Towel on bike to wipe sweat
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Towel on bike to wipe sweat
I was going to attach a small sports towel on my bike to wipe my hands and/or face with while riding on hot days. I could not find any posts of other people discussing such a thing. Im wondering if there is anyone out there with a neat setup that addresses the same issue. Right now I am leaning towards attaching a retractable badge holder to my handlebar/top tube with the towel hopefully being light weight enough to just sit on there until I pull on it.
#2
Senior Member
I was going to attach a small sports towel on my bike to wipe my hands and/or face with while riding on hot days. I could not find any posts of other people discussing such a thing. Im wondering if there is anyone out there with a neat setup that addresses the same issue. Right now I am leaning towards attaching a retractable badge holder to my handlebar/top tube with the towel hopefully being light weight enough to just sit on there until I pull on it.
#3
Senior Member
Getting sweat running down your face and brow is a badge of honor....LOL
Seriously though, I know what you mean. I use my gloves with the terry cloth backing to wipe sweat from my eyes and face.
Seriously though, I know what you mean. I use my gloves with the terry cloth backing to wipe sweat from my eyes and face.
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I always have a cotton washcloth in one hand and a spare in a jersey pocket. Not fancy but I have not found a better solution. I sweat buckets. dave
#6
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Take precautions so it doesn't fall off/get dropped and go into one of the wheels.
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Old fashioned terry wristband.
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#9
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I use the back of my glove.
And every so often, I take off my sunglasses, tilt my head to one side and squeeze the sweat out of the helmet pads on one side, then repeat on the other side, then wipe my brow with the back of the glove and put the glasses back on.
Reallly hot, dry days, I don't have to do even that because it all evaporates and I end up salt-crusted!
And every so often, I take off my sunglasses, tilt my head to one side and squeeze the sweat out of the helmet pads on one side, then repeat on the other side, then wipe my brow with the back of the glove and put the glasses back on.
Reallly hot, dry days, I don't have to do even that because it all evaporates and I end up salt-crusted!
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I have one or two towels hanging off my floor pump that I keep next to me. I also cycle through 3 thin headbands (Temple Tape), draping the damp ones on my bars to catch wind from my front fan to dry. I don't wear a jersey, just a baselayer under bibs. No way I could stand more layers. As it is, I'll use a second fan to dry my back, and even bust out the portable AC on the occasional muggy day.
#12
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I have one or two towels hanging off my floor pump that I keep next to me. I also cycle through 3 thin headbands (Temple Tape), draping the damp ones on my bars to catch wind from my front fan to dry. I don't wear a jersey, just a baselayer under bibs. No way I could stand more layers. As it is, I'll use a second fan to dry my back, and even bust out the portable AC on the occasional muggy day.
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I definitely sweat buckets even when the ambient temperature isn't very high. I can ride outside if it's hot (a rarity in the PNW) but indoors I need it to be 60 or else I'm sweating within minutes of getting on the bike.
I've experimented with doing heat acclimatization sessions - hour of low Z1/Z2 without any fans or water, but stopped when I had some health issues that interrupted my riding. Might try it again at some point.
#14
I use a towel when riding the trainer or rollers. I also have top-tube bra on my trainer bike to catch dripping sweat. On the road, I use the back of my glove or shoulder. But for the most part, it just drips off.
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Large handkerchief better known as a bandanna in a jersey pocket for me. I usually forget it's there. Great for times snot starts flowing out your nose too and you can't let it fly.
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Here in the summer months I always carry a towel. But I'm an old fart that don't follow the rules, just do what works for me. I use a small hip pack to carry my phone, keys, MP3 player and a bit of trail mix. Since I always have that with me (same pack as I switch amongst 8 bikes all year), in the summer I have a neon yellow microfiber towel clipped to the belt, on the left side. Does three things.
a) mops sweat that pours out whenever I stop for a drink. I never stopped before to drink but, of course, this year I have to.
b) waves and flops around in the breeze which improves my visibility. A driver's eye sees motion, wierd motion so it helps.
c) good for drying my hands when I wash them. I don't want to touch anything in rest rooms anymore.
Watch carefully how long it is if you do the same. Must keep it out of the rear wheel.
a) mops sweat that pours out whenever I stop for a drink. I never stopped before to drink but, of course, this year I have to.
b) waves and flops around in the breeze which improves my visibility. A driver's eye sees motion, wierd motion so it helps.
c) good for drying my hands when I wash them. I don't want to touch anything in rest rooms anymore.
Watch carefully how long it is if you do the same. Must keep it out of the rear wheel.
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#20
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The only thing remotely absorbent in my kit is my socks.
So after a chamois cream re-up, where else am I going to wipe my hands?
Except I lie; the most useful item in my first aid kit is some bagged scrap of old washed-out polycotton sheet that dates back to my freshman year in college a few millenia ago...
So after a chamois cream re-up, where else am I going to wipe my hands?
Except I lie; the most useful item in my first aid kit is some bagged scrap of old washed-out polycotton sheet that dates back to my freshman year in college a few millenia ago...
#21
Senior Member
I use the back of my glove.
And every so often, I take off my sunglasses, tilt my head to one side and squeeze the sweat out of the helmet pads on one side, then repeat on the other side, then wipe my brow with the back of the glove and put the glasses back on.
Reallly hot, dry days, I don't have to do even that because it all evaporates and I end up salt-crusted!
And every so often, I take off my sunglasses, tilt my head to one side and squeeze the sweat out of the helmet pads on one side, then repeat on the other side, then wipe my brow with the back of the glove and put the glasses back on.
Reallly hot, dry days, I don't have to do even that because it all evaporates and I end up salt-crusted!
I mostly remove my glasses when climbing in the summer though Otherwise my face feels hot and sweat drips inside the glasses, ruining them for the descent.
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I too put an absorbent rag inside a jersey pocket. If it gets really soaked I'll use a small binder clip to clip it to my brake cable to dry as I ride along. It can take a surprisingly long time for cotton to dry when the humidity is quite high.
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#25
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Baby wipes.
On long rides and tours I'll carry a bandanna or large handkerchief.
On long rides and tours I'll carry a bandanna or large handkerchief.
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Last edited by Machka; 07-17-20 at 10:21 PM.