[Closed] Cycling with a (filtration) mask. What's the STW concencus?

Well considering you'll be walking around breathing the same air you just rode in I wouldn`t bother tbh

Happy new year 😀

You'll struggle with any effort as will be restricted air flow. I tried a respo one when came out in 90's - would sprint away from lights and stop 100m down road needing to remove it so I could actually breathe! Edit - this was central London too.
Think was BBC did a show monitoring exposure to nasties a few years ago and actually showed cyclists least exposed as walkers and drivers were sat exposed to fumes etc longer - can't remember what was in now though.

Worked in the respiratory protection industry for many years - because these masks have a pretty ineffective seal around your face, they're practically useless. If riding hard you're breathing at a rate way in excess of any filter can cope - you simply suck polluted air past the mask seal.

happy new year!

thanks NSN and DB. I won't bother with the masks then!

filters get moist and stop working, facial hair stops them working, you look a prat wearing one,theyre costly,you need an oxygen supply from a tank to be totally safe from bad air, and a properley fitting full face mask.

Thats assuming the air in the tank is good 😉
Air, not oxygen BTW.

The greatest concentration of city pollutants is at 1 centre above the road surface. As a (normal, not recumbent) cyclist, you're in a much better position than you would be in a car - they tend to suck air into the cabin from intakes at about 1m.

Rachel

Don't filter the worst pollutants anyway - they're pretty much a dust mask. Filters need changing regularly (which no one does)

Apart from which, don't seal properly, can't breath through them, gave me a rash on my face. Tried shortly after I started commuting. Lasted a week.

Your problem is as above no mask can possible flow the amount of air you need if you are working hard unless its pumping pressured air thru massive filters