@DanSztanga I didn’t notice a huge difference in ventilation or cooling between the two, but in my experience the protone doesn’t offer as much ventilation as other comparable helmets — and the utopia is slightly less ventilated than the protone.  The bigger issue for me was the fit (which is more specific to my head shape). For whatever reason kask helmets don’t fit my head so well to begin with, but the protone definitely fit me better than the utopia.  

id like to purchase an orange helmet but haven’t had much luck with the utopia.  

My issue with the Kask helmets is the overall quality of the harness which is not that great considering the price.

I don't have a utopia, I used the specialized evade.

I don't like the kask chin strapainly, but the protone is cooler than my evade... I know it's not the utopia. 

I wish I still had my mushroom head POC I like how that helmet feels the best of the non aero helmet I've ever got.

Specialized probly have the best strap it's magnetic! 

Best to worst fit wise POC > Giro & Specialized> Kask > Bern > Bell 

I had the Utopia and only used it for one ride because the size chart is a lil funky. They suggested I use a large based on my huge brain and the M i wore in the POC Octal (i also liked the fit of this one) but the Utopia felt way too big. I switched to a M in the Protone and I really like it. I assume a M in the Utopia would have worked really well for me. 

If anyone needs more convincing, everyone wearing the same orange color on their lid looks super pro. 

Whoops. The Evade looks really similar then to the Utopia. My mistake.

Thanks for the input though Rich and Kevin.

Oh, and to spread the word, Redbeard has one Utopia in stock in medium if anyone want to try one on.

I think Helmet selection has surpassed battenkill tire choice on the all-time KCC Obsession index.

  It doesn't look it, but the Utopia is better ventilated than older POC Octal. The Octal aero is a good winter helmet. The biggest thing you notice is the Utopia is very quiet. No issues with the harness/fit, it doesn't slip easily like the POC, and sweat is better managed. Also it's fast as hell in the wind tunnel (POC's numbers are awful on all their aero helmets).

@eloy any updates on the helmet order? I was in redbeard today and the utopia is pretty sharp and fit my weirdly shaped head well. 

Hi Club,

Please order your new Orange Kask Utopia helmet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VroQDUxxenmOqIXLPJM_tDlVz0BWT8gnvG_HORhJvrw/edit?usp=sharing

Kissena is subsidizing each helmet, your total prize will per helmet: $135 (they retail around $300)

Please pay via Paypal to membership@kissenacycling.com.

We intend to place the group order March 7th, so please be sure to place your order and pay before then. Kissena will collect all payments and pay Redbeard the lump sum.

Any questions, feel free to ask here, or reach out to me directly: eloy@groovylab.com 347.225.1058
https://www.kask.com/en-us/cycling/helmets/utopia_24_51.htm

Will send a reminder email over the weekend.

Thanks,

Eloy
Sponsorship Director
Kissena Cycling Club

Not to distract from the neon orange glory of helmet shopping but is there a Stages order on the horizon?

@Nathaniel Picard Busky there is no bulk Stages order any more, I am happy to order as needed for team members, please email me hi@redbeardbikes.com about what you'd like to get (and include your crank length) - I'll get you a quote and we'll go from there!  

@Thierry Bonnaire I will pass on your feedback to Kask. If anyone has any feedback on any helmet purchased here, please email me hi@redbeardbikes.com - I haven't read this whole thread, and I certainly do want to give the company a chance to improve! 

Ok...def a large in the Utopia!

eloy said:

Hi Club,

Please order your new Orange Kask Utopia helmet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VroQDUxxenmOqIXLPJM_tDlVz0BWT8gnvG_HORhJvrw/edit?usp=sharing

Kissena is subsidizing each helmet, your total prize will per helmet: $135 (they retail around $300)

Please pay via Paypal to membership@kissenacycling.com.

We intend to place the group order March 7th, so please be sure to place your order and pay before then. Kissena will collect all payments and pay Redbeard the lump sum.

Any questions, feel free to ask here, or reach out to me directly: eloy@groovylab.com 347.225.1058
https://www.kask.com/en-us/cycling/helmets/utopia_24_51.htm

Will send a reminder email over the weekend.

Thanks,

Eloy
Sponsorship Director
Kissena Cycling Club

A reminder to place your helmet order. We are planning to close the order this Saturday.

Similarly, please be sure to paypal payment to membership@kissenacycling.com

We have received payment from the people below. If you are expecting a helmet but are not in this list, please check you are in the spreadsheet and have sent payment.

• Tommy York
• Diego Joaquin Sanchez Azcarate
• Phil Maronilla
• Eloy Anzola
• Shane Murphy
• Patrick Grehan
• Mark Taylor
• Michael Kosche
• Jonathan Adler

If you are on the list above, you are good to go!

Happy Friday!! Here are a few rainy day deals from your favorite bike shop.

+ 20x of Yaktrax Warmers Hand Warmers - $15

+ 2x Maxxis Rekon Race Tire 29 x 2.25, Folding, 120tpi, Dual Compound, EXO, Tubeless Ready, Black - $40 (instead of $64)

+ 3x Specialized Air Tool UHP Floor Pump, silver, thread-on chuck, big gauge - $45 (instead of $90) - 

We also have Seasucker Trainer Flex Mounts for trainer use - an iPad version ($120) and a laptop version ($165). (Same company that makes bike racks for cars - we got those, too!) 

Kasia
 

eloy said:

Hi Club,

Please order your new Orange Kask Utopia helmet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VroQDUxxenmOqIXLPJM_tDlVz0BWT8gnvG_HORhJvrw/edit?usp=sharing

Kissena is subsidizing each helmet, your total prize will per helmet: $135 (they retail around $300)

Please pay via Paypal to membership@kissenacycling.com.

We intend to place the group order March 7th, so please be sure to place your order and pay before then. Kissena will collect all payments and pay Redbeard the lump sum.

Any questions, feel free to ask here, or reach out to me directly: eloy@groovylab.com 347.225.1058
https://www.kask.com/en-us/cycling/helmets/utopia_24_51.htm

Will send a reminder email over the weekend.

Thanks,

Eloy
Sponsorship Director
Kissena Cycling Club

Ok, everyone so far payed up. Thank you.

Today is the last day to order a helmet if you haven't yet.

After all the discussion, turns out this order for Utopias will be larger than last year's Protones, there's still time, get in on it.

Just to keep everyone in the loop. I have send the helmet order to RedBeard. Will report back here once we have an ETA. Cheers!

Hi Kissena,

Just wanted to wish everyone good health and say - don't be shy about emailing us your wish lists of essentials - anything you need for your season. We can put together a package and mail it to you this week. 

A few have already done so - thank you for your support.

We are planning to be open this week, but most likely will close the following week, and in any case are monitoring the situation...all plans are subject to change! 

By mailing your order, we can reduce contact, which is the name of the game right now!

If you have any friends or fam who want a bike so they can avoid mass transit these coming months, please introduce me to them via email - hi@Redbeardbikes.com - even if their budget is less than our typical starting price of $1300ish. I will do my best to get them a bike.

Stay healthy!

Kasia

Hi,

The size large Utopias have arrived at redbeard.

Ilya and Kasia will be at the shop today (3/27) from 1 to 6pm, call ahead if you ordered a size large and want to pick yours up: (718) 858-2453 As long as you can do it in a very safe manner. 

Else, we can coordinate next week, they could simply ship the helmet to you for a small fee.

To state the obvious, the best policy now is to stay home, don't take public transportation, unless absolutely necessary -- picking up the helmet is not absolutely necessary.

Stay safe everyone.

Hi Kissena,

Hope everyone is healthy. Ilya and I are trying to keep the shop going in some modified fashion through all this crisis. We are taking it one day at a time.

Most pertinent I guess is that we can order Kickrs and we are honoring the Kissena pricing as if it were a bulk order - $755 for the CORE and $975 for the KICKR. (SNAP is out of stock till late April at least.)

We are shipping and in some cases dropping stuff off by bike on our way to/from the shop, so please don't hesitate to email us your wish list.

If you haven't done so in a while, please check out our webstore, I am adding new products each week: https://redbeard-bikes.myshopify.com/

Thanks!
Kasia

@Kasia Nikhamina have the medium utopias arrived yet? 

Thanks Kasia!

I’m enjoying my new trainer a lot

@ColinStief No medium Utopias yet, my understanding is they are sailing from Italy, will update if I get more news. Thank you for your patience!

@DiegoSanchez Awesome!

PSA!

Wahoo just notified me they are sold out of KICKRs (due back in stock late April).

But they still have some COREs.

So if you have been considering a CORE, please email me ASAP! - kasia@redbeardbikes.com

For the CORE, please indicate what cassette you need - 10-speed, 11-speed, etc. , and where you live (so I can see if we can do a drop-off to you). Thanks!

Any word on the medium helmets , would like to minimize pick ups with kits
thank you

Stages is on our jersey. so I think this info goes here

They're selling their L10 computer for $75

https://store.stagescycling.com/STAGES-DASH-L10-GPS_CYCLOMETER

a 'brief' review (considering the source) from DC Rainmaker

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/01/quick-update-stages-dash-l10-m50-l50.html

Why is Kissena advertising for the Oxygen cycling hotel in Italy?

Matteo who runs the hotel, rides for kissena, he posted a sweet video about the club, we reposted.

The Kask Medium Utopias have arrived at Redbeard!

Just like champ sys order, call or email them before you stop by to pick them up. (718) 858-2453