Road Cycling - Anyone wear the little racing (cotton) caps?

Just for the heck of it, I bought two biking caps off ebay. I believe I will only wear them in and around the house. Never see anyone wear them, except the big races I see on OLN. Does anyone hear actually wear them on their rides. I thought about it, but I think the helmet is logical choice.

I have on occasion.

My roomate wears one all the time, unless hes preaching about wearing helmets...then he wears a helmet for a few days and ends up going back to the cap.

I wear them under my helmet on hot days for sweat. I do rip off the brims though they make it funny lookin with the helmet!

I have (I got it free when I bought my bike), the majority of the guys I ride with where the caps, I guess they prefer them to helmets. I normally take my cap on long rides to put under my helmet if I sweat too much. I've been told that if you soak your cap in vinegar it will stick to your head better, I was told this by the owner of my LBS and he always wears his cotton cap or has it stuck the back of his jersey when I ride with him on my Sunday ride (I ride with whole big group of guys, we do a 70km loop and then we chill out for an hour or so).
Stew

I wear mine, I have a cap that has Campagnolo on it. I pick and choose where I put it on. I usually push the brim up too. It is a black cap with white lettering. Sometimes my wife cringes when I wear it with a Hawaiian shirt, but hey, no need to be ashamed to be a cyclist, Euros are a lot more outlandish that us Americans.

Rule 1 - I ALWAYS wear a helmet.

I wear cycling caps, with the brim, under my helmet when it is very sunny or very rainy to keep sun and rain out of my eyes. I have cut the crown out of one to wear in hot weather.

I've long ago outgrown giving too much of a crap what anyone thinks about how something looks if I find it comfortable and functional.

I wear one sometimes when I'm wrenching... seems appropriate somehow :)

I wear one.... when I'm jogging. :eek:

I wear one under my helmet whenever it's hot out. The purpose of the hat is sweat management and here is how it works. When you sweat, the sweat wicks up the visor of the hat, which is suppose to be turned up. While riding, the wind dries the sweat from the visor of the hat and you don't have sweat dripping in your face and all over your bike frame. It works great, looks funny but who cares, your bike will thank you and your riding comanions can't see the visor from behind, which is where they will be because they will have to take time to wipe sweat from thier eyes as they ride.

Man,I can't wear a cycling hat under my helmet in the summer.I'd BLOW UP!Especially on hills.My bald head keeps me from sweating too much into my eyes.I take my helmet off sometimes to climb big hills:eek:I do wear a cycling hat in cooler temps and in the winter to keep my head warm. By the way did anyone see the 'Parade' magazine in this weekends paper? Q: If Lance Armstrong is a positive role model for kids,why does he cycle without a helmet?-Michael Orf,Austin Texas. A: Armsrong,30,tells us he's a strong supporter of cycling helmets for everyone.The four-time Tour de France chanpion wears one 95% of the time,particularly on dangerous portions of a race,such as mountain descents.However,most racers take off their helmets as they approach a final climb,and photos often are taken at mountain-top finish lines.Walter Scott's Personality Parade

Originally posted by hillyman
Man,I can't wear a cycling hat under my helmet in the summer.I'd BLOW UP!Especially on hills.My bald head keeps me from sweating too much into my eyes.I take my helmet off sometimes to climb big hills:eek:I do wear a cycling hat in cooler temps and in the winter to keep my head warm. By the way did anyone see the 'Parade' magazine in this weekends paper? Q: If Lance Armstrong is a positive role model for kids,why does he cycle without a helmet?-Michael Orf,Austin Texas. A: Armsrong,30,tells us he's a strong supporter of cycling helmets for everyone.The four-time Tour de France chanpion wears one 95% of the time,particularly on dangerous portions of a race,such as mountain descents.However,most racers take off their helmets as they approach a final climb,and photos often are taken at mountain-top finish lines.Walter Scott's Personality Parade

That is BS about Armstrong. I remember him riding quite a bit without a helmet, in fact helmets are almost a rarity among pros unless they are doing time trials.

Originally posted by H20.1
That is BS about Armstrong. I remember him riding quite a bit without a helmet, in fact helmets are almost a rarity among pros unless they are doing time trials.
Have you been watching Vuelta? or TdF back in July?
most of the pro's are wearing helmets, especially if there
is a nasty descent.
On the big climbs they either hang them off the handlbars
or pass them to team car.
On the Individual Time Trial last year, when the course started
uphill Lance tossed his Aero helmet into a field, quite a souvenir
for some french kid!
Check out any of the Tour Pics.
Marty

Have you been watching Vuelta? or TdF back in July?
I've been watching the Vuelta as well, I would say the European pros take their helmets off whenever they can get away with it.

I TOTALLY RECOMMEND YOU NOT WEAR A HELMET JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you ride with 7-8 team members JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you ride with a Director Sportif following in a caravan JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you have the DS carry a spare bike instead of changing a tube JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you have 1000's of fans line the sides of the road JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you have the police block all intersections as you pass through JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you carry only 1 bottle and have your DS pass you food and drink as you need it JUST LIKE THE PROS.
I totally recommend you take your helmet off for better comfort and photo ops from the dozens of moto-photographers taking pics of you JUST LIKE THE PROS.

Oh you know what, I forgot this is the REAL WORLD where you don't have any of that. Wear your helmet. Besides don't you feel like a total putz not wearing a helmet when you come on a little kid riding a bike? What kind of example are you setting? Cyclists are a novelty in the usa, yes you are setting an example.

edit:
Nikos, yes the caps are cool for off the bike or under the helmet (very "spring classic" racer look). I like some of the designs they have.

Uh, I certainly wasn't implying that my not wearing a helmet (on rare occasion) had anything to do with the pro's lack thereof. Perhaps it appears that way. The fact is, there are no laws requiring that anyone do so.

I like the commercial were the man chews his son out for riding a bike without a helmet,making him promise to always wear a helmet.Then telling him to climb up on the roof and take down the satelite dish!:p :D

Originally posted by Rotifer
Uh, I certainly wasn't implying that my not wearing a helmet (on rare occasion) had anything to do with the pro's lack thereof. Perhaps it appears that way. The fact is, there are no laws requiring that anyone do so.
Rotifer, I wasnt directing the post at you. Anyway, I don't think the gov. should legislate stupidity-- NOT you, but the fact people insist on not wearing a helmet constantly.

I ride without a helmet too- my cruiser bike putting down the sidewalk getting a burger or something. On my "real" bike or training? Always helmeted. It actually doesn't bother me as I feel like it is freedom of choice but all I'm saying is people that look to the pros don't have a leg to stand on.

Phew, good. ;)

Originally posted by RacerX

Rotifer, I wasnt directing the post at you. Anyway, I don't think the gov. should legislate stupidity-- NOT you, but the fact people insist on not wearing a helmet constantly.

I ride without a helmet too- my cruiser bike putting down the sidewalk getting a burger or something. On my "real" bike or training? Always helmeted. It actually doesn't bother me as I feel like it is freedom of choice but all I'm saying is people that look to the pros don't have a leg to stand on.

I assume your post is directed at me, which is fine.
However before you blew up, it might have been helpful to re-read my post....I did not advocate riding without a helmet. Nor did I use the pros as an example of why you shouldnt do it. I simply said Ive seen armstrong ride without a helmet a number of times. AND many euro-pros dont wear helmets often, and I think it has little to do with photo ops. If youve ever spent any significant amount of time in Europe youd also notice that helmets are rarely worn over there by ANYONE, as they are more of an American thing. Stupid? Maybe but true none the less.

Do I wear a helmet? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Plenty of people do/dont wear helmets. Its a personal choice and sometimes I simply dont want to wear one...it has nothing to do with 'the pro's'.

And....relax

Yes Nikos, I love to wear one.

I have 2. An ONCE and a Banesto, and one day I hope to find a Campagnolo one in maglia rosa pink.

It's years since I've seen one for sale here, but when I do....

When I read a story about an automobile accident with serious injury or a fatality which ends "Driver was not wearing a seatbelt," I get this brief feeling, sometime accompanied by a slight shrug, that somehow, maybe, this person contributed to their own death or injury.

Fortunately, cycling accidents are much more rare. Should one befall me however, I don't want anyone reading my obit to shrug and say "He should have been wearing a helmet."

People die in NASCAR races too. This is true even though they are well supported and surrounded by some incredible safety mechanisms. Yet, if a NASCAR driver were to crash without any of these devices in use, I think one might reasonably conclude that things "might" have been different had they taken the precautions.

Ultimately, nothing offers protection from all causes of injury or death. And, yes, a seatbelt might actually contribute to cause of death or injury in cases of fire or drowning in a vehicle. Yet, it seems to me that in general, a seatbelt, or a bicycle helmet moves the odds of survival or injury avoidance a bit in the favor of the wearer.

It is my choice to always wear a helmet when cicyling. Others choose not to. Some with each view die or are injured daily.

Should my obituary include mention of a cycling accident, it should also include the words "Rider was wearing a helmet."

Originally posted by H20.1


I assume your post is directed at me, which is fine.
However before you blew up, it might have been helpful to re-read my post....I did not advocate riding without a helmet. Nor did I use the pros as an example of why you shouldnt do it. I simply said Ive seen armstrong ride without a helmet a number of times. AND many euro-pros dont wear helmets often, and I think it has little to do with photo ops. If youve ever spent any significant amount of time in Europe youd also notice that helmets are rarely worn over there by ANYONE, as they are more of an American thing. Stupid? Maybe but true none the less.

Do I wear a helmet? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Plenty of people do/dont wear helmets. Its a personal choice and sometimes I simply dont want to wear one...it has nothing to do with 'the pro's'.

Who are you? I don't even know what you wrote that made me "blow up". If you sometimes wear a helmet and sometimes don't then I wasn't talking to you was I? I think you should re-read my post you quoted and see that you pretty much said the same things I did.

I wear those caps:

1. In the garage, in the winter, when I'm riding the trainer...

2. In the rain, under my helmet to keep the rain out of my eyes.

I love the damned things!

I don't use them but have a friend who carrys one to cover up his "helmet head" when we stop for coffee or snacks. I don't possess enough vanity to worry about helmet head myself.