 nice view from contained in the wraparound Readability visor. I get the lowered wind noise. And I get these free 5W – at my “slower” speeds. Go away it to my using buddies to debate how bizarre I look using it.
Using Evaluation
Out on the street to date, the brand new POC Procen Air feels prefer it has ample cooling. And good protections from the rain. However I really feel fairly certain I’ll nonetheless really feel a bit stuffy inside within the warmth of summer time. A giant a part of that’s that the massive visor blocks quite a lot of wind from hitting your face. I discover the identical factor whereas using a mountain bike with goggles. It’s nice to get rid of wind blowing in your eyes, however it prevents pure cooling throughout a big space of my face. And it’s tougher to gauge the notion of velocity 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 smooth 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. Perhaps after a number of sweaty hours on the bike? All my rides with the Procen Air have been underneath an hour to date. However I don’t really feel like it is going to be a problem. And the marginally lowered wind noise is definitely an added bonus.
I feel I’ll put on the brand new Procen Air quite a lot of street and – gasp – even gravel rides all through the spring, fall & winter. I think that I’ll keep on with a extra ethereal lid for correct scorching summer time using. Except perhaps I’ve a race I wish to go additional quick in?
POC Procen Air – Pricing, choices & availability
The brand new POC Procen Air aero street helmet sells for $400 / 400€. That embrace the helmet with each tinted Readability Street & clear lenses, a smooth helmet bag, and a foam protector that you must 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 right now direct from POC or by way of their retail companions. And spark some controversy as you go sooner within the group experience and break free within the native races.
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