Thought this might interest some folk who get annoyed with peaks but don't want the full roadie look.
Fox Crossframe Pro
Anyone tried one?
But roadies wear those silly caps under their helmets (to act as a peak!) and the cap also stops the vents working properly!
But roadies wear those silly caps under their helmets (to act as a peak!) and the cap also stops the vents working properly!
Yeah but...... the cap absorbs the sweat that is caused by blocking the vents
Yeah but...... the cap absorbs the sweat that is caused by blocking the vents
😂
I'm very conflicted about cap usage, I was about to say that wearing a cap helped protect my head from cold breezes through the vents
I like a cap me. I sweat whether there's vents or not and I find that being able to flip the peak up or down lets me adjust for low sunlight (particularly a problem in the cooler months anyway I guess). If I'm not wearing a cap I'll likely be wearing a buff for the sweat wicking properties. Caps also come in a variety of materials and thicknesses so it's possible to adjust for the prevailing conditions.
A few years ago Kask did a roadie style helmet with a very small peak. It was ok but didn't have the flexibility of a cap.
FWIW caps also prevent a burnt scalp when it's sunny. (Remember sunny?)
I'm of the opinion that caps is one of the rare cases where roadies have nailed function over form, whereas the MTB equivalent (helmet peaks) seem to be more decorative. The little cap peak is just perfect for keeping rain off your face and blocking low sun, then getting out of the way when not needed. Cotton caps also seem to work better than fancier fabrics in most conditions. The MTB peaks in my experience do nothing of function other than make the helmet look more mountain bikey (which in itself isn't a bad thing, looking cool is nice).
Back to the OP - I think POC had a similar idea a few years ago with the Octal X. A bit more coverage than a road helmet but no peak.
Cotton caps also seem to work better than fancier fabrics in most conditions
I am not convinced by that at all.
And if we were truly onto 'functional' caps and peaks, then I can see the peaks being larger, fabrics being different, there being options to cover ears and nape of neck etc being worn. Instead all I see are retro-hipster fashion caps....And cotton has never been as good as a poly-cotton or merino or full synthetic material for such an application
I have a Castelli cap that covers my ears and neck. It's a bit warm for summer though. I find the current/common peak size to be just about perfect.
You don't want a large peak on a cap as it is then in the way when e.g. descending in the drops. Caps have been around long enough to have reached peak design 😆
Back to that helmet.....
It looks pretty good without a head attached - but....I just did a search for it online & any photo of it on someone's head in profile just looks odd. The backwards sloping front slab looks weird although maybe it looks better in the flesh.
The backwards sloping front slab looks weird although maybe it looks better in the flesh.
Not perfect but it doesn't look as bad as those awful duckbill high peaks that so many MTB helmets insist on having at the moment
Well, at least it won't clash with my er, ponytail/backofmeheadbun thing.
At least three people will stop to tell you your helmet is on backwards every ride...
I am not convinced by that at all.
And if we were truly onto 'functional' caps and peaks, then I can see the peaks being larger, fabrics being different, there being options to cover ears and nape of neck etc being worn. Instead all I see are retro-hipster fashion caps....And cotton has never been as good as a poly-cotton or merino or full synthetic material for such an application
I've used any number of fancy-fabric caps and they have all had at least one major flaw not shared by the humble cotton cap. I dunno why it works but it just does, and all the other fabrics are too cold, hot, smelly or fragile. And longer peaks just get in the way.
I don't particularly like how the roadie caps look, but I have to say for functionality they remain undefeated.
Decathlon's Van Rysel RCR with MIPS for ~£80 would be my recommendation.
With a cap, of course.
Good to see theres still a few Timmy Mallet fashion followers keeping his legacy alive. 😆
Back to that helmet.....
It looks pretty good without a head attached - but....I just did a search for it online & any photo of it on someone's head in profile just looks odd. The backwards sloping front slab looks weird although maybe it looks better in the flesh.
I see a fella riding round my way who has one, it looks fine.
I have a POC Octal X, there's no difference in shape vs the standard Octal (which I also have) just a bit more of the plastic shell where on the standard Octal has exposed EPS. (I also have a Ventral Air and Cytal - POC's road helmets look a bit goofy, but I get a hot head and they vent better than others I've tried).
A few years ago Kask did a roadie style helmet with a very small peak. It was ok but didn't have the flexibility of a cap.
I think that may be what I have; a "Kask Mojito X Peak", which as far as I could see was identical to the normal Mojito road helmet as you say but it has a small click on rubbery/foamy peak which actually does a reasonably good job of providing some shade when the sun's high in the sky. You're just about aware of it in a full aero position but it's not in the way. At the time CRC had it on sale for way less than the normal Mojito so it made sense to buy even if you never clicked on the peak.
Pretty sure they stopped making it though, may be just a bit too niche at the time.
I think that may be what I have; a "Kask Mojito X Peak",
Yep. That's it. Cube do a "commuter" helmet with a similar part but it looks to be poorly vented for more strenuous cycling.
I have a Troy Lee Grail which I think is marketed as "gravel" - I mainly bought it as it has good coverage to the back of the head like a MTB lid but no peak, I probably wear it more than any of my other lids on road, gravel and XC rides but that might just be because it's comfier.
Plus quite a few people have them for the £30 region which is really cheap for a good lid!
I've used any number of fancy-fabric caps and they have all had at least one major flaw not shared by the humble cotton cap. I dunno why it works but it just does, and all the other fabrics are too cold, hot, smelly or fragile.
yep. There's a reason why all the best sports apparel is still made from good old cotton. Can't beat it.
the cotton cap - an excellent solution to a number of problems that existed prior to helmets, sports sunglasses, technical sports fabrics, and suncream that still works when you sweat.
file them with toe clips, full length frame pumps, friction shifters and glued tubulars as things that work as well as they always did, but you can buy better things now.