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02-02-10, 10:32 AM
Ear flaps for your helmet... these are good for keeping your ears a little warmer and they also have the benefit of reducing wind noise without impairing your abilility to hear that snowplow when it comes up behind you.
Mine...
http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/earflap1.jpg
The how to:
Cut four matching triangles (for a pair) with the top edge being 5.5 inches across and with a side length of six inches where it tapers to the lower point. I am allowing 1/2 an inch per side to allow for the side seam so the finished width will be 4.5 inches. Instead of a completely straight edge I have a subtle arc at the top of my ear flaps to follow the line of my helmet.
At what will be the bottom, trim the point so that you will have a 1.5 inch edge as this is where the helmet strap and clip will need to pass through.
Before sewing the sides together you need to sew some velcro to each side at a point 2 inches from the bottom edge you just cut and at the center of the ear flap. When the ear covers goes on this velcro will secure the ear flap above the V where the front and rear straps meet and keep it from slipping down. This is critical.
Sew the sides together from the inside (the velcro pieces will be facing out when you do this, flip it inside out and voila... your ear flap is done.
Repeat for earflap 2.
Fleece is great as it does not need to have the open edges sewn as it does not fray... I have also made these with old sweaters and the open edges need to have a seam to prevent them from fraying. I have actually found the wool ear flaps to be too warm and they can also be made with felt.
One can adjust this pattern depending on your helmet and head size... my ear flaps come down fairly low and add a little padding to where my helmet strap passes under my jaw which is rather nice.
Mine...
http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/earflap1.jpg
The how to:
Cut four matching triangles (for a pair) with the top edge being 5.5 inches across and with a side length of six inches where it tapers to the lower point. I am allowing 1/2 an inch per side to allow for the side seam so the finished width will be 4.5 inches. Instead of a completely straight edge I have a subtle arc at the top of my ear flaps to follow the line of my helmet.
At what will be the bottom, trim the point so that you will have a 1.5 inch edge as this is where the helmet strap and clip will need to pass through.
Before sewing the sides together you need to sew some velcro to each side at a point 2 inches from the bottom edge you just cut and at the center of the ear flap. When the ear covers goes on this velcro will secure the ear flap above the V where the front and rear straps meet and keep it from slipping down. This is critical.
Sew the sides together from the inside (the velcro pieces will be facing out when you do this, flip it inside out and voila... your ear flap is done.
Repeat for earflap 2.
Fleece is great as it does not need to have the open edges sewn as it does not fray... I have also made these with old sweaters and the open edges need to have a seam to prevent them from fraying. I have actually found the wool ear flaps to be too warm and they can also be made with felt.
One can adjust this pattern depending on your helmet and head size... my ear flaps come down fairly low and add a little padding to where my helmet strap passes under my jaw which is rather nice.