Bald Commuters: Advice Please
 

I love being bald but have ran into an issue. When it is somewhat chilly out but still somewhat warm out, a Balaclava is too warm but going without one makes my head cold, especially if it is windy.

Like yesterday.... 51 degrees on the way home. With no wind or wind to my back, I could go without anything but a helmet but the wind was at my chest and was somewhat cold for my head so I stopped and put on the face mask but a little too warm.

Anyway, what are you all using for those times?

Try the wool buff, which happens to be on sale at REI right now. ( I'm not bald, though. )

I'm not bald, but I keep my hair under 1mm (check my avatar, LOL) and yeah, it feels cold. My ears are also very sensitive to cold. So I use very thin skullcap or very thin balaclava up to 50F or so. They have very little insulation, just enough to stop the cold air and are breathable so my head doesn't sweat. I own a few from Pearl Izumi and Under Armour.

This is what I have been wearing this week: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L7O01C

It's basically just a breathable, elastic fabric shell and the face part is clever, it can hide entirely below your chin to uncover your face, but will still keep the cool air from entering through the opening around the neck. I think they also make a skullcap like that too.

And if it gets too cold, I just pull another skullcap over it.

Might as well have a good attitude toward these things! :thumb:

Bicycling cap.

I'm not bald, but I keep what hair I have at #1 blade length.

For cold rides, I have a pearl izumi helmet liner, which is a thin skull cap made to go under a bike helmet. It's made of some kind of black stretchy stuff. It's not too warm, but it's perfect for cool days, for keeping the draft off the pate. Also, it wicks sweat away from my head.


Heh. When I read the thread title, I thought it was a question about tires.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...0820/smile.gif

I too am follicly challanged, and I use a Headsweats under my helmet pretty much all the time. It's usually just enough to contain the heat and break the wind on cooler days, and helps keep the sweat out of my eyes on warmer days. I might also add that is serves as limited protection against stinging instects that find their way into a helmet vent.....ask me how I know. When it's cold enough to warrent ear warmth, I swap the Headsweats for a windproof skull cap.

Thin microfiber skullcaps, helmet liners, Buff, old Walmart Starter wicking tee tied like a bandanna... there is a happy medium; you have but to experiment to find it.

LoL I've been on my way to bald for many many many years, so I'll have to keep an eye on this.

Well, there are only two ways to avoid helmet hair:

- no helmet
- no hair

Incidentally, having no hair is very, very convenient for a cyclist or any other outdoor activity and just convenient in general. It makes cleaning up easy and quick.

So I've been cutting mine short for years. Oh, I save a bundle on haircuts too by buzzing it myself.

My only bit of advice is for the summertime. Get a Catlike "Whisper" helmet, you'll have the coolest tan lines anywhere, hands down. If I were bald, it would be my 1st purchase.

http://www.catlike.es/en/products/helmets/whisper/

you guys make me laugh my @ss off! :)

I use the underarmour mask already down to 16 degrees but for 50ish degrees and wind, it is a little too warm. I will look at skull caps and other stuff.

Kojak: Love the helmet. You got one?

Are you sure it's the same one? Perhaps you have an insulated one? I can't imagine wearing mine at 16F. I have warmer ones for below freezing.

Oh, in summer I still wear a thin sweat-wicking bandana under my helmet, since I got sunburn through the vents, it wasn't that funny actually.

Yeah, I like the humor around here too!

No, but I'd like one. If I end up with one, I may take AdamDZ's approach and go for the close crop, the tan lines would be so worth it. They are not cheap helmets, in fact some of the most expensive on the market, not sure why. I guess because they're cool.

adam: Same one. Picked it up at one of their stores in PA. Works wonders for me done to 16 degrees. Which one do you have for colder commutes?

Kojak: We could paint one like those and drill into a helmet. Kinda like Martha Stewart! :)

You've got me thinking now..... that's a dangerous thing.

Try a helmet cover, maybe?

Buff love mine and use it every day warm or cold.

I use cycling skullcaps. I have several different ones from SweatVac.com.

I also use them through the summer because I don't want the leopard spots you all seem to be interested in.

Skull cap.

I can't believe I never really thought about the convenience of being bald for a commuter cyclist until now.

Wow! I can only wear it to about 30F then I need to pull another skullcap over it. When it drops to 20s I wear a Seirus snowboarding insulated balaclava: http://www.seirus.com/snow-sports-detail/1382. It has fleece lining. When it drops to 10s I call in sick and stay home :D

If I don't have access to a sink I just wipe my head with WetOnes and some hand sanitizer :D

+1 on the thin, stretchy "helmet liners" I use the one from Pearl Izumi and it works great for temps from 35-55.

colder than that I use a Gore Bikewear balaclava that is a good windstopper and wicks moisture away from my bean

(not bald)

Who knew there were so many of us? :) warm weather,, indoor on trainer, or summers: headsweats (I burn just thinking about UV, so I never ride /wo one - no leopard spots for me!). Cooler - a skullcap (either one ProBikeKit sells or a Sealskinz). Colder - a lined under-helmet cap (whatever performance had on sale). Freezing or need face covering - unlined balaclava. Really cold - lined balaclava. Also combos of all of the above (unlined balaclava and the Sealskinz seems good from mid 20s up for at least an hour).

I've hair ...
I always wear something between nkfrench and helmet. It keeps the helmet cleaner and keeps my head comfortable.

Headsweats skullcap keeps head cooler, hair not as drippy and less sweat running down face. Wear it 55F and up.
Pearl Izumi transitions beanie is thin lycra that comes farther down over ears, 45F-55F.
I got some lycra tube (forgot the brand) at a sporting goods store, it is multi-purpose and I will use it to make a neck gaitor or pull one edge up over my head like a light balaclava. It can be layered with the PI beanie.
Finally, a fuzzy fleece balaclava for rides 45F and below.

I wear a beanie: one for the cooler weather and a summer one to protect from sun. The cool beanie works down to 20 degrees. The summer one also wicks perspiration. I happened to get mine at Nashbar.com, but they are available lots of place.

I like a headband
http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/w..._vc=CrossSells
Also have a neck gaitor, this way I have the top off my head open for cooling then just put on or take off as needed

I use a helmet cover, covers the air vents and is also water proof.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=238552During the summer I also have a net which is made for helmets. Nothing like having a bee come in the vents when you're bald :)

Kayacking skullcap. They were out before anything was available for bicycles and cover your ears. A full balaclava for colder temperatures. I'm not completely bald but I prefer shaved anyway.

Where a hat under your helmet. There are hats made for this purpose.

http://media.performancebike.com/ima...-BLK-FRONT.jpg