Open Face Helmet and Goggles…..WTFs that about?

Have lots of people been forgetting their glasses and reaching for goggles or am I missing the next big cool thing?

It’s about getting the benefit of goggles, while wearing an open face helmet. Looks retarded but it’s pretty effective, especially in winter.

I’ve done it before – not a big fan of glasses – tend to find they don’t stay on my face well while riding. Googles sit better, are secure and I’m used to them from DH. Keep more dust mud out too I find which when wearing contacts is a bonus.

The truth lies in what Northwind said, but with all the words taken out and this enduring image of Steve McQueen in their place..

there is an old boy round my way that has a really ancient creaking handbuilt road bike, he rides around in full gear with those goggles you used to have to wear back in science class.

he looks hilarious but he loves riding his bike so who am I to argue.

yunki, I think I’m going to use that instead of ever using words again.

Deepo…..Take it your one of these that goes for form over function then? Looking good is more important than function to you?

I’ve used an XC lid and goggles before, it makes sense in some situations.

I don’t wear a full face helmet skiing.

Who gives a shit?

Ash who runs TrailAddiction rode like this when we were there a few years ago – certainly worked for him.

I’m thinking of doing this, just need to find a cheap set of goggles

I ride with my Giro Xen and Oakley goggles and it’s great for wet and dirty fun.

I couldn’t give a monkeys what I look like. Why would anyone, when they’re covered in crud?

How cheap do you want? Don’t think I’ve ever paid more than £30

Because it shouts “I ride my all-mountain bike fast enough that my eyes need serious protection, but I’m not a pussy who wears a full-face on an XC ride.”

I have a pair of goggle that are a bit more like swimming ones in there design, quite nice… difficult to find a time for them horrible to climb in… found mine in TKMaxx…

If you don’t want to wear goggles with an open-face helmet then don’t – It’s that simple.

This is all you need to know –

robsoctane – Member
I ride with my Giro Xen and Oakley goggles and it’s great for wet and dirty fun.

I couldn’t give a monkeys what I look like. Why would anyone, when they’re covered in crud?

Ash who runs TrailAddiction rode like this when we were there a few years ago – certainly worked for him.

He wasn’t this year, but I found the combo a winning one. Don’t like wearing glasses, but on long descents like that goggles make sense – while a full facer is over-kill.

If you don’t want to wear goggles with an open-face helmet then don’t – It’s that simple.

but it’s not that simple is it..?
The OP is feigning bemusement in an effort to gauge audience response.. the fact is that the OP thinks the look is achingly hip and desperately wants to tap into some of that attraction, but isn’t naturally stylish enough to just see that power and seize it without approval..

It’s interesting though, as the OP has already set sail on a course that ends in wearing the look, they have already allocated funds and researched the products and made a decision about the purchase..
The outcome of this thread, or in fact any of the posts within it are irrelevant, as the OP has already come out of the closet by starting this thread..
The burden has been lifted, and they are already on the first rung of the sartorial ladder, ready almost to take that next shy and tentative step..

They have already hit buy, and are eagerly awaiting the postman..

I was thinking about dong exactly that. Most of my XC is in Epping on natural trails where there’s loads of low branches/foliage/stuff that hits you in the face. A pair glasses would quickly be knocked off, where googles would stay on and protect my eyes.

I’d rather look likes dick than have an eye injury, after all you can’t ride blinded can you?

yunki

cool post 8)

I believe I may have been rocking the “Piss pot ‘n’ goggles” look almost a decade ago and you know what I looked like a proper spooner. I knew this at the time of couse but just thought I was sooooo far ahead of the game…..

I thought that humanity would eventually catch up, I would be heralded as a visionary, a man unapreciated in his own time….

of course now I realise you’re fooling nobody goggles or not you are still just a tubby IT professional trundling about surrey at speeds which probably don’t warrant the full “desert storm” look…. or this being 2012 should it be “shock and awe”?

Either way it looks crap but it’s in MBUK by now so we’ll be seeing it on our local trails soon….

As others have said its great in the wet as they really keep the mud and water out of your eyes. It is hard to find a helmet that looks good with it. My piss pot looks fine (its what I wear skiing too) my xen looks crap and the goggles don’t sit right. I am yet to try them with my Endur-o-matic but they should fit right as Urge do a snow version of the helmet but I think that has a different front pad.

20 odd years ago it was an open face helmet, goggles (optional) and mouth guard (mandatory) if you didn’t want to race BMX with full face helmet.
I had a YES open face helmet, Oakley goggles and a JT mouth guard, I remember always wanting a Bell Moto 4.

Thirty quid. That’s too steep for me, just got some sh ones for fifteen,

I already look like a window licker so this’ll just maintain my style

I bought goggles, since a nice pair of them were cheaper than a nice pair of glasses.

They work well in the winter – keeping your face/eyes warm and mud free.

Not so good in the summer however especially on the climbs, but then just let them hang round your neck.

You’re riding a bike so you look like a tit, regardless what you wear.

The Yak strongly tries to emphasise Yunki’s statement. But even if wearing goggles with an open helmet was a new thing, who cares. The Yak wonders how other people’s fashion affect’s his life.
The Yak also is always curious how cyclists are ripped off too, but the more time The Yak wastes here the more he understands.

Fashion is a big deal to your average cyclist.

It just looks so silly, i can’t take people that wear the XC lid and goggle combo seriously.

i’ve been doing it a bit since i got to New zealand. The trails were very dusty a few weeks ago and goggles were the only thing that would keep it all out of your eyes.

Hmm, this could be the way forward, I can’t believe I’d never thought of it (although the ski goggles are perhaps a bit dark). Contact lenses, filth and wind do not a happy rider make. I’ve had 2 eye infections in as many years and for the sake of looking a bit odd, I think this will save a good deal of discomfort.

I am yet to try them with my MAGNET-o-matic but they should fit right as Urge do a snow version of the helmet but I think that has a different front pad.

fixed that for you mate 🙂 You’ll keep out Professor X no problem now…

I wear Goggles with a protec pisspot when its really wet, they’re snow googles with a clear lens for night riding, keep meaning to get a mx lens with tear off posts but is that overkill?

functions well,it isn’t a fashion parade you know.

Done it before when my prescription bolle glasses were snapped and didn’t want to risk my normal glasses getting muddy, scratched, falling off. It was my snow goggles with an Orange lenses and the felt too warm and steamed up too much on anything I was putting effort into despite using antifog.

It keeps crap out of your eyes when you are riding better than glasses.
Good (& Cheap) goggles vent well so not a problem.
Also quite good on really cold days.

As above not a fashion parade.

Perfect sense at speed. For me somewhere like Afan was the limit of my riding and the speed emant streaming eyes. rain wasn’t nice. therefore goggles

FFS ! Have you people never watched CHIPS ?
Open face and aviators set off with gun, badge and boots 8)

@nwill1 – think you’re off the mark and in fact wearing an open face with goggles IS the fashion. I don’t like goggles because I loose a bit of peripheral vision….@yunki – most amusing but the OP ain’t getting goggles anytime soon, despite steve McQueen.

I did it for a while about 2 years ago with a Fox transition and red O-frames. I felt snuggly protected in my foamy lensed bubble.

Walkers laughed at me 😳

Due to sweatiness I’m back in a vented lid and specs but they don’t sit on my head right. I think I’d like some kind of slimmed down goggle, they don’t need to be a bulky as they are. I predict this is the future, twinned with Urge style AM helmets.

I had gritty mud flying up behind my lenses on Monday, how I longed for my gogs!

I am thinking of doing this myself i only have my everyday specs to ride in but contacts is a recipe for crap in the eyes,

I only have my spesh decibel helmet which is for all intents a roadie helmet with a peak so it will look really really crap but im more concerned w vision. Maybe next year i’ll save up for an “enduro” helmet so i can look cool…