Winter Face Head Protection Option
 

This is my first winter commuting, I'm in Utah. My temperatures range from 25~45F, I ride ~20 miles on a roadbike, carry a large messenger bag. After searching and reading some face head protection ideas, I still wasn't comfortable. So after some trial and error, the best solution for me turned out to be:
1- ski helmet
2- visor from a motorcycle helmet
3- neoprene lower face cover

Details: 2002 Giro Camber ski helmet. It's quite light, semi aero shaped, has open/close vents, http://skihelmets.com/Helmet_review_template.asp?ID=116

Velcro'd a visor from a Shoei motorcycle helmet onto the Giro, attached 3 places. Any brand would work, tinted, mirror, clear as preferred.

Black neoprene lower face cover, had to increase size of mouth and nose openings because I breath hard while riding.

I don't have to wear anything else under the helmet to keep my head warm, and I open the vent if it starts getting hot.

Good thinkin'.

Pretty clever!
I think I'd overheat with that setup, though.

I'm in Utah, too (SLC), and wear pretty thin stuff above 25F - thin balaclava (below 35) with a thin headband (pearl izumi) up top, and a multi-sport style cycling helmet (small vents).
On our common 10-15F mornings I will add a neck gaitor and a polar fleece headband.
My commute is only 7 miles each way, and I'm plenty warm by the time I get to work, and sometimes have to peel the headband off of my ears to keep from overheating.

I wear yellow lens Smith cycling glasses down to about 20 or so, and below that I switch to clear lens, wraparound oakley-style safety glasses with better face coverage than my Smiths.

I've been feeling like an idiot riding with my studded tires these past few weeks - it's been a dry winter.

Since we rarely see temps below zero here, I've never felt the need to have full face coverage - the balaclava suits me fine down to about 10 or so, and the number of days below that are few enough in number that I can make do with what I have.

Above 35 I wear thin gloves, thin headband, no shell down below, and heavily ventilated shell up top.

I'd roast, too. Freezing is about the point where I start thinking about additional layers. :lol:

I grow a beard for the winter and that takes care of my lower face. The ski helmet works for days in the 20's or below, but otherwise, I just go with a skullcap (that covers my ears) under my regular bike helmet.

You guys have it figured out. I usually dress heavier than most. Still trying to balance wind protection with breathability for upperbody coverage, currently using two layers with a newspaper inbetween because my vest wasn't taking care of it.

My commute is from HAFB to north ogden with two 30~40mph descents early, then a couple of steep climbs close to home. Bag on my back doesn't help either. But every day's an adventure!

I'd give up dry roads for a bunch of snow, my wife and I miss snowshoeing up on the ridge overlooking town.

Down to 25 degrees I'm good with a smartwool beanie, my regular helmet, my winter beard and a pair of shades. Below 25 I usually go for my lightweight balaclava to get some extra ear/neck coverage from the chilly morning air. Below 20 (really rare here) is when I reach for the ski goggles and the heavyweight balaclava.

check this out, as it's smartwool like the CliftonGK1 noted, and can be configured as you wish. It got incredible reviews. Can't say enough about the smartwool. No itching or smelling, and warm. I wear it around my neck, pull it up to my ears and over my nose, or as a beanie with a "vent hole"

http://www.amazon.com/Neck-Gaiter-Bl...5828627&sr=8-1

At those temperatures I wouldn't even be going with any face covering - just a really thin balaclava to cover everything but my face. Coldest I've ridden in this year is -1C (~30F) and with my thin balaclava I didn't feel cold at all. I can't imagine that a few degrees colder would make much of a difference.

Depends on the windchill, but down to around freezing I make do with a neoprene cap under my helmet that also covers the tops of my ears, and a zipped up collar. The collar then gets unzipped about 5-10mins into riding...

With high winds +/or lower temps though I would consider a full neoprene balaclava, a Buff around my neck and possibly ski goggles. Wind in my eyes is worse than wind in my face, it dries my eyes out horribly.

What's funny is that a year ago in this weather I would've ridden with a fleece lined jacket over a few t-shirt type layers, and a full scarf, cotton hat under the helmet and feel all sorts of wrong. Thank you BF for educating me.

It's been in the 20's here in Atlanta the past week. All I used was a balaclava, my glasses and a Livestrong fleece hat. Worked nicely, but my cheeks did get a little cold.

After yesterdays commute into work, I ditched the Livestrong hat. I roasted in it at 31 degrees.

C'mon springtime!!! :D