J.Higgins 

I wondering if any of you wear helmets designed for winter sports when the temperature dips and Ol' Jacky Frost gets his kicks in?

Happy Feet

I wear my regular helmet with a micro fleece balaclava

mev

Yes. I dress similar as for cross country skiing.

I spent eight winters in northern CO w/o owning a car. I commuted by bicycle. It is typically not extremely cold, though each winter would have some cold snaps that approached 0-10F and once or twice colder than that.

Once it got much colder than 30F, I would wear a wool hat underneath my helmet.

My one-way commute was only 5 miles, so even in coldest temperatures not too long. When cycle touring it is rare that I'm riding much below 20F. As necessary I have a wool hat with me, but it doesn't come out until below freezing.

steve-in-kville 

I have two hoods (balaclavas), one is heavier than the other. I tried just a skull cap, but I want my ears covered! I switched to ski gloves last year... best investment I ever made on cold weather riding.

Tourist in MSN

Below freezing I use a helmet made by Bern. The one I got came with the summer liner, I bought the winter liner separately to cover my ears. I often wear a neck gaiter with it. And ski goggles. The helmet was called multi-sport.

If you get a helmet like that, size is much more critical, as it does not have an adjustable harness like most bike helmets. It either fits your head or does not.

Above freezing, I wear a summer helmet, usually with a rain cover to cut the wind from coming in thru the vents. And either an ear band or a thin cap.

I tour with a summer helmet only, not the winter one. I do not tour when I think it will be that cold.

hilltowner

I've tried to. Used a helmet made by Giro (for skiing) while commuting at temps in the teens (F). Too hot!!! What works best has been my regular cycling helmet with layers underneath that can be added or removed accordingly. It's a Bell with an adjustable brow band so I can widen it or narrow it as needed.

dabac

Helmet cover, ear muffs and/or occasionally a headband does the trick for me.
The advantage is it doesn't change the fit of the helmet(as) much.

Jazzba

I use a ski/cycle helmet and balaclava... -40C ...no problem.
The helmet has a removable cover and removable ear flaps for varying conditions.
Use any combination as you see fit.

https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5038-4...te-Snow-Helmet
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5016-8...tral-Balaclava

cyccommute 

Yup.



It's Giro with a GoPro mount on the front of the helmet that I've adapted for my helmet lamp. I don't use it above freezing, however.

10 Wheels

Moved from Touring.

fietsbob

You can Buy 2 helmets, Bern, for example, has a Ski-Skate-Bike helmet with a Warmer liner with earmuffs for the winter .

Then Use one with all the ventilation holes, in the Summer..




I have No Idea why this was started in Touring? You Planning Mid Winter Tours?







'/,

DaveQ24

Yup, I do. It wasn't a difficult decision for me since I also cross country ski.

2_i 

At low temperatures I ride wearing a downhill Giro helmet that I equipped with a Salamander Revisor visor. The helmet has the option of attaching earmuffs but I hardly ever use them when riding - the cycling conditions tend to be pretty tame compared to downhill. Incidentally, I tried to keep the visor when skiing but it flapped uncontrollably against air.

rumrunn6

I don't but this is on my wish list
Giro Replacement Shield for Air Attack Helmet

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014LAE94W...J1WROBVB&psc=1

02Giant 

I have a Giro Nine. It has adjustable air vents, works great in the cold.

Dave Cutter

I have two summer helmets and one winter helmet (which I wear a fleece balaclava under). The winter helmet is also.. a larger size (to accommodate the fleece balaclava) an inexpensive mountain bike helmet (with few vents holes).

J.Higgins 

My lifelong obsession with bicycles has recently rekindled, and a lot of gear has changed in the last couple decades. I'm basically playing catch-up, so being interested in touring, I asked there, not knowing there was a winter cycling forum.

Winters are brutal where I live. Narrow roads, so pedaling isn't prudent unless the roads are clear... but I really want to keep going. Its getting colder and I just want to extend my riding season. I doubt that I will be doing any touring in the winter months unless I travel with my bike to do so - preferably with sand, sunshine and palm trees!

Does this make sense at all, or am I rambling? I don't have Alzheimer's yet, but at least I don't have Alzheimer's!

johndeere

I only have one helmet, a full face mountain bike helmet. In the winter I use goggles, thin wool balaclava, and a neck warmer that the spouse knitted.

fietsbob

Personally, I Toured Outside the USA and I did not bring a Helmet with Me.

Now I live in a small Town .. and stay off busy streets (actually its Hwy 30 passing thru town..)


Those with Second Houses & MH, abandon the place in the Winter , rainy Season.

Archwhorides 

Up until last winter I used a conventionally vented Giro bike helmet with a high vis rain cover in wet and cold weather. I just purchased a Bolle "the one" bicycle helmet, which has removable vent covers and a winter liner accessory with ear flaps. Here is a view with the vent plates installed. There is a dedicated eyewear dock that is pretty cool too.


This system has been working great so far in both hotter and colder weather, almost ready to sell of the rain cover...

at_hiker59

I got a Bolle ski helmet and love it.

PaulRivers

Non-bike helmets have the same issues as other non-bike clothing.

Most clothing for other outdoor winter sports needs to be windproof and warm and that's it. Downhill skiing doesn't generate a ton of sweat, nor does riding a snowmobile. Biking produces a lot of sweat, and if it can't get out it will freeze on you and you'll freeze your ass off.

Well it will if you're going fast. One solution is just to bike slower at a pace where it's not a problem.

But that's why I don't use a ski helmet and such. Also you don't need to be "as" warm, other sports need more insulation because your body is not producing heat. For biking you need a large amount of windproof, a medium amount of warm, and as much breathability as you can get without comprising the first two.

For warmer winter (25F) I wear a helmet cover and a headband. Plenty of breathability.
For colder temps, I wear a balaclava which is windproof on the front and more breathable material on the back.

bent-not-broken

I use a Giro Ski helmet when temps are single digit F or lower. Ski equipment is often my go to. It is designed for cold weather and wind chill.

Aidoneus

Last winter I wore a wool watch cap and a balaclava under a Catlike helmet with a couple dozen air holes. That worked for me down to single digit (F) temperatures. I had more trouble keeping my glasses from fogging up until I purchased goggles and a respirator that redirected my breath. I thought about getting a more closed helmet this year, but I found a very large "Afro" shower cap with a bit of lining that I think is going to work for me. At least it worked well the other morning at 32 F without a balaclava.

rumrunn6

recently swapped out an old cheap motel style shower cap with a fresh one, was in my pocket but lost it on my MUP ride. have to remember my sweatshirt pocket gives up it's contents with all the leg movement. it's OK I have more