I've been looking for a while for an under-helmet cap (I'm sure there's a proper roadie term for it in the rules) and have sporadically seen some good uns on films or pictures, but can't find one that hits the mark when looking to buy. The best one I saw had quite a big peak on, quite a full-headed cap (not perching on top). Any recommendations?
That would be a cycling cap that sir is looking for. The peaks are usually short though, so that you can still see where you’re going if you’ve got it down
No overly useful recommendations though, is it a fabric thing you’re thinking? Is something that will be nice and cool?
A casquette
I have 4 picked up from various places over the years and can't honestly tell the difference in any of them.....
1x Innerring
1x Castelli
1x LeCol
and I had a Planet-x one that I wore till it rotted and worked just as well as the fancy ones above
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/clothing/clothes/headwear
https://www.casquette.co.uk/style/2017/6/15/caps-not-hats?rq=caps
My favourite ones ever were Z Peugeot caps, purchased years ago in the US - a wonderfully light fabric.
Now I prefer Walz:
https://ghyllside.co.uk/brand/111-walz-caps
I wore an Endura cap on Friday. Won't make that mistake again.
Prendas have a huge range of regular caps.
I'm a fan of Galibier ones - I have the lightweight summer one and the waterproof one which has a bigger peak.
I find regular ones are often cheaply made, fade when washed and quickly become disposable items
I use one of these in the winter.
Bonus. Keeps my ears warm.
https://www.giro.co.uk/products/detail/GI17OCP/merino-wool-under-helmet-cycling-cap/
I’ve always known them as **** caps. 😉
Prendas, PX, frankly most places that sell bike stuff. They’re all pretty similar, cotton works well, just pick a design you like.
What do you want it for and it’ll be easier to recommend a source.
For example I’m a sweaty headed baldy and I can’t ride in the summer without a cap as a dispersion layer - Castelli make a great wicking cap and its cooler with the cap than bare headed (under a helmet)
Today it was 2C and raining so a gore cap was perfect to keep the rain out of my eyes.
Cinelli do a great range of cafe caps to look cool.
Cheap caps are cheap and although fading isn’t a problem, a wonky peak is not a great look!
I love a cycling cap, noramally take any daft visor off and have a cap under instead.
I do like the cinelli ones mainly because they are nice to look at and well enough made to sit right. Cotyon is fine none of the fancy fabrics for me ta.
And for the rank weather or keeping warm at the carpark? A belgian winter cap is the dogs bollocks.
Just to add to the voices above in praise of cotton: I started out wearing caps made from more technical fabrics and none of them has been as good as a cotton cap.
Just remember if you are putting a cap under your helmet that means two things. Your helmet is too big and you are reducing its effectiveness.
And for the rank weather or keeping warm at the carpark? A belgian winter cap is the dogs bollocks.
I picked up a Rapha Belgian cap on eBay a few years back - think it was only a tenner as it was a horrible purple colour. It's the warmest thing ever. Amazing.
So I'm anti cotton. I don't get it. In all other outdoor environments you'd avoid it? I find the synthetic ones better. I wear them to keep my head warm in winter and to keep rain and snow out of my eyes. My favourite ones were on ebay - it doesn't really help as I can't find it anymore. A few years ago I bought one for a couple of quid and liked it so I ordered about 4 and haven't lost them all yet.
Prendas have some good designs. There are often people making them and selling on ebay/etsy if you want something unique.
As for helmet fitting unless you are at the limit of the size it shouldn't matter, there is a range of head sizes covered by a helmet and a thin cap will be within tolerance.
As a non-helmet wearer I wear a lot of caps but not all at once.
Currently very impressed with the Prendas Lisboa waterproof cap. Also for this time of year the Castelli Difesa cap is superb.
I usually buy either Rapha on sale or Castelli. The fabrics and construction are really good on both. If I’m out for a longer ride at this time of year then a woolly hat pulled over the top is great until I’m warmed up.
don’t caps under helmets stop the helmet working properly in an accident? like hoods that fit under helmets.
I wear a buff regularly under a helmet for warmth, I like it covers my ears and wicks well.
Is there a cycle cap that covers ears, wicks well and isn't some daft sweaty fleece or even the horrid gore windstopper skull cap I had many years ago?
But a cold or burnt bald heid isn't much fun either.
don’t caps under helmets stop the helmet working properly in an accident? like hoods that fit under helmets.
where does thick luxurious hair come into this argument? Do i need to keep my curls of a certain length?
I have our have had both cotton, wool and like them all depending on conditions. Synthetic for Baldy heid protection in the sun or cooler days, cotton for cold days, wool for really cold days. My cotton one in particular is old and wonky so that's what I'm looking to replace. It was a continental freebie from years back and a couple of attempts to replace haven't come close for comfort.
Just remember if you are putting a cap under your helmet that means two things. Your helmet is too big and you are reducing its effectiveness.
I agree with TJ, helmets are very effective.
<Runs away> 🙂
My own question about the rain cap versions: doesn't the rain just run down your neck instead?
where does thick luxurious hair come into this argument?
i wasn’t presenting an argument, i was asking a question. i suspect hair behaves differently to a cap.
I have my suspicions about hair but its not been covered in any research I have seen. The Moto GP racer that died after his helmet came off was renowned for his luxuriant hair and wore a helmet one size too big to allow for it. Extreme case tho.
As for the fit - if you can get a hat under it it is too big. read the TRL research. Helmets that have cradles to take up slack are much less effective if you are having to cinch the cradle down
Oh good. None of my POC helmets for without having the ratchet tightened.
I've been wearing helmets with a cap for over 30 years, and no matter what teej says I'm not going to stop doing so. Sometimes I commute wearing just a cotton cap - oh, the humanity.
Caps I like currently include rapha, bicyclista, and pedalEd.
Its not what I say - its what the TRL state
Just remember if you are putting a cap under your helmet .... It's more effective than not wearing a helmet
I have a couple of Walt cotton caps and a Pearl Izumi synthetic one. They all wick reasonably well. The PI style tends to leave me with a dry head but the Walt disnae.
For any manufacturers reading this, can I just say: One size does not ****ing fit all.
For any manufacturers reading this, can I just say: One size does not **** fit all.
This. So much this.
Galibier I think offer more than one size, and the waterproof one is generous in its sizing
I have a Kalas cap in club colours, its nice but not for really cold days when a buff needs to cover my ears
Roadies - if having a peaked hat under a helmet is such a great idea, why not just put a peak on the helmet in the first place?
why not just put a peak on the helmet in the first place?
It's like layering, peakless helmet + cap gives you a choice of thin synthetic cap, thick cotton cap, fleecy/windproof cap, Belgian cap, no cap.
Also allows for a different cap every day if you want to accessorise with your outfit 😉
My vote for the synthetc Castelli Rossa Corsa caps, synthetic just makes so much more sense than cotton for the application.
A cap peak can be easily flipped upwards when required (at least mine can)
They perform a different purpose to a MTB helmet. Plus most of the time you don't need it so you don't wear it. Crikey, you can even remove it mid ride once it's stopped raining or warmed up and put it in your pocket, or turn it round to stop your neck getting burnt on a hot day.
See also - why have arm warmers when you could just have long sleeves?
Try flicking your helmet peak up out the way when you go down on the drops and now can't see
It’s like layering, peakless helmet + cap gives you a choice of thin synthetic cap, thick cotton cap, fleecy/windproof cap, Belgian cap, no cap.
other forms of head covering are available that do exactly the same job without the peaky bit. You may find mountain bikers using some of them, as they already have a peak on the helmet.
A cap peak can be easily flipped upwards when required (at least mine can)
Much like an adjustable peak on many MTB helmets. Admittedly MTB helmet peaks don't go as far up as cap peaks, but it's not impossible to build a road helmet with a more adjustable peak (then charge £££ more for a £ bit of plastic moulding)
Arm warmers is a different argument, as are head warmers in general. It's just the adding of a peak to something that could already have that built in that makes no sense to me. I can see the evolution of them as BITD nobody wore helmets and wore caps instead, then early helmets were peakless and the cap stayed on, and so a tradition was born and we all know how much of road cycling has been dictated because of history and tradition.
FWIW I've done more road miles this year than MTB, but have yet to feel the need for an extra hat.
we all know how much of road cycling has been dictated because of history and tradition.
See also: all other sports 😉
If it's just part of tradition or 'the look' then so be it, you could find similar examples in every sport of small idiosyncrasies born of tradition or looking the part.
That being said, I rode with a peaked helmet yesterday, definitely missed my cap, probably because it has a bigger peak but also because it can sit closer to my eyebrows so affords more protection when you do flip it down.
My peak flips up and down about 30 degrees.
For me the cap is better than a helmet peak for keeping rain out.
I'm a road racer and tester so do tend to ride fast. Glasses become a bit of a pain when they get wet. If you get your cap right it protects your eyes from rain drops which sting like buggery when you are riding at speed.
I used to just use buffs. Only have peakless helmets these days. All the ones on my MTB lids used to be pointless. Wrong position for anything. Sunglasses always seemed the best option on bright days.
Ref; tradition, see also why road cycling clothing is black, appendices time trialling and amateur v professional cyclists way, way back.
Ref; tradition, see also why road cycling clothing is black, appendices time trialling and amateur v professional cyclists way, way back.
I think that link you are drawing may be cobblers.
