The Kask Valegro launched in 2017 at the Tour de France with Team Sky and is an oldie but goodie. Like the Prevail it falls under what I call the comfort category focusing on a light weight, well ventilated performance helmet. Like road bikes that are broken out as aero vs climbing vs allrounders, the Valegro is designed to be for cyclists interested in a well ventilated, lightweight helmet and who have little concern for aerodynamics in a breakaway or the latest claims of "the fastest road helmet" or "saving 4.2 seconds over a century riding at an olympian speed of 50 km/hr."
This is our second bike helmet review and I'm sure the format will evolve over time and I will come back and update the reviews as new information or my extended ride feedback requires. My goal in this post is to provide information unavailable in other reviews, particularly around fit as so much of a cyclist's experience is impacted by the fit. Perceptions of overall comfort and helmet sizing will naturally vary. However, ventilation and wind noise will also vary based on the air gap between a cyclist's head and the helmet. If a cyclist fits in on the smaller side of the range in a helmet's circumference range, there is more room for air flow around the head, for example.
The safety and protection of a cyclist is also impacted, no pun intended. The industry emphasizes oblique impacts and angular accelerations during those impacts. And while it's difficult to quantify, it's straightforward to imagine how a looser fitting helmet allows the helmet to pivot on your head easier than a tightly coupled one. In fact MIPS depends on a tight fitting helmet to produce its results as the impact tests are done on a rubberized head form.
Aerodynamics is the final area impacted by fit. If a cyclist is in-between sizes and has to upsize, than the larger frontal surface area creates more drag. Since drag is defined as the drag coefficient multiple by the frontal surface area, the additional effect is predictable and linear. In any circumstance other than a custom fit helmet, there is some additional drag associated with using an off the shelf, injection molded helmet.
What's new in this helmet?
More to come
How's the helmet on the bike?
More to come
How's the helmet fit and sizing?
More to come
What are the helmet specifications?
Coming soon.
How's the helmet feel after extended ride testing?
Coming soon
Is the Valegro the best bike helmet for you?
As I always say, the best bike helmet is the one that fits you. The Best Bike Helmet Finder is a good place to start. Helmets are a very personal decision both for reasons of sizing and fit but also style and performance preferences. You aren't going to ride with it if it's uncomfortable.
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