Cold weather riding and keeping head warm while wearing a helmet

[DOOH]

Hi,

Went out on an hour long road ride today in what is probably the chilliest
ride of the year for me so far. As I'm fairly new to new england, I'm having
trouble keeping my head warm when its below 25f.

Feet, fingers and body all OK but wearing a helmet (which I feel is
essential for as accident prone as I am) with the straps done up correctly
is really difficult if I want to pile on the gear under it. I'm currently
using a large helmet to accomodate the extra layers while in the summer I
normally have a medium. Its a good fit and is snug and I feel safe but I
really need something warmer.

Here's what I currently wear:

Gortex helmet cover
Bell Helmet
Thinsilate Hat (normal ski type cap, kinda thick)
Specialised Skull cap (about the thickness of armwarmers)
Clear glasses
Scarf wrapped around neck, tucked into collar of jacket

I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I was out
today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing around was chilly
let alone riding downhill at 30mph.

I have some great hats when I'm out sking and such but I get nervous without
a helmet. Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on, they look like they have
closed vents and cover the back a bit more and have built in ear muffs. Are
they just overbuilt bike hemets or are they designed for ski-specific
crashes?

What about ski goggles. Anyone ever ride with them? My Oakley M-frames do a
good job but tend to fog up quite a bit when I tuck my face down into my
scarf.

Any advice from any cold weather warriors? Surely someone from Alaska or
Nebraska or other chilly climes must wear a helmet and still be able to stay
warm...

 

[Kristian M Zoerhoff]

DOOH wrote:

> I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I was out
> today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing around was chilly
> let alone riding downhill at 30mph.

I get by with a poly balaclava I picked up at a sporting goods store;
it's got a built-in neck gaiter (so no scarf needed), and covers the
face well. The top is thin, as it's intended as a helmet liner, so I put
a wool toque on top of that (I picked it up at Marshall Field's a year
or so ago, and paid far too much in the process), and then my helmet,
with the straps loosened up for fit. That's been enough to keep me warm
into the high single digits, which is the coldest I've ridden in thus far.

> What about ski goggles. Anyone ever ride with them? My Oakley M-frames do a
> good job but tend to fog up quite a bit when I tuck my face down into my
> scarf.

I was eyeing up* a cheap pair the other day at a discount store (just
enough to keep cold air off the eyes), but haven't pulled the trigger
yet. I just throw in my contact lenses and go; I haven't worn my
sunglasses much thus far, but I usually pull the balaclava down off the
nose slightly to prevent fogging when I do.


*Pun fully intended.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email protected]
(_)/ (_)

 

[mark]

"DOOH" wrote ...
> Hi,
>
> Went out on an hour long road ride today in what is probably the chilliest
> ride of the year for me so far. As I'm fairly new to new england, I'm
> having trouble keeping my head warm when its below 25f.
>
> Feet, fingers and body all OK but wearing a helmet (which I feel is
> essential for as accident prone as I am) with the straps done up correctly
> is really difficult if I want to pile on the gear under it. I'm currently
> using a large helmet to accomodate the extra layers while in the summer I
> normally have a medium. Its a good fit and is snug and I feel safe but I
> really need something warmer.
>
> Here's what I currently wear:
>
> Gortex helmet cover
> Bell Helmet
> Thinsilate Hat (normal ski type cap, kinda thick)
> Specialised Skull cap (about the thickness of armwarmers)
> Clear glasses
> Scarf wrapped around neck, tucked into collar of jacket
>
> I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I was out
> today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing around was
> chilly let alone riding downhill at 30mph.
>
> I have some great hats when I'm out sking and such but I get nervous
> without a helmet. Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on, they look like
> they have closed vents and cover the back a bit more and have built in ear
> muffs. Are they just overbuilt bike hemets or are they designed for
> ski-specific crashes?
>
> What about ski goggles. Anyone ever ride with them? My Oakley M-frames do
> a good job but tend to fog up quite a bit when I tuck my face down into my
> scarf.
>
> Any advice from any cold weather warriors? Surely someone from Alaska or
> Nebraska or other chilly climes must wear a helmet and still be able to
> stay warm...
>

I wear a thin balaclava with my helmet, either a Pearl Izumi or a slightly
thicker Turtle Fur model that looks like it was meant to go under a ski
helmet. I think the continuous coverage of a balaclava is warmer than the
hat/scarf combo. I also have a thin wool hat that I sometimes wear under
the cycle helmet. I wear a Bell Metro helmet with the rain cover (not
Gore-Tex) and the winter add-ons (ear muffs and vent plugs). Is it possible
that you're cramming so many layers under your helmet that you're crushing
the insulation, losing the dead air space?

I try to keep my whole body protected, instead of focussing on one
part.Windproof tops and bottoms are crucial, as is a pair of neoprene shoe
covers. I found a pair of SportHill tights that are cut a little looser than
standard Lycra tights, leaving room for long underwear underneath. I also
find that wool long underwear, socks, jersey tend to insulate a touch better
than even the best synthetics.
HTH,
--
mark

 

[Zoot Katz]

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 22:41:42 -0500, "DOOH" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on, they look like they have
>closed vents and cover the back a bit more and have built in ear muffs. Are
>they just overbuilt bike hemets or are they designed for ski-specific
>crashes?

Compare Snell's bicycle helmet standard:
http://www.smf.org/standards/b/b95std.html

to their ski helmet standard,
http://www.smf.org/standards/ski/s98std.html

What little difference there is is in the sight lines. They're both
designed to be replace after one impact.
--
zk

 

[Eric Babula]

"DOOH" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Hi,
>
> Went out on an hour long road ride today in what is probably the
> chilliest ride of the year for me so far. As I'm fairly new to new
> england, I'm having trouble keeping my head warm when its below
> 25f.
>
> Feet, fingers and body all OK but wearing a helmet (which I feel is
> essential for as accident prone as I am) with the straps done up
> correctly is really difficult if I want to pile on the gear under
> it. I'm currently using a large helmet to accomodate the extra
> layers while in the summer I normally have a medium. Its a good fit
> and is snug and I feel safe but I really need something warmer.
>
> Here's what I currently wear:
>
> Gortex helmet cover
> Bell Helmet
> Thinsilate Hat (normal ski type cap, kinda thick)
> Specialised Skull cap (about the thickness of armwarmers)
> Clear glasses
> Scarf wrapped around neck, tucked into collar of jacket
>
> I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I
> was out today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing
> around was chilly let alone riding downhill at 30mph.
>
> I have some great hats when I'm out sking and such but I get
> nervous without a helmet. Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on,
> they look like they have closed vents and cover the back a bit more
> and have built in ear muffs. Are they just overbuilt bike hemets or
> are they designed for ski-specific crashes?
>
> What about ski goggles. Anyone ever ride with them? My Oakley
> M-frames do a good job but tend to fog up quite a bit when I tuck
> my face down into my scarf.
>
> Any advice from any cold weather warriors? Surely someone from
> Alaska or Nebraska or other chilly climes must wear a helmet and
> still be able to stay warm...
>
>

I'm not one for all the cycling-specific gear. Instead, I bought a
simple balaclava from Walmart. Fits under my helmet ok, and covers my
head, neck and face. I wear goggles in the winter months (I think
they're called VisorGogs). They only fog up when I stop, but, if I pull
them away from my face a little during the stops, they're ok.

This combo has worked for me in 0F temps (-7F wind chill), with no
problems of being cold at all.

YMMV,

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

 

[Pat Lamb]

DOOH wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Went out on an hour long road ride today in what is probably the chilliest
> ride of the year for me so far. As I'm fairly new to new england, I'm having
> trouble keeping my head warm when its below 25f.
>
> Feet, fingers and body all OK but wearing a helmet (which I feel is
> essential for as accident prone as I am) with the straps done up correctly
> is really difficult if I want to pile on the gear under it. I'm currently
> using a large helmet to accomodate the extra layers while in the summer I
> normally have a medium. Its a good fit and is snug and I feel safe but I
> really need something warmer.
>
> Here's what I currently wear:
>
> Gortex helmet cover
> Bell Helmet
> Thinsilate Hat (normal ski type cap, kinda thick)
> Specialised Skull cap (about the thickness of armwarmers)
> Clear glasses
> Scarf wrapped around neck, tucked into collar of jacket
>
> I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I was out
> today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing around was chilly
> let alone riding downhill at 30mph.
>
>
> Any advice from any cold weather warriors? Surely someone from Alaska or
> Nebraska or other chilly climes must wear a helmet and still be able to stay
> warm...

First, check out the icebike site (www.icebike.org) for more hints.

On to the rest. I use a thin balaclava, probably like your skull cap.
It fits comfortably under my helmet. That's all I need on my head and
neck; face exposure depends on wind and speed, as I can raise or lower
the bottom of the face opening. I go to my heaviest tights below about
30 -- are yours thick enough? Add in a pile layer and a wind layer on
the torso, shoe covers, and lobster claw gloves, and I'm good to go.

It's hard to recommend what else to change without knowing the rest of
your kit.

Pat

 

[Ron Wallenfang]

"DOOH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> Went out on an hour long road ride today in what is probably the chilliest
> ride of the year for me so far. As I'm fairly new to new england, I'm
> having trouble keeping my head warm when its below 25f.
>
> Feet, fingers and body all OK but wearing a helmet (which I feel is
> essential for as accident prone as I am) with the straps done up correctly
> is really difficult if I want to pile on the gear under it. I'm currently
> using a large helmet to accomodate the extra layers while in the summer I
> normally have a medium. Its a good fit and is snug and I feel safe but I
> really need something warmer.
>
> Here's what I currently wear:
>
> Gortex helmet cover
> Bell Helmet
> Thinsilate Hat (normal ski type cap, kinda thick)
> Specialised Skull cap (about the thickness of armwarmers)
> Clear glasses
> Scarf wrapped around neck, tucked into collar of jacket
>
> I can put all that on but it only feels warm down to about 25f. I was out
> today in temps cooler with a bit of wind and just standing around was
> chilly let alone riding downhill at 30mph.
>
> I have some great hats when I'm out sking and such but I get nervous
> without a helmet. Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on, they look like
> they have closed vents and cover the back a bit more and have built in ear
> muffs. Are they just overbuilt bike hemets or are they designed for
> ski-specific crashes?
>
> What about ski goggles. Anyone ever ride with them? My Oakley M-frames do
> a good job but tend to fog up quite a bit when I tuck my face down into my
> scarf.
>
> Any advice from any cold weather warriors? Surely someone from Alaska or
> Nebraska or other chilly climes must wear a helmet and still be able to
> stay warm...
Here's another vote for the "thin balaclava" solution, I use it below 15
degrees F. I bought mine at my LBS; it carries a TREK brand.

 

[Roy Zipris]

I've got two balaclavas, one light-weight and one medium-weight, both
some kind of poly, I guess, not fleece. A friend wears a silk
balaclava. We've been out in temperatures as low as 7 degrees and we
routinely ride in the teens with no need for additional headgear here
in SE Pennsylvania.

There are a number of reasonably-priced catalog sources, so there's no
need to pay for cycling-specific (and over-priced) names. Try Sierra
Trading, Cabela's, Campmor... Regards, Roy Zipris

 

[H M Leary]

In article <[email protected]>,
"Roy Zipris" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I've got two balaclavas, one light-weight and one medium-weight, both
> some kind of poly, I guess, not fleece. A friend wears a silk
> balaclava. We've been out in temperatures as low as 7 degrees and we
> routinely ride in the teens with no need for additional headgear here
> in SE Pennsylvania.
>
> There are a number of reasonably-priced catalog sources, so there's no
> need to pay for cycling-specific (and over-priced) names. Try Sierra
> Trading, Cabela's, Campmor... Regards, Roy Zipris

Here in SE Pennsylvania ther are more Hummers and cadillac Escalede ESVs
than almost anywhere.

Who say GM is in bankruptcy???

I have a PI balaclava that goes under the H**mut and a gore tex cover
over the H.

I may look like a fully gorged tick in my winter get up, but I am warm.

The older I get, the warmer I like it!

HAND

 

[SMS]

DOOH wrote:

> I have some great hats when I'm out sking and such but I get nervous without
> a helmet. Anyone ever ride with a ski helmet on, they look like they have
> closed vents and cover the back a bit more and have built in ear muffs. Are
> they just overbuilt bike hemets or are they designed for ski-specific
> crashes?

You can compare the Snell standards for bicycle helmets versus ski
helmets. The peak acceleration to the headform appears to be the same
for both. However there are a lot of other aspects of helmets other than
just the protection from impact.

See
http://www.smf.org/standards/ski/s98std.html

and

http://www.smf.org/standards/b/b90astd.html

Bottom line is that it should be just fine. The important thing is that
at least you're protecting your head, as all the experts advise.

 

[gds]

SMS wrote:
>
> Bottom line is that it should be just fine. The important thing is that
> at least you're protecting your head, as all the experts advise.

Now it's almost the weekend and you're just spoiling for a fight with
Guy and Frank.

 

[SMS]

gds wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>> Bottom line is that it should be just fine. The important thing is that
>> at least you're protecting your head, as all the experts advise.
>
> Now it's almost the weekend and you're just spoiling for a fight with
> Guy and Frank.

Since I don't see their posts, there will be only be a fight if someone
is dumb enough to respond to them.

 

[Fritz M]

SMS wrote:

> Since I don't see their posts, there will be only be a fight if someone
> is dumb enough to respond to them.

Gary responded. Are you calling him dumb?

RFM

 

[gds]

Fritz M wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>
> > Since I don't see their posts, there will be only be a fight if someone
> > is dumb enough to respond to them.
>
> Gary responded. Are you calling him dumb?
>
>

Gosh folks are feisty tonight.
Well I'm off to go ride.