Aero but ventilated helmet unveiled at the Tour de France
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From the front, the helmet is relatively narrow with a host of vents(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
The new Kask Proton showed up atop Team Sky at the Tour de France(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
The smoothly rounded back has the general exterior shape of the Giro Air Attack, but with substantially more ventilation(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
In contrast to full-on aero lids like that from Scott, the Proton probably doesn't fare as well in the wind tunnel, but likely treats riders better on hot days(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
Bernie Eisel models the Proton for us(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
The Proton uses Kask's Octo Fit Adjustment system(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
Coolmax DRY fabric handles the padding(Image credit: Ben Delaney/Future Publishing)
With the Tour de France starting over the weekend in Yorkshire, you may have noticed reigning champion Chris Froome and the rest of Team Sky in a new helmet. The Proton is the fourth lid that the Italian helmet manufacturer and Team Sky have developed in collaboration.
Already a player in the aero helmet game with the Infinity, it's no surprise to see Kask with a new wind-cheating design following the pre-Tour release of aero lids such as the Bell Star Pro, Giro Synthe, and Smith Overtake.
Kask claims the Proton boasts one of the lowest drag coefficients of any ventilated helmet on the market, while maintaining a fast heat dissipation rate – however we are yet to see any wind tunnel or thermodynamic test results.
"Pro cycling is about marginal gains and we've spent many months and countless hours examining data, rider-positional analysis and thermodynamic studies as well, of course, as listening to feedback from Team Sky to create our most advanced design yet," Kask CEO Angelo Gotti said in a release on Team Sky's website.
"The Proton takes into account the riders’ posture and how they behave while riding, for example catering for the rider taking off their glasses and inserting them into the the helmet without increasing drag – in fact we've looked so deeply into the science to create and benchmark this helmet, we've named it after the Italian for the sub atomic particle, proton," Gotti said.
The Protone has a claimed weight of 210g and uses Coolmax 3D DRY padding.
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As with other Kask helmets, the Proton features the Octo Fit Adjustment system and Multi In-Moulding Technology (MIT). The MIT process creates a polycarbonate cover for the top, base ring and back of the helmet shell, which is bonded to the inner polystyrene cap via Kask’s In-Moulding Technology. Kask claims this process improves shock absorption, strengthens the frame and reduces the risk of an impact breaking the shell.
KASK will display the new helmet at the 2014 Eurobike show in August, and claims the new model will be available to buy for the start of 2015.
