[astompa]

Do you have a specific winter helmet or do you just jam the hat/earwarmer underneath your summer helmet? Now that helmets have so many vents I'm starting to think about having a specifically winter helmet. Anybody using the Bell Metro winter kit? If so do you need extra hat/earwarmer besides?

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[late]

That's a good idea. To get extra space, I pulled the padding out of an older helmet. I use a variety of things under the helmet. This year I am going to see if I can squeeze a skull cap and a balalcava
under there.

[astompa]

My old helmet is a pain to adjust. However the new Bell helmets have a little dial that you can turn to tighten and loosen the helmet to your head. It seems like a pretty nice feature.

[westman2003]

My helmet can be expanded by adjusting the inside band (much like a hard hat or welders helmet) so I can fit warm gear on my head.

Currently I wear a "tight" balacave and head band. I find I need the head band as my ears get colder so need extra coverage. I have a bulky loose balacave I can wear around my neck but so far havn't needed it.

[vrkelley]

Right now I have a cool-max liner (an old shirt cut to size), to block sun and light rain. I'm thinking a fleece polar tech liner would work better for winter. Just use double sided tape.

[vrkelley]

But ya know...a smart Brit or European rider would simply bock those holes up with some sort of plastic. Any suggestions?

[Egineer]

I have the winter kit for the Bell Metro, it hasn't been cold enough here for me to use it, but when I tried it on it seemed very warm. I do not think I will need anything else for my head, unless it gets really cold.

[Gojohnnygo.]

If you want a warm helmet buy a ski helmet. Most have ear holes so you can hear traffic,more warmth then a bike helmet and it offers more protection. At-least I think it does. You can fit winter head/face wear under it. This is what I use when it get brutally cold.

[Portis]

Do you have a specific winter helmet or do you just jam the hat/earwarmer underneath your summer helmet? Now that helmets have so many vents I'm starting to think about having a specifically winter helmet. Anybody using the Bell Metro winter kit? If so do you need extra hat/earwarmer besides?

Most everyone who rides on here will tell you that they use just a standard helmet. Most Balaclava's designed for cycling are very thin and take very little room. A fleece ear band is also thin and goes under a standard helmet.

As mentioned, you need a helmet that you can adjust from the inside. My Giro has plastic straps, similar to a zip tie, that you can make larger or smaller. Unless you have a HUGE head, you should be able to accomodate anything you need under a standard helmet.

Keep in mind that a helmet has some insulating properties, with it being built with a type of foam. I have never had any trouble with keeping my head warm.

[vrkelley]

Right now I have a cool-max liner (an old shirt cut to size), to block sun and light rain. I'm thinking a fleece polar tech liner would work better for winter. Just use double sided tape.

Follow-on: I took out the home-made cool-max liner and put a fleece swatch in the helmet instead. Also made a very simple helmet cover with a simple elastic around the edge...from a worn out pair of water-resistant pertex rain pants. Looks like the Performance Bike shop liner only there's some 3-M scotchlite strips for better side visibility.

Both came out well but there's no provision for cold ears. I plan on adding something like this: http://members.aol.com/helmufs/#how

[operator]

You know you can buy helmet covers...

[lunamoth]

I was also thinking the helmet cover route since my head gets ichy and hot when I wear a skull-type hat underneath. It has to VERY, VERY cold before I can stand a hat underneath and/or the ear/headband thing I own. However, it would probably be pretty easy to make a helmet cover. Model it after a shower cap.

[astompa]

I've been using the Bell Metro winter kit and I'm finding it warm and comfortable. Thanks everyone!