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

Whether it's the angle I've never seen, or just the fact that most of the cyclists here in Atlanta who wear them are a bit bike snobbish. . . could just be my misconception. . . but I have never seen the appeal of this style hat. Now granted I despise houndstooth too. Maybe when I get a a "mature" age? . . . LOL, yea that's not happening

I shouldn't say that, I have plenty of stuff I hate the look of but it's comfy so. . . oh well.

This winter I'm seriously considering cutting up some cheap target compression ware stretchy clothing and sewing some around the helmet straps. That'd be plenty for me, but depends on the location.

+1 I have the same one. not made for -10 but good enough for 30

I have a pair of thin clamp-on style ear muffs, I think the brand name is "Ear Grips". They are thin enough to fit under my helmet and work well to keep my ears warm.

I use my snowboarding helmet that has a built in head/ear warmer. Check them out... they are amazing.

:lol:...:thumb: