Filippo Ganna and the INEOS Grenadiers give us a sneak peek on the subsequent technology reshaping of the Kask Utopia aero highway helmet. Its secret to extra pace seems to be extra protection. Much less additional protection for additional protection for improved security. However as a substitute, a cowl that smooths airflow over the rider’s ears, plus reshaped consumption & exhaust vents….
Sneak Peek: New Kask Utopia aero highway helmet, coming quickly
Kask has not but given us any new details about a design reboot to their top-tier Utopia aero highway helmet. In truth, they simply up to date the traditional Utopia Y final spring, after half a decade of professional racing.
However the INEOS Grenadiers staff has been prominently displaying off an all-new iteration of the aerodynamic lid throughout social media since they unveiled their new colours on January 1st. And the variations are fairly excessive.
Most notably, ear cowls.
What’s new? And is it actually a brand new Utopia?
Formally we don’t know for positive that the brand new aero highway helmet will retain the Kask Utopia title. However the general profile – each from instantly in entrance or the facet – is analogous sufficient, that I might exit on a limb and predict it will likely be nonetheless be a Utopia, possibly with a special letter tacked on the tip. Assume Utopia X, possibly?
What Kask modified are: upgraded aerodynamics and smaller exterior vents. The brand new standout function is a small fairing that drops down a bit on the sides to cowl the highest of the rider’s ears. Presumably, the purpose like on their Bambino Professional TT helmet is to clean airflow off the bicycle owner’s face or sun shades, because it passes your bumpy ears. Curiously, SunGod eyewear sponsor INEOS, not Kask’s personal KOO. So maybe KOO will even debut particular sun shades designed for even smoother aerodynamics.
Trying on the numerous positioning on a couple of of the staff riders’ heads, these with a more in-depth match of the helmet seem to have this cowl urgent their ears a bit again towards their heads. Whereas riders which may have sized up on their helmet appear to have extra room for his or her ears.
We’ll actually be curious to see how snug that is. And the way massive the aero features are, as soon as the helmet formally launches.
What else do we all know?
The ear covers are essentially the most placing change. However Kask actually utterly modified the vent format, as nicely.
The three decrease front-facing vents are principally unchanged. However Kask shifted the highest vent additional ahead. And so they utterly eliminated the two higher facet vents. This utterly shales up Kask’s ‘Hyvent’ idea. However presumably means a lot smoother aerodynamics, particularly because the rider adjustments head place.
On the again, there’s nonetheless a pointy pointed tail. However now unsurprisingly, the three rear exhaust vents have been pinched all the way down to a a lot smaller peak, matching the lowered consumption vent space on the entrance. Kask at the moment charges the Utopia Y as 4/5 for air flow. We’d guess this new one is extra like a 3/5.
The INEOS staff are additionally seen within the fully-vented all-rounder Elemento which debuted final summer season promising most aero advantages and 5/5 air flow. We additionally simply so occurred to publish a full evaluation of that lid as we speak, as nicely.
From a ultimate particulars and security perspective, this new model of the Utopia nonetheless makes use of the same 2-piece in-mold building like the present helmet. And it seems to be like the identical adjustable Octofit+ dial retention. And there’s a spherical pink WG11 sticker on the again. So it meets Kask’s personal rotational affect safety normal, too.
How quickly is coming quickly for a brand new Kask Utopia?
As for when it will likely be accessible, how mild it will likely be, or how a lot it should value? We don’t have any concrete information.
We’ve reached out to Kask for remark, and can replace right here as soon as we hear again in additional element.
