Rainwater in the eyes
 

During my three-hour ride yesterday, half of which was in constant rain, and at times the torrential variety, I had a really difficult time with rain water in my eyes. It wasn't so much falling rain drops hitting me, but more water that dripped from my head/helmet and then into my eyes, and it stung! So much so that I had to stop several times to just recompose. I had no moisturizer or sunscreen on my face, so it wouldn't have been that. There are no chemical in my hair either. It was just rainwater.

Obviously I am not purposely looking to ride in the rain, but I was already way out there when the rain started so no choice but to head back. I am looking for ideas on how to deal with this, if there are any.

And before anyone chides me about riding in traffic under such conditions I didn't. I was on a forested trail.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Wear protective eye wear. You should be doing so anyway, rain or no rain.

I probably have 100s of miles riding in the rain and never had a problem with rain dripping from my helmet into my eyes and stinging them.

You might want to talk to your optometrist. You might have dry eyes and the fresh water is causing them to sting.

I had eye wear on but I to take the off as it was difficult to see with them on. And I found they actually made things worse.

I find a wide brimmed hat helps. It helps with Sun as well. I commute every day and get caught in the rain a lot. Fenders, dynamo lights and proper clothing will make it lots easier. I applaud you riding in the rain!

Helmet sweat?

Were you riding it a typical, ventilated bicycle helmet? If so, there's your problem. I keep my Bolle The One with the aero covers clipped in specifically for rainy days. A helmet that water can't go straight through makes a huge difference.

You can get a dedicated rain cover for your helmet, or just stretch a showercap over it.

Move to the Southwest

I've thought about some kind of cycling cap under the helmet. It probably would have helped had I had some forethought before going out.

Ah ha! This might just be the ticket, and it makes sense. I will keep this in mind. Thanks.

Could very well be old sweat in the helmet. I am due for a new one soon anyway.

I think that's in the tourism materials... "Come to the Southwest, it (almost) never rains here. It's also not that hot, compared to say a pool of lava, or hell."

1) Pull the pad off and wash it thoroughly.

2) Carry a cap that has a bill, wear it under the helmet. Or instead of, if your preference allows.

3) I just took the front pad off and left it off.

It's true.

On second thought, stay way. Leave the lava pools to the experts.

Wear a cycling cap under your helmet.

A lot of problems can be solved by Google Images. Just sayin'.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...65158594fa.jpg

Desert, sand and "it's a dry heat" at 112 in the shade. Um no.

Underneath helmet or sans helmet; your choice.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce8408f156.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c48b8e559.jpg

:lol:

OP, do you have and use a helmet visor? I am a huge fan of those visors. Yes, if I raced, I'd have to do without, but the rest of the time it has real pluses. Keeping the vast majority of water out of the eyes is one. Sun is another. A great place to put a mirror is a third.

Ben

helmet w a visor?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...61f1608b07.jpg

Lazer + Aeroshield + cycling cap + clear glasses

It was sweat, either from the helmet or your forehead or somewhere. Rainwater doesn't sting like that. Same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, it was perspiration, salt being washed into our eyes.

A cycling cap can be effective.

I own a Taiga and sometimes bring it on very long solo rides where rain is inevitable.

https://www.taigaworks.ca/cart.php?m...ct_detail&p=66

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e3866e0082.jpg

That may be the awesomest thing I've seen all day. Just sayin'. :love:

You don't sweat when you ride? Sweat in my eyes and burning happens to me EVERY ride that it is above is above 80 with typical east coast humidity. I carry a small rag/wipe and I am proficient taking off my glasses and wiping my forehead while still pedaling. I am familiar enough with the concept that I prewipe before some longer hills. Any rag will do and ideally one of those blue rubber drying cloths for cars cut into a smaller pieces works best for me. In a quick pinch if i can't pull out and wipe, I can stretch my already wet shirt top under my glasses for a quick wipe but that is only a very short fix. Head rags and various cooling bandanas help a little but eventually don't help. Maybe it's just me but it's bad enough I drip and even my hands prune up. Me and my clothes can only get so wet with or without rain. I'm not trying to hijack thread here, just amazed there are people that don't sweat and get saturated while riding. I wash my helmet with dish soap and water, spray it with Lysol, and set it out on my porch where it gets some air and sun after every ride.

The pic below was last week after an MTB ride with fingerless gloves no rain and maybe 85F with standard August east coast humidity. I was mostly shaded from the sun though :)
No amount or quality of sunvisors, covers, headbands, clothes, would have helped me.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c0f5a95f6b.jpg