General Cycling Discussion - Bicycling and hair

I noticed a thread about keeping bugs out of your hair with a helmet with a built in net or a head scarf. Well, I don't have that problem normally where I ride, but I thought some of this might apply to a problem I do have (and I assume many others).

After a ride and I take off my helmet, my hair looks like a corn field (hair sticking up in rows). I don't know if this is worse because my hair is thinning somewhat or not.

Obviously the hair is being pulled up into the air slots in the helmet. I'd like to, at least, minimize this problem, if possible. I considered using a head scarf, but wouldn't that just mat the hair down, especially as you sweat?

Then I wondered if one of these helmets that has an included net for keeping bugs off might restrict how much the hair would be affected since it couldn't normally pull up as high into the helmet slots if a net blocked it.

But then, would the netting make a significant negative effect on air flow?

Any experience with these things (no, I'm not ready to shave my head!).

Bob

Nobody has it like Jan Ulrich.

Maybe something like a du rag, like all the homies are wearing nowadays, na saying?
A thing lycra skull cap would also do the trick, as would a bandanna as it would keep your hair down, and also wick away sweat, etc.

http://www.the-point.com/images/TwoTone_DuRag2.gif


EDIT: Gang colors optional.

After a ride and I take off my helmet, my hair looks like a corn field (hair sticking up in rows). I don't know if this is worse because my hair is thinning somewhat or not.

It's an endearing look. :D

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/images/cycling/rr/UW-16Jul2001/Image22.jpg

Just do what I did. Shave your head. Although you have to be careful about sunburn.

Concerning the DuRag, wouldn't that result in just matting the hair down, even if it does wick sweat away?

Concerning shaving my head - as I said, it isn't going to happen. At least not until I lose a lot more of it. It's thinning obviously enough, but still plenty left.

As for it being an endearing look, mine looks even worse - probably because I have longer hair (not LONG, but longer than in the picture.

I think there's a reason why a lot of cyclists get the bean shave. Notice the pros, Lance for example,especially before grand tours. ALso, they may not have much time to get a haircut, so just get the buzz! It makes perfect sense. Poor jan, his thick curly hair really is a problem with the helmet. I think he gets beaned as well but i think his hair just grows fast.

Just do what I did. Shave your head. Although you have to be careful about sunburn.
Same here.

It's an endearing look. :D


That's the other benefit, you look fast, even when standing still.

Just buzz your head. I had 4-5 inch hair for years then one day decided to shave it all off down to about 1/4 of an inch. I love it like this, dont have to worry about your hair ever again!

It looks like a racing stripe.

hmm, well, without shaving your head the du-rag or a cycling cap is your best bet. It's still going to mat your hair down but you won't have the aerodynamic stripes in your hair:D

I actually had fairly long hair(2-3 inches) until the beginning of this year. Then one day I just decided to shave it all off. No 1/4in stuff for me, I was going over my head with the bare metal blade of the clipper. LOL, boy was my head white:D

Just remember to wear sunscreen and a hat if you shave your head.

Shoulder length and ponytail. :D

hmm, well, without shaving your head the du-rag or a cycling cap is your best bet. It's still going to mat your hair down but you won't have the aerodynamic stripes in your hair:D

I actually had fairly long hair(2-3 inches) until the beginning of this year. Then one day I just decided to shave it all off. No 1/4in stuff for me, I was going over my head with the bare metal blade of the clipper. LOL, boy was my head white:D

Just remember to wear sunscreen and a hat if you shave your head.

Guess I'll try one of those rags and see how bad the matting is - and how hard to get back to normal compared to the present problem.

But what is a cycling cap? I assume this fits with a helmet, right?

Bob

Shoulder length and ponytail. :D

LOL! Well, I guess that would work - but I don't plan on that one either. I never have had really long hair - not even during the 60s. I do what I feel comfortable with and never really cared what the styles were at the time.

Guess I'll try one of those rags and see how bad the matting is - and how hard to get back to normal compared to the present problem.

But what is a cycling cap? I assume this fits with a helmet, right?

Bob

Yeah a cycling cap is designed to be worn under a helmet(I think).

heres a pic:

But what is a cycling cap? I assume this fits with a helmet, right?

http://www.gitabike.com/images_cart/coca-emwt-l.jpg

It can be worn under a helmet although you might get a little hot. It works wonders when it's colder though... certainly better than stuffing newspapers in the vent holes.

you could just wear a bandana or what the hiphop kids call it "du-rag"

http://www.gitabike.com/images_cart/coca-emwt-l.jpg

It can be worn under a helmet although you might get a little hot. It works wonders when it's colder though... certainly better than stuffing newspapers in the vent holes.

Well, "colder" isn't much of an issue here - since I live in Hawaii.

It does get cool enough at night (I ride at 3:00 AM) to justify arm warmers and a very light jacket, but I've never felt my head was too cool. Even if it was good for that part of the year, it would be a small part.

While it looks like a bandana approach might be best, I'd still like to hear from someone who has one of the helmets that has some sort of bug netting - that would seem like it should keep the hair from going into the vents, unless the netting is on the outside of the helmet.

I lined my helmet with a some wicking fabric from an old shirt. Double sided tape works well and stays attached even in the rain. Then in winter, a polar tech liner goes in there instead. The liner just stays in...no fumbling for a hat and no weird bleach spots on my hair.

Hope this helps.

no weird bleach spots on my hair.

Bleach spots?

Wear a helmet, have helmet hair. No way around it. Why is it such an issue?

I lined my helmet with a some wicking fabric from an old shirt. Double sided tape works well and stays attached even in the rain. Then in winter, a polar tech liner goes in there instead. The liner just stays in...no fumbling for a hat and no weird bleach spots on my hair.

Hope this helps.

I would think something as dense as a shirt's material might be a bit hot here. But I may try it if I ever have an old shirt!

Wear a helmet, have helmet hair. No way around it. Why is it such an issue?

Anything that makes things easier is a plus. May not be any way around it, but I always assume there is a solution, even if just a partial one. It often works out.

If you go the cycling cap route, you can also cross train in it on the B-Ball courts like Wesley. He wore a Colnago hat in the movie as well. Why the cycling hat style never caught on with the masses is beyond me.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6305929718.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

It's not a 'du rag,' - it's a 'do rag. As in hair-do rag.

I noticed a thread about keeping bugs out of your hair with a helmet with a built in net or a head scarf. Well, I don't have that problem normally where I ride, but I thought some of this might apply to a problem I do have (and I assume many others).

After a ride and I take off my helmet, my hair looks like a corn field (hair sticking up in rows). I don't know if this is worse because my hair is thinning somewhat or not.

Obviously the hair is being pulled up into the air slots in the helmet. I'd like to, at least, minimize this problem, if possible. I considered using a head scarf, but wouldn't that just mat the hair down, especially as you sweat?

Then I wondered if one of these helmets that has an included net for keeping bugs off might restrict how much the hair would be affected since it couldn't normally pull up as high into the helmet slots if a net blocked it.

But then, would the netting make a significant negative effect on air flow?

Any experience with these things (no, I'm not ready to shave my head!).

Bob

Well I went riding the oher evening. When I came home, my wife called me into the room so she could look at my head. I shave my head and evidently the impression from the helmet pads left "indents" in my scalp, so if you are bald, you are not immune.

Regarding bugs, It is probably better with hair. I have on occasion run into a bee, or wasp. I imagine the guy getting stuck in my vents, crawling down to my scalp and stinging me on the head. On more than one occasion, I have pulled over to check my helmet for bugs.

Helmet hair cool, but now that summer is here I have my hair cropped very close to the scalp and will keep it that way until winter sets in. I've had a few bugs fly into my helmet. When it happens I just take the helmet off, run my fingers through my hair to make sure the bug is gone and then put it back on.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=30263&

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=30263&

Bugs. A serious source of protein. Fear Factor has nothing on you!!

Concerning the DuRag, wouldn't that result in just matting the hair down, even if it does wick sweat away?

Concerning shaving my head - as I said, it isn't going to happen. At least not until I lose a lot more of it. It's thinning obviously enough, but still plenty left.

As for it being an endearing look, mine looks even worse - probably because I have longer hair (not LONG, but longer than in the picture.

Do rag was more of a joke, It will work though. You want something like this...

http://store.bianchiusa.com/store/images/items/H6934.jpg I love cycling caps, plus they make you look professional :D

This is more like a doo rag, and when wear it you wont get a cap in yo ass! :D

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/400/10_4658.jpg

[Hijack (sorry)] Does any one know where I can get a shimano cycling cap?[end hijack]

Cornrows --- now that's a nasty look.

Now imagine cornrows combined w/ a mullet. Carmelo Anthony and some other NBA players are working the cornrow/mullet combo. And I though flat tops (think late 80's Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer) were bad. **SHUDDER**

cornrow + mullet = puke

do-rag/baldness = sexy:D

Same here.

Yep, new to shaved head 2 months ago, and loving it :)

And look the smiley has a shaved head as well.

a

Do rag was more of a joke, It will work though.
I wasn't joking. Check them out. Seriously, they're cheap and effective. Also check out scull caps, i.e under armour skull cap or othe rgeneric equivalents...

I wasn't joking. Check them out. Seriously, they're cheap and effective. Also check out scull caps, i.e under armour skull cap or othe rgeneric equivalents...

I picked up a CoolMax Headsweat, which seems to be about the same thing, today. Not sure how much it may make riding hotter. It seemed okay for the present weather though, riding home late morning. That's later than I usually return home so it should be fine for most rides for some time.

Seems to work okay for the hair too. Still gets messed up some, but not in such weird looking ways.

Still would like to know if any of those helmets with bug nets inside work for hair too - one less item to worry about having, if it is built-in. I also thought the netting would be more "open" than this cloth material, minimally restricting airflow.