This was brought up in another thread but I figured I'd ask this one specifically: Anyone tried/use a commuter pollution mask for those days you really don't want to sit behind a huge bus or a dirty Harley Davidson? The heavy particulate out there was kind of choking my first ride; anything that can filter the unburnt carbon (that is, liberated from hydrocarbons, but reduced to soot aerosol) is great with me, as I don't mind breathing CO. Diesel heavy particulate is particularly nasty, as it lodges in the lungs and can cause issues from other toxic compounds.

The two main ones I've looked at were the BioLogic pollution mask--two giant filters and two exhausts, look like a biochem terrorist--or a variety of brands of nicer-looking but probably more restrictive (air-flow wise) flat facial masks--which make you look like Oroku Saki instead.

Comments? Recommendations? Stay away from these?

If you have read the other thread you pretty much know what people think of these. I just say the BioLogic mask today and was thinking of starting a thread about it. I don't know if the 'other' thread has been updated to include it. I would be interested in finding out how much the BioLogic costs. My guess is someone thinks they are smarter than the average bear and are getting standard 3M Organic Solvent respirators (~$15) and is going to repurpose them with the attendant markup. The smaller masks might be restrictive but the big one is not likely to be.

Unlike recreational cyclists a commuter can really rack up serious exposure time in rush hour traffic. Depending on locale this can have long term health consequences. I think more of us should be wearing some kind of mask.

H

I'll have to find the other thread. It looks like the Respro Aero is being advertised on this very forum via Google ads, another Oroku Saki type mask.

I wear face masks for the cold and the one thing I can tell you is that it has to be comfortable and it has to be easy to breathe, or the mask will soon find its' way to the bottom of a drawer somewhere - forgotten.

Also, if it looks too goofy, you won't want to wear it.

In Asia, the old gauze masks are pretty common for bicycle commuters. I am not sure how effective they are for pollution, but I guess it is better than nothing.