OK...OK...I'll accept the ridicule for this noob question...

I'm just getting back on the road after a lengthy hiatus and mtn bike riding exclusively.....and my sole lid has a visor.

I've noticed lots of "roadies" and pros wearing caps under their helmets to shield the sun....why not a visored helmet?

Is there a difference between "mountain bike" helmets and "road bike" helmets? Or is it like a lot of aspects of road riding - asthetics?

David

With a cap, I can flip the bill up if need be for added visibiltiy, then flip it back down for sun block.

With a visor, once it's on it's on.

Aesthetics, I've always heard the argument is that the visor gets in the way of vision, a hat visor can be flipped up.

Some visors catch alot of wind- not something you want to be fighting in fast riding situations.

Also, let's say you're riding east in the late afternoon, you can turn the cycling cap backwards and keep the sun off your neck.

A visor won't keep your head warm when it's cold or keep the sweat out your eyes when it's hot.

Since the number one obsession of road riding is weight, the better road helmets tend to go the extra mile in shaving off those "extra" grams. That's not necessarily of paramount importance with a mountain bike helmet. Road helmets in general seem to be more expensive than mtb helmets, and I guess that's why. Since I'm not a weight weenie, I use a mountain bike helmet with the visor removed as my road bike helmet (much cheaper) but I doubt 90% of the people could tell the difference.

I have one helmet with a visor but I can't use it on my road and TT bike because when I am in an aero position, it blocks my upper visual field. I get a stiff neck bending my head higher for the visor.

This.

I took the visor off my helmet since it was just a snap-on anyway. Immediately solved sore neck problems.

Thanks.

Yup, this is me too, i just ditched the visor...

I rented an MTB this weekend, got ahelemt with a Visor. Even on a MTB, the visor sometimes obscured my vision, (particularly going down a dip,and wanting to look up the next rise)

On a road bike in the drops, at least for me, that helmet with avisor would have significantly limited my vision down the road.

This +2 (or is it +3 by now?).

I'm really thinking of getting a cap, though, because I can't stand direct sunlight in my eyes, even through sunglasses.

Speaking of glasses -- helmet visors don't really block my through-glasses-lens view, but they usually keep sun from going over the tops of my glasses frames. If I leave my head down, though, I might just look over the tops of the frames anyway. That's when it's nicer to not use a visor.

For now, I leave the visor on when I'm just cruising, and pull it off and tuck it in a jersey pocket when I don't need it. A cap with a small visor would let me do the same without reconfiguring the helmet, though.

For anyone who thinks they want a visored helmet, i have this advice you
Really should reconsider. I mean do you want
Everyone to look at you and think man what a
Dork?

I don't think the Dork factor has anything to do with a visor...

Best regards,

Mike

Don't use a visor on the road because, like has been said, I'll get a stiff neck from craning up to look ahead instead of glancing up with my eyes.

I don't wear a cycling cap either because if I have any covering on my head riding in 45 degree weather or warmer, I'll overheat. No joke.

Agreed. I mean, we're riding bikes. Does anyone really take this seriously?

so why do helmets not all come with a visor and then the rider can decide to detatch it if he wants?

I don't have a very aggressive riding position, so I have no problem at all with a visor. Down here in Florida, I use every option at my disposal to give me protection from the sun. I sure don't want to wear a hat under my helmet as it is already hot enough. I have been looking for a new helmet and considering switching to a road helmet, but I really think I'll miss the visor. I did get caught in the rain last week and noticed the visor knocked the rain down before it could get to my glasses, made it easier to see while I raced home.

I may find one with an easily removable visor, then I can try it both ways and see if I miss it when it is gone.

They don't help and make the helmet look even sillier.

Some higher-end road helmets come with them, with the idea of replacing a cycling cap. I prefer the cap, never leave home without it.

YMMV.

I also wear the cap, it does several things for me... keeps the sun out of my eyes, keeps the sweat out of my eyes, and keeps my lil bald head from getting sunburned

Not knowing any better, the first time I got my helmet I left the visor on when I went out. One very sore neck later, I promptly removed it. I'm not sure how much I might benefit from a cycling cap, I might buy one just to try it out. At least if it doesn't work for me on the bike I'll look trendy... or like Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump.

Good idea, though I always ride early in the AM when I need the visor as a shade, more than sunblock. I mostly wear a billed baseball cap under my helmet on rainy days to keep my eyeglasses clear. I like the longer bill of a baseball cap rather than a cycling cap.