I wear one most of the time on my road bike. Keeps the rain off my glasses, sweat out of my eyes, and bees off my head.
The peaks are generally narrower than helmet peaks so one eye can always see round it, and I don’t notice any issues with my neck (my position is pretty agressive too).
I’ve got a few cheap cotton ones, normally old team issue ones for less than a fiver a pop, they get pretty manky commuting 5 days a week so I don’t keep them for too long.
I’ve got one of these for the winter,
but it’s reserved for really cold days as it’s very warm. If it’s just pretty cold I’ve got a buff I cut into three shorter buffs to keep the chill off my ears.
Also never understood why they are always cotton – we don’t wear cotton clothes elsewhere when cycling.
Actually the cheap Castelli one I bought isn’t (that’s the other reason I chose it!) It’s a wicking material same as a modern jersey would be made from. Much better in the summer!
What is the benefit of them? Serious question, loads in our club wear them but I’m slightly embarrassed to question their choice face to face
Rain is the main one, which is why you’ll see half the pro peloton wearing them on the not so nice days during the spring classics. In winter, when you get those days out in the hills, with icy cold, sideways rain – the kind that pretty much feels like someone is throwing darts at your face….they’re invaluable. They offer a surprising amount of protection from the elements.
The other benefits are not so obvious, like protection from the sun. But if you wear one, you’ll notice when it’s not there, when you go to flip your peak…
Never understood people wearing them in warmer weather, my head would cook. I noticed Bertie wearing one with the top cut off to create a peaked headband. I assume this keeps out the sun/rain but doesn’t keep you warm.
Also never understood why they are always cotton – we don’t wear cotton clothes elsewhere when cycling.
It’s all about the luft; a proper luft, and the head remains cool. A wrong fitting cap, with no luft, your head will overheat.
And cotton helps retain the luft shape … and like cotton socks over synthetic, it just works.
Ah, fellow cap wearers, I’m glad I’m not alone 😀 I only got a Castelli one as it’s big enough for my melon head and is thin enough to fit under my Mavic helmet
I like clothing that has a defined purpose: waterproof jacket, wickable base layer, protective gloves… A cap like that is an advertisement gadget, can’t find a purpose for it. When it’s cold its the ears that suffer most, not the hair! 8)
I wear mine in hot weather, in fact when I climbed the Forclaz a few weeks ago to watch the TDF it was 40.9 degrees average temperature and I had my cap on.
Why? Cos the sweat running off me was unbelievable and if that runs into my eyes which it often used to pre-cap wear, it stings like buggery, especially as I’m wearing contact lenses too.
It also prevent the sun shining in my eyes.
It was wringing wet when I got to the top but it did the job.
biglee1 – Member
Ah, fellow cap wearers, I’m glad I’m not alone I only got a Castelli one as it’s big enough for my melon head and is thin enough to fit under my Mavic helmet
Large head here too and yes, Castelli is one of the few brands that fits me.
INRNG do a nice line in cheap caps too with a large option available and I used to wear one of those until the peak bent
I’ve never tried one but I’ve just ordered a Walz one after finding out in this thread they do a larger size. In a few days I fully expect to have my life changed forever.
Synthetic cap in club colours. FHHV in cotton. Worn under normal road helmet but not aero helmet. Keeps sun off, sweat out of my eyes and rain off if I’ve remembered to wear it. I don’t fold it back to show the club initials.
I also find that to make the fit properly I can’t just pull them on. I like to roll them over at the back so they don’t sit quite as low. Anybody else do this?