Sweat management
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Sweat management
Between the last time I was out riding a lot and now, I've somehow lost a bunch of hair.
Besides the aesthetic consequences I've noticed that I've lost some sweat-absorbing capacity (my helmet pads are no match for this sort of volume). I start getting sweat in my eyes pretty early in a ride, and it's not even hot out there, yet! This is not great. Do any of you have similar problems? Is there a better solution than rocking a 1980's style sweat band?
Feels like a weird thing to post, but I'm hoping some of you have solutions.
Besides the aesthetic consequences I've noticed that I've lost some sweat-absorbing capacity (my helmet pads are no match for this sort of volume). I start getting sweat in my eyes pretty early in a ride, and it's not even hot out there, yet! This is not great. Do any of you have similar problems? Is there a better solution than rocking a 1980's style sweat band?
Feels like a weird thing to post, but I'm hoping some of you have solutions.
#2
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I had the same problem this summer. Sweat was getting in my eye to the point I couldn't see. I was keeping a paper towel in my jersey pocket to mop, and one water bottle on the bike with just water to splash on my face. Didn't really come up with any real solutions.
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Non omnino gravis
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Halo, head sweats, wristbands all work well. Have used all three methods and I prefer a headband. I feel your pain I too am a sweater.
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I use a Headsweats coolmax cap in spring, summer, and fall. (Or a heavier cap for cold weather.) I started wearing it for sun protection on thinning hair. It soaks up quite a lot of sweat on hot days, and warms my head slightly on cool spring or fall days. Now it feels weird to ride without a cap under my helmet.
#6
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I've put vaseline above my eyebrows to try and direct the sheer volume of water. YMMV
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I've tried the Halo (which kind of works, if you put in on just right and hold your head just right) and Sweat Gut'r (which works great if it's centered just right and the angle against your head is just right). But for most of my summer riding, I use two bandannas. Roll one up and tie it on your head; when it starts dripping, wring it out and hang it somewhere on the bike to dry, wipe the glasses with the other one, roll it up and tie it on. By the time the second one is dripping wet, the first is dry again.
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Thanks, everybody. I've ordered some helmet liners and Halos.
Interesting so see the Vasaline tip. I've tried something like that and was surprised how well it worked. May have to revisit that and good ol' bandannas.
Interesting so see the Vasaline tip. I've tried something like that and was surprised how well it worked. May have to revisit that and good ol' bandannas.
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the other thing to consider if you have lost a lot of hair is, sunburn on the top of your head. Halo makes a summer skull cap that should address both problems.
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I hang a washcloth on my front bars wedged between a cpl accessories & occasionally grab it to wipe the brow
#11
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I use a Headsweats coolmax cap in spring, summer, and fall. (Or a heavier cap for cold weather.) I started wearing it for sun protection on thinning hair. It soaks up quite a lot of sweat on hot days, and warms my head slightly on cool spring or fall days. Now it feels weird to ride without a cap under my helmet.
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Duluth Trading company bandanas worked great for me. I wear them like a pirate.
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I have two SweatVac skull caps:
They come in a couple of colors.
They come in a couple of colors.
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Similar to a couple others I've found that a thin breathable cycling cap works best for me. Sweat drips off the bill of the cap, but at least it's not in my eyes. I've tried a few Halo products and they didn't work that well for me. Never tried Gut'r, just looked uncomfortable.
I'm also a bit folicly challenged up top and prone to sunburns through the vents in my helmet. Cap helps prevent that as well in the summer.
I'm also a bit folicly challenged up top and prone to sunburns through the vents in my helmet. Cap helps prevent that as well in the summer.
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I never have a problem with sweat getting in my eyes, but if I ever do I have several do-rags I could put on underneath my helmet.
#16
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Major sweater here, and when it gets in my eyes on a high humidity day it nearly blinds me it stings so. Also leaves lots of mineral deposits crusting up my face (usually after an hour or so, an indicator that I need to keep up with the electrolytes).
Sweat GUTR - Great success in the indoor spin sessions where no helmet is needed. But I can't get it to work with a helmet. I like to wear my helmet down on my forehead more. They did have one on the Amazon made just for helmets (hard hats, etc.) but that disappeared. I also just read that the sport version gutter is 7-3/4" (IIRC) while there's another you can request that has a 9" gutter which channels sweat further back from your brow.
Sweat cap (can't remember the brand) - Forget it if you've got a full head of hair, it needs to be as close to the skin as possible. It's like wearing a winter knit cap, totally counterproductive.
20 oz. water bottle of just H2O - The only thing I count on. On longer rides I conserve by injecting in the forward vents of my helmet so it runs down basically where the sweat is. Also (ala The Contador), I'll run it down the back of my head and neck occasionally. I mean look, you're running sweat all over you and the bike anyway, might as well flush the corrosive chemicals out with clean water while you ride.
Sweat GUTR - Great success in the indoor spin sessions where no helmet is needed. But I can't get it to work with a helmet. I like to wear my helmet down on my forehead more. They did have one on the Amazon made just for helmets (hard hats, etc.) but that disappeared. I also just read that the sport version gutter is 7-3/4" (IIRC) while there's another you can request that has a 9" gutter which channels sweat further back from your brow.
Sweat cap (can't remember the brand) - Forget it if you've got a full head of hair, it needs to be as close to the skin as possible. It's like wearing a winter knit cap, totally counterproductive.
20 oz. water bottle of just H2O - The only thing I count on. On longer rides I conserve by injecting in the forward vents of my helmet so it runs down basically where the sweat is. Also (ala The Contador), I'll run it down the back of my head and neck occasionally. I mean look, you're running sweat all over you and the bike anyway, might as well flush the corrosive chemicals out with clean water while you ride.
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I have a couple of the beanies too - prefer the Sugoi to the Pearl Izumi, but both do the job of absorbing enough sweat that it doesn't get in my eyes.
https://www.backcountry.com/sugoi-co...yABEgLLc_D_BwE
#18
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I wear a buff sometimes. It does well for sweat and also to soak at water fountains and put back on. Ahhh feels so good.
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+1 for the halo do-rag. I sweat a TON and when I forget my halo do-rag not only does sweat practically blind me my head is MUCH hotter. It significantly reduces the temp of your head under your helmet in the heat.
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Heavy Sweater
As a heavy sweater (especially from my head) I too have been looking for a solution to sweat running into my eyes. I recently bought a HeadSweat from Performance. They have two models and I purchased the cheapest just based on reviews. I live in Florida and it's already in the 80's and my HeadSweat has so far worked flawlessly! I'll be a true believer in the summer when it's in the 90's with high humidity but so far so good!
#21
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Pesty, This works! Riding with a cycling cap bill down the sweat does drip off the front of the bill. Eureka! Over the past few month I've been experimenting with the skull cap, no bill, and with the traditional cycling cap. Cycling cap is the winner. The only catch is I can't see with the bill down in the drops so I've been flipping up and down as needed. So not prefect, but pretty darn good.
#22
Non omnino gravis
Riding with a cycling cap bill down the sweat does drip off the front of the bill. Eureka! Over the past few month I've been experimenting with the skull cap, no bill, and with the traditional cycling cap. Cycling cap is the winner. The only catch is I can't see with the bill down in the drops so I've been flipping up and down as needed. So not prefect, but pretty darn good.
#23
Senior Member
I use Headsweats classics and this: https://www.performancebike.com/shop...adband-10-0005
#24
dollar-store reject
I have the same problem, and I think my solution is going to be a shemaugh made out of a Cool-it towel from Wally World.
I need to keep the sun off the back of my neck, too.
I need to keep the sun off the back of my neck, too.
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Since this thread has recently been brought back from the dead, I'll give an update.
I've mainly been using the Halo skull cap. It has the rubber strip that's supposed to keep the sweat out of your eyes. This does a pretty good job at temps below ~80 degrees and/or rides <20 miles. On longer or hotter rides, I find I need to supplement this with a good ol' bandanna stuffed in my jersey pocket that I take out, as needed.
I also bought one of the cool-max skull cap/helmet liners. It seems to work as well as the Halo, even thought there's no rubber thing. It's a bit bulker, though, so I prefer the Halo.
Thanks for all the feedback. You guys are the best!
I've mainly been using the Halo skull cap. It has the rubber strip that's supposed to keep the sweat out of your eyes. This does a pretty good job at temps below ~80 degrees and/or rides <20 miles. On longer or hotter rides, I find I need to supplement this with a good ol' bandanna stuffed in my jersey pocket that I take out, as needed.
I also bought one of the cool-max skull cap/helmet liners. It seems to work as well as the Halo, even thought there's no rubber thing. It's a bit bulker, though, so I prefer the Halo.
Thanks for all the feedback. You guys are the best!