As Team Sky stepped up to the start line at the Tour Down Under, many riders wore KASK’s newest helmet, the Utopia. As an aero road helmet, aerodynamics are a focal point of the new lid, but the brand also made ventilation and protection top priorities.
“We are excited to extend our road helmet range and continue to push the boundaries even further with Utopia,” said Ylenia Battistello, KASK’s cycling brand manager. “We are really grateful to have such talented athletes on hand to test our products at the highest level, and have access to such hi-tech facilities in order to ensure design perfection.”
Through their partnership, Team Sky helped with the development of the Utopia, but the helmet design spent plenty of time in the wind tunnel before it made it to the team’s heads. KASK put the Utopia design up against 10 of the fastest helmets currently available. Through this testing and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, KASK determined that the Utopia would provide a savings of 6 watts at 50 kph (about 30 mph) over the next competitor. This is a bit faster than most non-pro cyclists ride, but if you are going from a standard helmet to an aero lid, expect to gain some aerodynamic savings during spirited riding.
The Utopia is more than just aerodynamics though. With three main vents up front, three mid-helmet, three exhaust ports in the back, and extensive channeling inside the helmet, it is claimed to offer plenty of airflow to keep you cool. 5mm moisture wicking pads using Resistex carbon yarn help move sweat away from your head while providing antistatic and bacteriostatic properties. KASK targets it as a road and triathlon helmet for year-round use in all climates. The caveat seems that you need to be riding at speed to keep air flowing through, but that can be said for just about all aero road helmets.
With a claimed weight of 235g (size medium), it is a rather lightweight helmet.
“When it comes to aerodynamics there is little that is more important than the helmet, but it’s not just about aerodynamics – the safety of our riders is our first priority, and KASK share this philosophy,” said Carsten Jeppesen, Team Sky Head of Technical Operations and Commercial. “In addition to this our riders need comfort, breathability, temperature management and style, all of which to contribute towards optimizing performance. Working with KASK on the development of the Utopia has enabled us to hone in on many of these areas to produce a fully tested, well-rounded helmet, which proves to be a great addition to the versatile KASK range.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TCXjbKXxp8&feature=em-share_video_user
Utopia will be available in three sizes:
S – 50-56
M – 57-58
L – 59-62
Availability is slated for later this year. Pricing has yet to be announced.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Scott joined Bike World News as the Cyclocross Editor in 2012 before taking over as Tech Editor in 2016. He has also worked as a photographer for various pro teams and shoot races along the east coast of the US, including the 2012 US MTB National Championships, 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships, and 2016 UCI Road World Championships. Scott has a passion for performance and technology, with 35 years of riding and mechanic experience. He also enjoys soccer, running, teaching group fitness classes, and is the founder of Lancaster Beard Company.
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