Gear Break: KASK Elemento helmet, Selle Italia “White Range”: Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow saddle now available in white, meet the Vamoots 33: Pure speed – Zero compromise, ORSO handcrafted Italian performance shoe, Michael Blann: The mountains are calling, again – There’s a new book in the works and MyWhoosh announces the return of the $1 Million MyWhoosh Championships 2025.
KASK Elemento Helmet – $400
KASK sez: In the quest for ultimate performance, you should expect more from a helmet than “just” superior aerodynamics and lean weight. The Elemento features a revolutionary, new design with advanced technologies to deliver the very best safety and thermal comfort no matter what you ride: road, cross-country, cyclocross, or gravel (or all four). Designed in collaboration with the INEOS Grenadiers Cycling Team, the Elemento is aimed at professional and semi-professional athletes.
The KASK Elemento comes in six colors: White, Red, Black, Silver, Oxford Blue, and Beetle Green. PEZ got the Silver.
Kask specs 300 grams, but doesn’t say for what size
PEZ sez: When aero helmets first came on the scene, they had no or very few vents. They were built for speed, not cooling/ventilation. Now, aero helmets are more vented and the differences are more blurred. For example, if KASK’s aero road helmet — the Nirvana (reviewed by Alastair here) — is an aero helmet with ventilation (it has 5 front vents and 3 rear vents), then the KASK Elemento is more a ventilated helmet (8 front vents and 6 rear) vents with an aero-ish shape. Interestingly, KASK rates both a 5 out 5 for both aerodynamics and ventilation.
8 vents up front to push air in
6 vents in back to pull air out
Deep channeling inside the helmet to pull air through from front to back
KASK claims it’s Fluid Carbon 12 composite technopolymer absorbs more energy from an impact than traditional materials and distributes the force generated more evenly across the entire helmet. I have no way to measure or validate this and certainly hope I don’t have to experience for myself.
One thing that’s noticeably different from many other bicycle helmets is the KASK Elemento’s interior. Instead of traditional padding, KASK uses its proprietary 3D printed padding: Multipod. According to KASK, it enables the helmet to better withstand the energy generated by linear and rotational impacts because it withstands the energy from impacts the same regardless of the direction in which the force is applied. Again, something I can’t verify and hope I don’t have to experience for myself. That said, more and more helmets are incorporating technology to protect against rotational impact and that’s a plus in my book.
The front padding is traditional foam
What looks like honeycomb is KASK’s 3D printed Multipod padding (green arrows are foam padding)
Does Fluid Carbon 12 and Multipod make the KASK Elemento safer than other helmets? I can’t say definitively and it’s important to point out that all bicycle helmets have to meet applicable safety standards. For the US, that means the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) 1203 standards. And it’s worth noting that the KASK Elemento is rated as a 5-star helmet by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab whose impact tests evaluate a helmet’s ability to reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head resulting from a range of head impacts a cyclist might experience. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars. It’s your head so you’ll have to decide for yourself if the KASK Elemento’s safety features and rating are worth the $$$.
Size-wise, I got a medium based on KASK’s size guide. Try before you buy is always a good idea if you can (otherwise, make sure you purchase from a retailer with a return/exchange policy to your liking) because it’s just not head measurement that matters for sizing. Head and helmet shape can be factors too. On me, the KASK Elemento fit my head shape very well but YMMV. It was simply a matter of:
- Adjusting the basket at the back to where I wanted it to sit on the back of my head
- Tightening the rear retention so the helmet wouldn’t move around on my head, but not squeezing too tight
- Adjusting the chin strap so it was snug, but with enough slack to be able to talk/eat/drink
The rear basket easily adjusts up or down for fit/comfort and to accommodate a ponytail
Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey
Another reason why try before you buy is a good idea: the straps don’t adjust for fit on the sides
Whether the KASK Elemento or any other helmet, make sure it sits low enough to cover at least half your forehead and that the chin strap is snug enough to keep the helmet in place
Where you position the basket in back is personal preference for fit and comfort, but make sure it’s where it will hold the helmet securely in place
Without any (or fewer) vents, you could mistake this for a “pure” #aero helmet
Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to check helmet fit with sunglasses — especially oversize shield style sunglasses that are the current fashion trend
Selle Italia “White Range”: Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow Saddle – Now Available in White
Selle Italia – A modern old faithful
Selle Italia presents the new “White Range”, a collection that showcases its most iconic saddles – Flite Boost, SLR Boost and Novus Boost Evo – now available in an elegant white version. The innovative version of the SLR Boost featuring a 3D-printed cover is also available in white. For the 2025 season, Selle Italia has responded to the growing demand by cycling fans to revamp its most iconic models with an elegant white version that combines class and style with outstanding performance.
Alastair Hamilton PEZ sez: I started riding a Selle Italia Flite whet the old Turbo was discontinued, many years ago. Up until recently, when I’ve been trying a few other saddles, I’ve stuck with the Flite, plus I like white saddles, like white shoes. So now that Selle Italia have started to make the Flite in white, I had to try one and compare to the old faithful and the more recent SLR.
A very old Flite, but it was light
My Flite collection
The ‘newer’ Flite has been on the market for awhile, but I’ve been trying out the Selle Italia SLR, both the 3D printed and normal covered version. I thought it would be interesting to compare old and not so old, and also Flite Vs. SLR. Of course a white saddle will always get my vote, but I’ll try to ignore the colour and stick to the tech details and, more importantly, the feel.
Carbon rails
The first difference are the carbon rails, as with my really old Flite, the new one has carbon rails, but manufacturing processes have changed in 20 years. The old rails were made of carbon bonded to alloy (I think), now it is one piece of carbon which is then connected to the carbon and nylon shell of the saddle. Unlike the SLR with Ti 316 and Manganese rails, there is no rubber pad between rail and shell, but I would think this would be because of the flex in the carbon. I didn’t feel any difference when riding.
Light, but the old flite was a few grams lighter
Weight isn’t a problem. The L3 weighed in at 158g on my inaccurate scales, Selle Italia say 162g (± 8%), which is probably correct. The SLR 3D Boost with Ti 316 rails is 205g (± 8%) and with Manganese rails is 210g (± 8%). The Flite Boost with Ti 316 rails is 199g (± 8%) and with Manganese rails is 235g (± 8%), so the carbon rails are a lot lighter and as I said before they do give some comfort due to the flex.
Enough padding
The padding on the Flite is much the same as the SLR (non 3D) with more where it is need at the sit bones and ether side of the ‘Superflow’ channel in the middle, with less at the front. This is where the 3D printed saddle is different. The 3D printing process seems to give many different areas of comfort and/or rigidity to different parts of the saddle. I’m not saying non-3D is uncomfortable, but 3D does have something more. The modern Flite has the ‘Superflow’ central gap, which my old Flite doesn’t, and this is a big step forward to help men’s health, down bellow. There are some people who can’t get on with the channel, but I think most do.
Sleek style
The old Flite is longer at nearly 270cm, the new Flite is 250. The fashion at the moment is for shorter saddles and if your bike fits properly, you probably don’t need all that saddle to move back and forward on. The carbon rails on the new Flite allows more adjustment, you are able to push the saddle a lot further forward. The main difference between the Flite and the SLR is that the top of the flite is flat and the SLR has slight dip. You can feel the SLR holding you in one place, whereas the flite allows more movement. The look of the Flite is sleek with its cut away sides and nose design and the Flite badge at the back is a nice finishing touch. And the whole point of this review… It’s available in white. White looks great, in my opinion, especially with white handle bar tale and white shoes.
A good width at the front
How does it ride? Comparing the old and the new: No competition, but you have to allow for age, not mine, the saddle. My old Flite has seen a fair bit of use and you might say it’s more like an old slipper. The new Flite is solid and comfortable with no pressure ‘underneath’. You can’t move forward as much, but then you shouldn’t have to. Can I choose between the Flight and the SLR? No. I like them both for their feel and ride comfort, especially the 3D printed SLR. If you have to choose; it would come down to either the flat or the dip on the top of the saddle and that is a personal choice. For me, I would say that a Flite saddle with carbon rails and a white 3D printed top would be my ideal saddle, but Selle Italia doesn’t make one, maybe one day.
Flite comfort
Selle Italia sez: Combining timeless design with modern performance, the Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow: White Edition brings Selle Italia’s iconic Flite saddle into a new era with advanced comfort and adjustability.
Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow White
With the classic flat seat profile that Flite fans know and love, this White Edition saddle offers a short and aerodynamic shape for modern cyclists. The Superflow cut-out alleviates pressure in key areas, allowing for all-day comfort over longer rides. Extended carbon rails allow for greater adjustability, giving you the choice to fine-tune your setup for optimal stability and support.
Technical Specifications
- Weight: S3 157 g (± 8%) – L3 162 g (± 8%)
- Dimensions: S3 135 x 250mm L3 145 x 250mm
- Rail: Carbon Rail
- Intended use: Road.
Materials and Shapes
- Fibra-Tek: Technical microfiber cover material that guarantees a strong and durable lifetime at a very low weight
- Carbon Rail: +10 mm longer Carbon rail ø7×9 mm to ensure lightness, resistance and a wider range of regulation of the saddle
- Flat: Flat saddles are suggested for Dynamic Riders or individuals who have an Anterior Pelvic Tilt
- Superflow: The Superflow technology drastically reduces all physical limitations caused by prolonged pressure in the perineal area
- Carbon Powered: Shell made with carbon composite and high grade nylon polymer
Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow White
Recommended retail price:
Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow White: 314,90 Euro – 289.99 £
- For more information and local price: https://www.selleitalia.com/white-range/.
Meet the Vamoots 33: Pure Speed – Zero Compromise
Meet the Vamoots 33—our lightest, most responsive road bike yet, handcrafted for pure speed and all-road freedom. Inspired by the terrain just outside our door—County Road 33—this bike is built for smooth tarmac, rough chip seal, and those irresistible dirt detours back to town.
With clearance for high-volume road tires and full-coverage fenders, the Vamoots 33 redefines what a road bike can be. Lightweight 3/2.5 thin-walled titanium, size-specific tubing, and our carbon all-road fork deliver stability and sharp handling across every surface. The best part? 38c tire clearence!
Handbuilt in Steamboat Springs, CO
Optimized for road, chip seal & light dirt
3D-printed flat mount disc brake + in-house dropouts
Seamless power transfer and flawless alignment
This is titanium road performance—elevated, versatile, and unmistakably Moots.
Precision. Passion. And one Dream Build.
George’s custom Vamoots CRD is more than a bike—it’s the result of obsession, detail, and a relentless pursuit of the perfect ride. See how this titanium machine came to life.
We are Going, are You?
On June 7th we will be at Acme Bicycle Co.’s Neutral Ground! Are you going? Register today, and make sure you reserve yourself a Moots demo!
ORSO – Handcrafted Italian Performance Shoe
For the past 18 years, suplest has been crafting high-performance cycling shoes in the heart of Switzerland’s Emmental region—defined by exceptional quality, innovative design, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Today, we proudly unveil our most advanced model yet: ORSO.
A New Era in Performance Cycling Footwear
Born from our enduring passion for performance, the ORSO is a result of our ongoing commitment to push technological and design boundaries. Developed with obsessive attention to detail, this high-performance shoe is hand-crafted in a small atelier in Northern Italy- very close to the Swiss boarder. The workshop is renowned for its mastery in technical racing shoes, enabling us to meet the most demanding standards in professional cycling.
The ORSO is more than just a shoe—it’s a culmination of experience, innovation, and craftsmanship. Tested and validated by the riders of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team and Stefan Bissegger from AG2R Mondial, it’s built to perform where it matters most: in the heat of competition.
With adding the ORSO to our collection we have a small but versatile collection as never before. We offer a shoe for every demand in cycling. With the advance ROAD Pro from Taiwan and the ORSO from Italy, each rider has the possibility to follow the preference of his feet.
When the Circle Closes
This shoe is not just a product—it’s a story. suplest co-founder Robert, a former competitive cyclist, transitioned into speed skating after his racing career. There, he met Davide, a legendary artisan known for crafting custom speed skating shoes for multiple world champions. Robert experienced firsthand Davide’s meticulous craftsmanship and unmatched attention to detail.
Years later, their paths crossed again sparking the idea for a revolutionary collaboration. Together, they fused decades of elite-level experience to create a cycling shoe with unprecedented performance. The mission: reduce weight and stack height to the absolute minimum while maximizing power transfer and fit. The result? ORSO—Italian for “bear”. A shoe that embodies power, agility, and precision. Team Edition White Edition
Why the ORSO Stands Out
- Made Entirely In-House in Italy: A unique production model—every pair is built under one roof, ensuring complete quality control and exceptional craftsmanship. Exclusive due to a limited production capacity per year.
- suplest ID: Customers can personalize their upper design with exclusive customization options directly from suplest.
- UCF Race Carbon Shell: Developed around the proprietary anatomical suplest last, it delivers unmatched comfort, efficiency, and fit. 100% made in-house.
- Heat-Moldable Heel Cup: Fine-tune your fit for ultimate power transfer and security—without compromising comfort.
- Lowest possible Stack Height: Bringing your foot as close as possible to the pedal axle for maximum efficiency and direct power delivery.
- Featherweight Construction: Under 200 grams— with double boa configuration and without compromising in performance. One of the lightest performance shoes available.
- Premium Italian Microfiber Upper: A glove-like fit enhanced by our signature Anatomic Wrap and dual BOA® dials for precise adjustment.
- Multiple Fit Options: Available in two widths, half sizes from 36–47 (half sizes from 36.5 to 46.5), and three upper designs.
- Pricing: The ORSO retail price is 549 CHF or 569 Euro
- Availability: The ORSO will be available in limited quantities, as we have a small production capacity to start this project. For interest, please contact us at suplest and we will look forward to help you.
More info at:
- E-Mail:info@suplest.com
- Web: www.suplest.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/suplest
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/suplestswitzerland
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/suplestshoes
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/suplest
Michael Blann: The Mountains are Calling, Again – There’s a New Book in the Works
After the incredible success of the Mountains: Epic Cycling Climbs book, I have an exciting announcement. Contracts have been signed, and work has now started on a new World Mountains book. It’s a 3-year project which will touch all corners of the globe and showcase the greatest and most beautiful cycling climbs in the world.
Back in 2014, I was commissioned to do a photoshoot for Shimano on the island of Majorca. Part of the brief was to capture a few landscape shots of the mountains and roads for the campaign they were creating. Unbeknownst to me then, this was the impetus for a personal project and body of work which has helped define my career.
I believe many of the defining things we end up doing in life are influenced and shaped by experiences we have at an early age. My reference points are vivid memories I have of watching the early broadcasts in the mid 80’s of the Tour de France on C4. Back then, cycling was very much a marginal sport, so any televised coverage was limited to ½ hr at the late hour of 11pm. The picture quality was often poor, but Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen bought the show alive with their enthusiastic commentary. Their voices and the heavy synth opening soundtrack of Pete Shelley (of Buzzcocks fame) has framed a golden era of cycling and the epic battles in the mountains between Hinault, Lemond, Roche, Kelly, Delgado, Millar and many more…
Alto de Velefique Cycling Climb, Andalusia, Spain
At that time, I was in my early teens and getting into cycling and racing. I hadn’t travelled far at that point other than on my bike around the South Downs in East Sussex and a few family holidays to the south of France or Spain. The names of all those climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees seemed exotic and very distant. I had no reference point to where they were or how they linked to each other, but the Tour de France gave them a name and an identity which set me on a path of discovery.
It was that link back to the past that made me start thinking about making a record of these climbs, which became almost a mapping process linking the names from the Tour de France to a physical place. This was to be the start of the Mountains project which soon evolved into a book which was eventually published by Thames & Hudson in the autumn of 2016 titled, Mountains: Epic Cycling climbs.
I can distinctly remember sitting in a meeting with the publishers and being told if we could sell 5000 copies we would break even and everyone would be happy. Producing a book on cycling was a risk for a publisher who traditionally printed books on art. The book launched in the autumn in time for the Christmas market and was co-editioned into several languages. By January, it had exceeded expectations, and the sales figures confirmed it was T&H third best-selling book for the year despite being only on sale for a few months.
Over the following years the book continued to sell well and was revamped and expanded to include new climbs and essays. Now nearly a decade on, the book has sold over 75,000 copies which is quite staggering for a coffee table book on cycling.
Annual excursions to the mountains and the Grand Tours have become the norm for me, revisiting many of the climbs from the first book in search of new angles and viewpoints and exploring new climbs such as the Col de la Loze, Passo Spluga, or Jebel Hafeet in the UAE (to name a few) which have quickly become relevant and worthy of documentation.
Over time, my library of mountain images has grown quietly and steadily, out of view of the general public, except for a smattering of social media posts and the limited edition prints which have been made available through the website shop. Inevitably it was only a matter of time before the conversation around a second book was floated by the publisher and the idea of a World Cycling Climbs book was conceived.
Col du Galibier, Rhone Alps, France
So, this is the official announcement that I have agreed to embark on a 3-year project to photograph the greatest climbs in the World, stretching to all corners of the globe from the cycling heartlands of Europe, South & North America, Australasia and the emerging countries in Asia and deep into Silk route of Central Asia and the arid lands of the Middle East.
In fairness, work on this project started years ago with various trips to California and Europe, but things really ramp up now with the summer months crammed with travel plans to capture those new, undocumented climbs. It’s going to be relentless for the next few years, but I’m sure I will get to experience and photograph some truly amazing places (and hopefully ride a few too). You can follow me on social media as I post about my travels and the climbs I am photographing.
I’d also love to hear your recommendations for climbs you think should be featured in the next book. Cycling is an evolving sport with new destinations coming into focus all the time so let me know about your most inspiring climbs which you feel should be included. Give me a follow on Instagram and drop me a direct message with your suggestions.
MyWhoosh Announces the Return of the $1 Million MyWhoosh Championships 2025
MyWhoosh, the free virtual cycling platform, has announced the return of its premier event, the MyWhoosh Championships 2025. The championship will kick off in August and registrations to participate in the championship will open in June.
The inaugural edition of the MyWhoosh Championship took place in 2023. Now, the second edition is all set to return this summer with a $1 million prize pool. This year’s event will bring together the world’s top esports cyclists to compete across six categories, with equal prize money awarded to both men and women.
“We’re thrilled to bring the global cycling community together again for what has become the toughest and most rewarding event in virtual cycling,” said Matthew Smithson, Senior Manager of Esports Events and Game Operations. “Our goal this year is to raise the bar for competitive racing and give athletes a fair and exciting platform to compete.”
Additional details, including the event date, registration process, race formats, pre-verification steps and prize money distribution across categories, will be announced soon.
Join the Race
Cyclists from around the world are encouraged to register and take part in this major event. For the latest updates, visit the MyWhoosh Events Page and follow MyWhoosh on social media.
MyWhoosh Championships 2025:
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The post Gear Break: KASK Elemento Helmet, Selle Italia Flite Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow in White, Vamoots 33, ORSO Handcrafted Italian Performance Shoe, Michael Blann New Book & MyWhoosh Champs 2025 appeared first on PezCycling News.
