Had To Cut Air Holes In My Balaclava Today!!!!!!!!!

[MudSplattered]

Had a great ride today, it was about 9 degrees F. and fresh snow. I was plugging along, breathing in and out, then started feeling a bit starry eyed. I wasn't getting enough air through my balaclava. I think the heavy moisture from breathing sort of clogs it up so air can't come is quite as easy. Had to pull it up and out of my helmet straps to get air in then my neck got cold. So after I got home I cut a few small holes in the mouth area. I think that will help a lot, but I hated doing it. I hate suffercating even more :D
Anyone else experience this??

Michelle

[shaq-d]

yeah. they even sell balaclavas that come out where your nose is and hav ea hole underneath it..

sd

[GCG199]

I find that I like the balaclavas much better than the traditional face masks. Even though there is the problem of getting the mouth area wet from breathing through it by the end of the ride. Riding in the cold is much, much better with the proper cold weather clothing gear!

[Ritehsedad]

Yup, I did the same thing for the same reason.

[John Wilke]

Can't you just pull it down for a few minutes, then cover your face as it gets cold again? Vaseline works well as a wind break in cold weather too.

jw

[Thomill]

Yup - happens to me quite frequently, especially on higher grade ascents on my road bike. I do as was suggested - pull the lower portion down, breath through my mouth, and then replace the mask over my mouth when exertion reduces.

Now, as a related question, has anyone had any problems with freezing over the lower portion of the mask after a while of riding from the exhaled moisture? Is this perhaps why balaclavas become less effective over longer periods of riding in the cold? I have noticed this occuring as the temperature gets around 10F. (I was actually considering trying a breath-exchanger type system from Psolar and other vendors - as I believe they are called - for that reason.)

T

[geraldatwork]

I have the same problem. I'm basically a mouth breather even when not exerting energy. I have 2wo balaclavas a heavy and light one and when it is over my mouth I have trouble getting enough air. I just pull both of them down just below my mouth and I am fine. However I haven't gone out below about 28-30 degrees. Maybe cutting a few holes in my heavier one is a good idea. Not sure what it is made of but I might try melting some small holes with something like a soldering iron. That way it shouldn't run or tear further. I think it is poly so it should work.

[richardmasoner]

yeah. they even sell balaclavas that come out where your nose is and hav ea hole underneath it..

I have one of these sold by Seirus. It works well enough that I forgot my mouth was covered this morning when I had to clear a big loogie out of my mouth and spit right into my balaclava. Talk about nasty.

[MudSplattered]

I have one of these sold by Seirus. It works well enough that I forgot my mouth was covered this morning when I had to clear a big loogie out of my mouth and spit right into my balaclava. Talk about nasty.


ugg, gross.

I did pull it down a couple of times, but my face gets cold fast. It's perfectly warm when covered so I want to stick with it. I have some stuff that's supposed to do the same as vasiline, Warm Face. Not sure if it really works. My face still got cold. Anyway, as soon as I put the balaclava back up, no air. Too cold to leave it down for long. Besides, due to BEAUTY issues, I want to protect my skin...go ahead, call me vain, I can take it. I don't need to be wrinkly, weathered bike chick.

[balto charlie]

maybe you had it on backwards :D