Ear Protection for the Cold
 

Good morning all.

I just finished a 22 mile ride with temp at 39 degrees. It was chilly out so I went with the baklava but as I got into the ride, it was too hot for the baklava but I needed something for my ears.

Any suggestions? I tried a hand band once but it was way to tight and ended up giving me a headache and hurting my ears.

Thanks

In have one of these: Light weight. Fits under a helmet.

It has a strap to close it under your chin.
http://www.discountsafetygear.com/ha...liner-ok1.html

Time to fabricate, with the help of a person with a sewing machine.

was a piece 'helmuffs' a little triangle of fleece and nylon and a strip of webbing
that stayed in place by the helmet straps and covered your ears .
think they were a short lived production.

there is also the traditional cool weather cycling cap,
added some stretch jersey to cover back of neck and top half~3/4 of the ears.

You can get thin wool cycling hats and caps that cover your ears.

I just use a thin hat. It doesn't take much to keep your head/ears warm while exercising and it fits well under a helmet. Here's a skull cap from Nashbar for $8.00: http://www.amazon.com/Nashbar-Therma.../dp/B004UMENK2

I have a skull cap and although it's not really designed for cold weather, I find it to be perfect for the type of ride you're describing- cold but not too cold.

this:

http://tinyurl.com/99f2y89

Craft windstopper beanie. It's really thin, wind proof is on the front. fits under a helmet.

Cover your ears and impair your hearing when cycling? OMG, you might not not hear a pin drop! The horror, the horror.

Just kidding. Ha, Ha.

I wear a pair of 180s; earmuffs that wrap around the back, not the top of the head. Not terribly comfortable- at least mine aren't- but tolerable and they work very well w/ a bike helmet.

I love my Endura headband http://www.endurasport.com/Product.a...109&prod_id=22

Just thick enough to keep the ears warm enough. Fits perfectly under a helm.

I use a neck gator/warmer that I just cover the half back of my head including the ears.

Walz wool caps with ear flaps. Works great with or without helmet. Covers ears and back of neck.

I just use a bandana. Costs about $2. Works down to about 35F. Then I use 2 bandanas. ($4, English majors) That works until it gets cold enough that I switch to my ski helmet.

I found a Champion brand runner's beanie at Target for $12. It is polyester fleece and spandex and covers your ears, forehead, and further down the back of your head than a cycling cap but is thin enough to easily go under a helmet. I find that it is perfect for that gap when a cycling cap isn't enough and a balcava is too much.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=277462
This isn't the exact same one, but is very close.

If you are looking for lighter, less expensive balcavas, check out a motorcycle shop. They have helmet liners which are very similar to a balcava you might get at a bike shop or running store, but at about 1/2 the price.

I have a thing I got from Nashbar that's basically a stretchy fabric tube. I can wear it just around my neck, I can pull it up over my mouth, I can pull the back up and over my head so my face is sticking out but it covers my hears and front of my neck (this is the way I usually wear it).

I don't know if they still sell it, I can't find it on their site.

Searching around, the closest matches I can find are for neck gaiters. Here's one:
http://www.idahomountaintouring.com/...aiter-1482.htm

the nashbar one was really cheap, < $10 IIRC, and a little more versatile (but probably a bit less warm) than that one. I've been wearing it for 5 years now.

Wow man, time to let it go

:deadhorse:

Walz caps are good for on the bike and off.

I have this one in houndstooth. I get a lot of compliments.

http://walzcaps.com/caps_wool-earflap.html

Pearl izumi head band or thin polypro hat. For me , one size does not fit all. You can find some large/ x large out there.

May be a little expensive, but with the helmet on this unit came through big time last winter. Actually wore it yesterday on a 28 mile ride, the temps were in the low 50's and it performed perfectly.


http://www.campmor.com/the-north-fac...ci_kw={keyword**

tee shirt sleeves make great headbands.

Get a less tight headband. I can't think of a reason why one wouldn't work for you. I have a couple thin fleece ones that I use until it gets into the lower 20s. Below that I switch to using a thin stretchy skull cap and might supplement it with a buff or neck gaiter. Balaklavas get reserved for really cold weather.

I use http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o01_s00_i01 and I love it. It's a gaiter, like the previous poster mentioned. I can pull it above my ears and sort of tuck it under my helmet. Chin strap helps keep it up as well. Works great.

I use a cashmere beenie. When that's not enough, I pull a merino wool balaclava over it.

cycling specific headbands to start with ...

I have one of these it fits under my helmet it is a little tight but I do have a FAT head
http://bontrager.com/model/09255