sirjag

Why is this an issue? And is it true that in sanctioned racing events (TDF) you can get an infraction for this?

Me personally, my MIPS helmet straps come out about 1-2 inches from the side of my head near the ears…so if I tried to put them on outside of straps they wouldn’t stay there for long…



What am I missing??

Rides4Beer

Have no idea about UCI rules, but they're guaranteed to save you .01 watt by holding down the straps.

topflightpro

The theory is that for your helmet to work properly, it must first fit properly, and if there is something between your helmet straps and your head, then it is not fit properly.

noodle soup

some helmets have straps that attach at the outer edge(POC Tectal).

ridelikeaturtle

You might also find an increase in wind noise if your helmet straps are outside your sunglasses - and that can be very annoying. Having the straps up against your head usually eliminates this.

DrIsotope

My Bolle had the outer-edge attachment like the POC, absolutely no way to get the glasses outside the straps. With my past two Kask helmets the straps are flat against the face-- so glasses on the outside is required.

I wear prescription, so I'd prefer glasses inside the straps. But it don't really bother me that much.

datlas 

It’s Rule 37 of the Veluminati, but I don’t think it really matters go with what is your preference.

edit: citation link https://www.velominati.com/

sirjag

thanks guys...pretty much what i figured...

JAG

canklecat

There's a slight increase in wind noise when I shove the glasses ear pieces inside the straps.

In really windy conditions I'll often stick the ear pieces under the straps to keep them in place. Same reason I often wear Breathe Right nose strips or something similar -- keeps the nasal passages open a bit, mostly helps keep the glasses from sliding down.

If I remove the glasses and put them back on, most of the time I'll end up with one ear piece outside the strap and the other inside.

I wear Cat-Ears wind noise doodads on one helmet anyway. It doesn't get much more dorky than that. Nobody notices how I'm wearing my glasses.

Zaskar

Straps on the inside of the sunglass arms is also great for flinging your sunglasses when take off your helmet. Wait... that's a strike against arms in.

I go with one in and one out - in case anyone who cares notices.

Carbonfiberboy 

I thought it was a safety issue - easier for your glasses to fly away in event of a crash instead of messing up your face. i always put on the glasses first, then the helmet or the glasses don't stay on properly anyway. I don't take them off on climbs because how would I see?

79pmooney

I wear expensive prescription glasses and sunglasses. I would NEVER put them outside the straps and never have. I don't want the helmet knocking my glasses off simply because it got bumped or jarred. For one, the glasses might break and leave me riding home near blind.

The glasses pulling the straps closer? Are those straps really tight enough for the helmet to do its job?

Yes, I did take a bad spill once with too loose helmet straps, the glasses got knocked off and left me with a bunch of blood drawing scrapes on my face. (I also hit the helmet on both sides, quite hard on the side opposite the scrapes, broke or cracked ribs - didn't get them X-rayed but I knew, broke my collarbone and roughly an acre of road rash - both sides. The scrapes from the glasses were incidental.

Branko D

There is no way I'm putting prescription eyeglasses / sunglasses outside the straps. If they fall and break, well, that's the end of the ride and a call for pickup right there, not to mention the expense and the hassle.

I've had falls where the helmet cracked. Eyeglasses flew off but were fine, helmet did it's job fine. It's not some space tech, it's essentially a styrofoam hat which takes the hit first, it's going to work fine regardless where you keep your glasses, your cycling cap or whatever. If the straps were tight enough glasses couldn't fit beneath them I couldn't bloody well breathe, which isn't quite conductive to cycling.

rubiksoval

There's no way to have your straps against your face for many types of helmets (Specialized, Giro) if your glasses are inside your straps.

My straps are tight enough that they actually bend in the arms of my glasses if I tried that.

I don't understand how your glasses could fall off in either case. The first thing I do when I try on a pair of glasses is bend over and see if they move. It's my first criteria.

rubiksoval

In jest I'm sure, but floppy helmet straps actually cost multiple whole watts. Enough to be significant for those that care about such things.