Last year, POC debuted their newest aero-optimized road helmet, the Procen Air, which made quite a stir in the cycling world. The Procen Air modifies the Procen TT helmet to be more functional on the road, and was used for 15 out of the team’s 41 race wins last season, including Kristen Faulkner’s 50-km solo win at the Omloop van het Hageland and Lachlan Morton’s win at Unbound Gravel. This new limited edition colorway is the same livery that the EF Pro Cycling team rides in the biggest races in the world, just like they did last year with the Ventral Air MIPS.
The Procen Air shares a similar shape and front three vents as the Procen TT helmet, with some notable differences. The helmet is a little shorter in length than the TT version, and doesn’t drop quite as low on the sides. It still covers your ears a bit, which was one of the things that caused quite a stir at the beginning of the 2024 season when it debuted with the team. While some didn’t quite like the unconventional look, the aerodynamics can’t be denied. There is also benefit of reducing the turbulence around the ears, helping riders hear their surroundings better.
“Our mission with the Procen Air was to create a helmet with all the watt savings of a TT helmet, not compromising safety and improving a rider’s ability to hear and see,” said Magnus Gustavsson, Director of Hard Goods at POC. “We succeeded in that objective, and it’s a pleasure to work so closely with the team and release a limited-edition helmet as a celebration of the team and fans.”
The three ports up front help to pass cooler air through the helmet, but also helps to reduce the pressure at the front of the helmet. When you push through the air with a closed surface, a high pressure area can build up, but having the events helps to drain that bubble a bit by passing it through the helmet. Keeping the vents central and the rest of the helmet closed the further to the sides you go aids in reducing drag. As the air passes through the helmet, the helmet creates the Venturi effect inside the helmet, helping to pull the air through the helmet and out the back to keep riders cool and comfortable, helping to improve overall performance.
Adding to the aerodynamics is an integrated visor in place of wearing sunglasses. This isn’t the first time we saw this on a road helmet, but it is typically reserved for time trial helmets. The helmet can be worn with or without the visor which mounts using magnets, and it can also be docked in the rear of the helmet when not in use. The lens uses the same Clarity technology found on POC’s sunglasses and goggles.
“Last year the Procen Air made a significant difference to our riders,” explains Peter Schep, Performance Director at EF Pro Cycling. “Our testing illustrated the aerodynamic gains that would be made, which translated directly to the road with a host of incredible performances and successes in both the men’s and women’s teams. And we are very pleased that we can release a limited-edition helmet to allow our fans to experience the technology and celebrate the team with us.”
The Procen Air is available in sizes S (50-56cm), M (54-59cm), and L (56-61cm). The helmet retails at $430, a $30 up charge for the limited edition EF Pink over the white or black Procen Air.
The helmet is available now on POC.com. Limited quantities are available for each size.
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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