POC steps up their aero road helmet game again with the all-new Cytal Carbon, using a handmade carbon wing to lend structure for maximum rider safety but more space for airflow to keep you cool. In profile, the new Cytal Carbon looks relatively familiar – not unlike previous aero road helmets from POC – just with some carbon weave peeking out in between ribs. But from the front it’s immediately apparent that this co-molded-in carbon wing freed up the Swedish helmet maker to really open the Cytal up for improved ventilation…
POC Cytal Carbon max ventilated aero road bike helmet
This season POC has completely reshaped their road race helmet line-up. First, they transformed a time trial lid into the super-aero Procen Air with a few vents, an integrated visor, and soft covers over the top of your ears. And now the Italian carbon wing lets this new Cytal benefit from maximum front-to-back ventilation while maintaining head protection and smooth-over-the-top aerodynamics.
POC calls it a “new approach to safety, aerodynamics, and ventilation”, all centered around that in-molded carbon wing.
“With the Cytal Carbon we asked ourselves how we could take our knowledge of developing high-performance road helmets and take it to another level of safety, aerodynamics and cooling. In particular, we wanted to enhance a rider’s performance with even more ventilation and cooling, which is critical to human performance. By challenging conventional thinking, using unique materials and developing new shapes, we found an answer by creating a brand-new helmet and integrating a carbon wing handmade in Italy. And we are extremely positive about the result.”
– Oscar Huss, POC Chief Product Officer
Optimized aerodynamics AND ventilation
From an aero perspective, POC did the requisite CFD simulation, wind tunnel verification, and real-world testing – together with EF Pro Cycling women & men. POC claim that aerodynamic drag has been reduced compared to their previous vented aero road helmets – especially at higher speeds – even with much bigger frontal openings.
Like many of their previous aero designs, the front vents of the Cytal Carbon are designed to capture the air that forms a high-pressure area in front of the helmet, and redirect it inside and around the riders head. Apparently though, the thinner edges of the carbon wing better allowed for smooth airflow, both “reducing turbulence and maintaining a linear airflow off the helmet and rider“. The result, of course, reduced aero drag.
Looking at this CFD pressure visualization, you get a good sense of that airflow, and how it translates to Venturi effect internal ventilation according to POC. Reduced internal pressure as air flows faster through the smaller internal channels.
But what really jumps out at me in that graphic is just how thin the carbon wing is. Usually a section cut like this is a bit deceptive. But it appears here that the carbon wing really is that thin over the entire top of the Cytal Carbon helmet, with just 4 EPS foam ribs crossing it.
Carbon Wing construction and 5-star safety rating
The secret according to POC is really the shaping and structure of the carbon wing – “inspired by high-performance race car use”. POC
Shaping the carbon like a wing optimized airflow, but it was including the Koridion material sandwiched inside that helped POC optimize strength and safety in a crash. Koridion seems to be a unique and lightweight internal mold element that expands when heated to more evenly press the carbon against the outer shape of the metal mold. That allowed POC to create the thin double-walled wing with max ridgity at minimal weight.
Safety is of course priority one for a helmet, and POC say their “Whole Helmet Concept” from new to traditional materials & construction have yielded one of their safest road helmets ever. While there don’t appear to be as many buzzword acronyms like we see in a lot of hlemets, this new POC Cytal Carbon has been tested by the independent Virigian Tech helmet lab, and achieve the highest 5-star safety rating.
Tech details
- integrated carbon wing improves ventilation and aerodynamic performance
- Koridion-filled carbon wing improves safety, helmet integrity, and force distribution
- max through-ventilation and improved cooling via 5 front vents, internal airflow channels & 3 shaped exhaust vents – at both low & high speeds
- 5-star rated safety by Virgina Tech helmet testing lab
- CFD optimized aerodynamics with minimal air turbulence
- optimized density EPS liner for low weight and crash protection
- full-wrap polycarbonate in-mold shell for rigidity & durability
- light 360° dial adjust fit
- sunglasses garage
- CE, CPSC, and AS/NZS 2063 certified version available
- lightweight from just 250g (claimed) for a CE certified medium POC Cytal Carbon helmet
POC Cytal Carbon helmet – Pricing, options & availability
The new aero POC Cytal Carbon road helmet is available now in select shops in Europe & North America. We’ve spotted it in pink on some of the EF riders at the Tour de France in recent weeks, including Italian road nation champ Alberto Bettiol – benefiting from that Italian-made carbon wing.
The Cytal Carbon comes in 3 sizes (S 50-56cm, M 54-59cm & L 56-61cm) and in any color you’d like as long as it’s black – uranium black.
The new helmet sells for $400 / 400€ and you can also pick one up online directly from POC.com. Asia & Pacific markets will get the new lid within a month or two.
