General Cycling Discussion - hat under helmet

I have gone on several rides with a cycling cap under my helmet, and believe it or not, I think I like it better than without, I stay cooler. I wonder why? Does anybody have a similar story? I must go take a shower now.

Fubar,
On hot days I have a bandana under my helmet. It absorbs the sweat and keeps it out of my eyes. :thumbup:

I know of several people who wear a cycling cap under their helmet. I guess it does the same thing as the bandana.

I've considered trying the cycling cap so I won't have to tie the bandana and stuff the excess under the helmet. I haven't tried it yet because it is thicker than the bandana and I'd have to make adjustments to my strap and remove one or two foam pads.

Just be careful here, that your helmet stays on your head properly when you put it on over your hat. A poorly fitting helmet can be as bad as no helmet at all.

Doesn't a cap increase wind resistance?

Chris

Originally posted by Chris L
Doesn't a cap increase wind resistance?

Chris
Yes, but "wind and hills build character..."

That's true, oh well, might look into one then.

Chris

Timely question. I just started doing this a few weeks ago. I had been riding with a Coolmax sweatband. I had heard of riding with a cycling cap under the helmet but was hesitant to do it because I didn't want to interfere with getting rid of heat. One day I decided to try it anyway to keep the sun out of my eyes on my westerly homeward commute. What a relief! So I did it on sunny days on the way home. Then one day the rain was pelting me in the eyes and I realized it would be good in the rain, too. So now I wear the cap for my all homeward commutes and mornings that it rains. I still wear just the sweat band most mornings. I really haven't noticed any difference in cooling one way or the other when wearing the cap, and it is HOT and humid here.

If anyone needs caps, longscycle.com has them for $4 and if you place an order (they have great prices) you can get a cap free!
Regards,
Raymond

I love the cycling cap under my helmet. It doesn't effect the position of my helmet, and I don't notice any resistance. I think the hats absobes the sweat off your head and then the air flow across it cools you off more efficiently than without a hat. I also notice my head doesn't itch as much with a hat on.

I've been using caps for years, since before helmets. Caps are useful to keep the wind,sun, snow, rain, and sleet etc, out of your eyes. A cap funnels the sweat out to drop in front of your nose. not into your eyes, helps keep your head warm in winter and keeps the old bald head from burning in summer, hides "helmet hair" etc. etc
ride painlessly
pat

Trying to remember when I last wore a cycling cap...

Anyone remember Quicksilver? That's the best clue. :)

I think I will get one, though, and try it again.

Thanks, all. I'm off to longscycle...

Jonathan

I've been using a bandana for years. I like their versatility, and they're cheap to boot.

In summer, and most of the winter I have it folded into a headband so that it soaks up more sweat (which I do a lot), while keeping a cooling airflow over the rest of my head.

When it gets cold I unfold it into a full bandana which keeps me a bit warmer.

It can also be useful for any number of other things that a large square of fabric can be useful for. For longer rides it can be useful to pack a spare, but generally for my commuting I simply let it dry out during the day. I put it in the wash sometime after I can't bend it anymore.

Originally posted by Allister
I've been using a bandana for years. I like their versatility, and they're cheap to boot.

...I put it in the wash sometime after I can't bend it anymore.
Yup, me too. ;)

I used to use a bandana, and it is an excellent sweatband. But for riding into the afternoon sun or rain, it sure is nice to have that cap bill.

Headbands, bandannas, hats?

What's next, fluffy knit leg warmers and jerseys with stylized scissor cuts?

CoolMax bandana for me.

Originally posted by Greg

What's next, fluffy knit leg warmers ?

I think you might have something there. When are you going into production? Can I order some in pink? ;)

I wanna get a pink cycling jersey just to annoy the crap out of some of the rednecks around here!

Chris

Originally posted by Chris L
I wanna get a pink cycling jersey just to annoy the crap out of some of the rednecks around here!

Chris

I don't know if I would really want to be in the vicinity of an annoyed redneck. Then again, pink is supposed to have a calming effect.:)

You guys should try a shirt under your jersey.

Chris, you have rednecks in Australia?

Allister, that'll be one pink fluffy pair of legwarmers. Would you like the 'No Snag' kevlar chain guards on those?

Originally posted by Greg
Chris, you have rednecks in Australia?


Man, this is Queensland. Place is full of 'em. I think most of them congregate around Ipswich, and I don't live there, but we still get a few down here.

Chris

Rednecks are a different breed. We've got'em by the bus load here.

It was 37C, at 85% humidity. I was suffering on a long, quiet stretch of country road, thinking I was an idiot to be out. I filled my bottles at a local farm, took off my helmet and strapped it to my stem. I soaked my cap in water and took off... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... that was nice...

Quicksilver was an awesome movie.
Anyway, it's not so much the sweat that gets to me, it's the wind in my ears. That endless roar gets to me; makes me unstable.
Is there a solution out there for this that might fit under a helmet?

kittyfury
Carry a ball of cotton in your pack.Besides being great for running around the inside of a tire before putting in a new tube it works great for "stick it in your ear" on windy days. Its amazing when you dont have that wind howling in your ears you seem to ride better and faster. You can also still hear traffic over the cotton.

Ride Safe....Dudley *S*