Road Cycling - Helmet help requested

O.K. - I'm starting my road training career, mainly to work on sprint triathlons. My big question is - should my bike helmet have a visor or are visors only for Mt. bikers? Will I look like an instant dork if I show up to a group ride with my visored Bell helmet? :o

SoDak

I personally wouldn't ride a roadie with a helmet with a visor... mine originally had one.. but I tore it off...

the big thing with me is that on a MTB, you are sitting up, and with a road bike you are stretched out... with a visor and a roadbike, you really have to strain your neck in order to see the road more clearly....

good luck

jeff

If you can see well with it on, I would not worry how it looks if it blocks the sun. Your call really.

Who cares what you look like.

If you feel you need it to block the sun, by all means use the visor. Personally, I find wearing a visor while on a road bike gives me a sore neck for the same reasons SipperPhoto pointed out.

I personally wouldn't ride a roadie with a helmet with a visor... mine originally had one.. but I tore it off...

the big thing with me is that on a MTB, you are sitting up, and with a road bike you are stretched out... with a visor and a roadbike, you really have to strain your neck in order to see the road more clearly....

good luck

jeff

If the visor were clear this wouldn't be a problem. How come the visors are always black anyway????

Because a clear visor won't keep the sun out of your eyes?

Siggy

If you want to wear a visor while roadbiking on a roadbike then you might want to consider one of the Giro models as they have a nice adjustable visor. Some other helmet brands might have this feature too. You can push the visor up to accomodate the roadbike positioning. FWIW, I wear a Giro E2 which is considered a MTB helmet because I switch between the two genres on a constant basis and don't want two different helmets. I usually leave the visor off when roadbiking.

Because a clear visor won't keep the sun out of your eyes?

Siggy

Are sunglasses black?

Are ski goggles black?

maybe you could trade the "G"s for "L"s :D

O.K. - I'm starting my road training career, mainly to work on sprint triathlons. My big question is - should my bike helmet have a visor or are visors only for Mt. bikers? Will I look like an instant dork if I show up to a group ride with my visored Bell helmet? :o

SoDak

Stop worrying about how everyone else perceives you. Most of them couldn't care less, and those that do aren't worth worrying about, anyway. I wear a visor on my helmet, period, no matter what bike I ride. It is for my comfort and, ultimately safety as it complements my sun glasses, keeping the sun and rain out of my eyes.

For sprint distances, 15-20 miles, leaving the visor on shouldn't be a problem. You will definately have a stiff neck after 50-100 miles if you decide to pursue long distance riding.

Great advice board - with all of the expenses of a new bike, new clothes, etc... purchasing a new helmet was just too much. My concern was that the biking community seems to be a bit of an elitist one (at least around here) and that my ability at riding would immediately be judged by my outward appearance. I'm going to quit worrying and just get out and have fun. Thanks again.

My concern was that the biking community seems to be a bit of an elitist one

Be more elite, be a group of one.

No, it's too late for that. Your dorkdom has been secured just by asking the silly visor question.

SoDak, Don't worry, I have you beat I wear a Camelbak and Giro Pneumo with the visor on it when on my road bike. :eek: And the worries about your neck, bull. I have a 5 inch drop from the top of my saddle to the top of my bars. No sore neck and no problem with vision.

Wear your cycling cap under your helmet with the cap visor flipped up and if you need the visor flip it down.....

Wear your cycling cap under your helmet with the cap visor flipped up and if you need the visor flip it down.....

But the cap blocks the vents and your head will probably get quite warm.

But the cap blocks the vents and your head will probably get quite warm.
Ok, a cap-type visor then. :D

Ok, a cap-type visor then. :D

Like those golf-caps? :)

No, it's too late for that. Your dorkdom has been secured just by asking the silly visor question.


And here I though this was a safe place to ask a humble question. I stand corrected.

And here I though this was a safe place to ask a humble question. I stand corrected.
SoDak,

Actually it is a safe place to ask a humble question. Some people here seem to have forgotten
that they were once in a similiar position to ask questions and sometimes need to be reminded.

People, lets remember what we are here for, and its not to provide witty, snide or sarcastic
answers. I'd also ask you to remember that sarcasm, smilies etc. just don't come across very
well on the internet. If you meant it in jest be sure that it can be read that way.
We aren't here to throw stones at each other, I would remind everyone to
review the guidelines. Next comes PMs and after that. . . .

I would agree with Ehnez if you can see with the visor, and it isn't too uncomfortable on you
then go for it. Its better to appear a bit "dorky" than to be squinting so hard you can't see the
road in front of you.
To be brutally honest, there will be alot more than just a visor
that id's you as a novice roadie, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Marty

I also have to ask the question of why it's so bad to be perceived as a novice. Hell, if I were a good bike rider, I'd be very tempted to show up at a race with CPSC reflectors on my wheels, a visor on my helmet and a CamelBak strapped behind me. Load up on all the faux pas at once and then burn the competition because they underestimated you. :)

Pro road cyclists and XC cyclists and, gee, CX cyclists all use the visor on a helmet some or all of the time.

If you like the visor, use it. If you don't , don't.