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Do you wear something on your head, under your helmet?

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway
View Poll Results: Do you wear any head coverings under your helmet?
Yes
91
72.80%
No
25
20.00%
I like fluffy clouds
9
7.20%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

Do you wear something on your head, under your helmet?

Old 04-26-19, 11:13 PM
  #1  
NoWhammies
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Do you wear something on your head, under your helmet?

Years ago when I started riding, I wore a painters hat underneath my helmet. I took some ridicule from the people I was riding with, but I didn't care. The hat did some sweat management, and if a bee/bug flew in to the air vents of my helmet, I felt protected from stings.

Now that riding has EXPLODED in popularity, I am seeing more and more people - mainly men - wearing painter hats. Seems like the hats have gone from fringe to trendy. Some people I know wear head sweats or something like that too.

So I figured why not see what the rest of the Bike Forums crew are up to in the headgear dept. Cheers.
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Old 04-26-19, 11:16 PM
  #2  
downtube42
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I just don't think this is something the world needs to know about me.
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Old 04-26-19, 11:21 PM
  #3  
UniChris
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Yeah, headsweats. The whole trying to see where you're going with sweat stinging your eyes thing gets annoying. Also feels really nice on a hot day if there's extra water to wash it out, wring it till it stops dripping then put it back on.

Those with hair might not benefit as much.
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Old 04-26-19, 11:27 PM
  #4  
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I voted no but I do when the temps are in the 30s.
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Old 04-26-19, 11:48 PM
  #5  
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Lower temps i got a head band thing to cover my ears and forehead
Also helmet has a insert it came with i always keep in until summer
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Old 04-27-19, 12:02 AM
  #6  
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Headsweats beanie.
Less sweat in your eyes is a good thing.
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Old 04-27-19, 12:03 AM
  #7  
Seattle Forrest
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I don't unless it's cold, but I like fluffy clouds.
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Old 04-27-19, 12:23 AM
  #8  
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I always wear a Pace skull cap. Clean one every ride. I find my helmet stays clean and without smell far longer and my hair feels better/cleaner. A plus for sweat on hot days, a little warmer on cool days. In winter, I wear them under my winter hats and those winter hats stay clean and fresh smelling.

Ben
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Old 04-27-19, 03:38 AM
  #9  
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I usually wear a cycling cap. When peddling into the sun I can flip the visor down for shade on my sunglasses. Also I do early morning rides and it helps with keeping warm. Joe joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress
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Old 04-27-19, 03:54 AM
  #10  
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Depend on the weather, warm hat, transition cap, cycling cap, tech dew rag, to keep warm or avoid the alien sunburn on my bald head.

I also like fluffy clouds🌤

Last edited by Pirkaus; 04-27-19 at 03:55 AM. Reason: Forgot about clouds
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Old 04-27-19, 04:08 AM
  #11  
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Halo headband in heat, and a cycling cap when cold.
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Old 04-27-19, 04:24 AM
  #12  
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In warmer weather ... just my hair!

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Old 04-27-19, 04:45 AM
  #13  
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Do you wear something on your head, under your helmet?
Originally Posted by NoWhammies
Years ago when I started riding, I wore a painters hat underneath my helmet. I took some ridicule from the people I was riding with, but I didn't care. The hat did some sweat management, and if a bee/bug flew in to the air vents of my helmet, I felt protected from stings.

Now that riding has EXPLODED in popularity, I am seeing more and more people - mainly men - wearing painter hats. Seems like the hats have gone from fringe to trendy. Some people I know wear head sweats or something like that too.

So I figured why not see what the rest of the Bike Forums crew are up to in the headgear dept. Cheers.
Originally Posted by deepakvrao
Halo headband in heat, and a cycling cap when cold.
Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I always wear a Pace skull cap. Clean one every ride. I find my helmet stays clean and without smell far longer and my hair feels better/cleaner. A plus for sweat on hot days, a little warmer on cool days.

In winter, I wear them under my winter hats and those winter hats stay clean and fresh smelling
Originally Posted by Machka
In warmer weather ... just my hair!
Originally Posted by Jim from Boston
I have short hair, but long enough to be parted, and to suffer from helmet hair. I too wear a cap… and also I use a water soluble hair gel (J. Crew Firm Hold).

After a ride, my hair brushes out pretty well, without ridges, and helmet hair would be otherwise duly noted.
More specifically, in order outward from my hair, and depending on the weather:

  • Halo headband skull cap
  • Balaclava and woolen ski cap (in the cold, less than about 40ᶛ and 50ᶛF respectively)
  • A loose-fitting, paper surgical-scrub type cap (in the cold at less than about 35ᶛ F with a stapled strip of Velcro to hold up my safety goggles (link)
  • A billed baseball cap in rain, for the wide visor
  • A billed sun visor in sunny weather

Last edited by Jim from Boston; 04-27-19 at 08:13 AM. Reason: added quote by 79pmooney
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Old 04-27-19, 07:16 AM
  #14  
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Voted NO but I do only in the Winter when it's cold in my books.
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Old 04-27-19, 07:16 AM
  #15  
Sy Reene
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Mostly for sun protection I wear a cap or beanie.. lately using one of Giro's SPF Ultralight caps.

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Old 04-27-19, 07:22 AM
  #16  
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Old 04-27-19, 07:24 AM
  #17  
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I do generally in colder temps.... occasionally when real hot out to help a little with sweat.
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Old 04-27-19, 07:28 AM
  #18  
WhyFi
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
Mostly for sun protection I wear a cap or beanie.. lately using one of Giro's SPF Ultralight caps.

Looks very similar to the Giro Pelotons that I like - have you tried both/know how they differ?
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Old 04-27-19, 07:35 AM
  #19  
Sy Reene
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Looks very similar to the Giro Pelotons that I like - have you tried both/know how they differ?
Yeah, I have a peloton as well. They fit the same. The SPF cap is though a slightly tighter weave (probably to maintain the SPF rating) so actually might be a tiny bit warmer. Peloton cap can be seen through.
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Old 04-27-19, 07:53 AM
  #20  
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Yes. I still have a couple old headbands with the color/logo of the defunct Euro race team ONCE, that I'm fond of. They absorb sweat really well, keeping it from running down into my eyes and sunglasses. Also, one of my road helmets I like to use is an old Giro, that's now missing the padding, so with the headband it still fits comfortably.
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Old 04-27-19, 08:03 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I always wear a Pace skull cap. Clean one every ride. I find my helmet stays clean and without smell far longer and my hair feels better/cleaner. A plus for sweat on hot days, a little warmer on cool days. In winter, I wear them under my winter hats and those winter hats stay clean and fresh smelling.

Ben
+1! A moisture wicking layer helps keep the head cool in the heat. Also for the follically challenged, keeps the scalp from burning.
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Old 04-27-19, 08:46 AM
  #22  
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I wear a Halo II headband if it warm to keep the sweat out of my eyes. If it is cold I'll wear a headband that covers the ears.
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Old 04-27-19, 09:32 AM
  #23  
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I haven't, but I probably should being that I am bald balding.

Don't think I've ever seen (or at least not noticed) anyone wearing a cycling cap under their helmet, and trying to think how odd that would look with a bill sticking out from under my helmet, which already has a chintzy clip on plastic visor...
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Old 04-27-19, 09:57 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by puma1552
I haven't, but I probably should being that I am bald balding.

Don't think I've ever seen (or at least not noticed) anyone wearing a cycling cap under their helmet, and trying to think how odd that would look with a bill sticking out from under my helmet, which already has a chintzy clip on plastic visor...
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Old 04-27-19, 10:07 AM
  #25  
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thermal skull cap < 64 degrees

cycling cap 65-75 degrees

bandana 76+ degrees

many rides in spring/fall find me swapping out one for the other during the ride.
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