Rule #22 is perhaps the most complicated Rule amongst the (currently) 85. Part of the complexity springs from the fact that we are all very attached to this small cotton cap. Off the bike, it was once a badge used to recognize one of our own; now it has been taken over by the hipster crowd which subsequently ruined it for those of us who wore this hallowed garment with pride. Our response has been to refrain from wearing this garment off the bike and resort to other badges – such as Rule #33 compliance – to identify our own. That said, some of us, in the spirit of Rage Against the Machine, refuse to lay down arms and are fighting to take the power back and callously wear our caps regardless. (Guilty.)
Further complexity is due to its provisioning one to wear a cap during any activity directly related to cycling; maintaining your machine, while kitting up, placed jauntily askew while consuming a post-ride recovery beverage at your favorite watering hole. We’ve deliberately refrained from laying out a clear definition as to what constitutes a cycling-related activity, but the verbose description should give you a feel of the spirit within which to govern this Rule.
What The Rules don’t touch on at all is what type of cap is acceptable and precisely how it may be worn. This small, simple garment is at least as complex as a pair of bib shorts or a jersey, and just as with those items, there is a Pro way to wear them, and a noob way to wear them. Especially in light of a recent rash of non-compliant caps coming onto the market, I thought it as good a time as any to outline the definition of a proper cap and how to wear it.
The material. A proper cycling cap is made of cotton, and is as cheaply made as possible. They used to cost a few dollars. That’s like a nickel in dollOZ. Now they are upwards of $15 or $20. A small strip of elastic should be somewhat carelessly sewn together at the back. A good cap should have almost no quality-control in its making, leading to each cap having its own size or positioning of panels. Each cap has its unique character and should be carefully chosen based on it. There has been a recent slew of new caps (made by both Pearl Izumi and some by our beloved Castelli) that have a sweatband sewn into the cap. This is strictly forbidden.
The visor. This is the most important part. Visors should be short. This is because the purpose of a cap is to be worn while riding, and when the head is tipped down as you move to the V-Locus, you need to be able to see up the road to where the guns will detonate without tilting your head up in order to see past the visor. As with the above, a new wave of caps (again by Pearl Izumi and Castelli) have been made with a too-long visor. These visors are also strictly forbidden in general and for wearing under the helmet in particular.
The Three-Point System always applies. Especially when worn without a helmet in pre or post-ride activities. No exceptions here; forward or backward, just always, always, always follow this system.
Worn under the helmet, the helmet and cap must form a cohesive unit. Start with the cap, and slide it down over the back of the head to the nape of the neck. Then pull the visor down towards the eyes until the bottom edge of the visor is just above the eyebrows. Smooth out the wrinkles in the cap, as those will feel weird under the helmet. Next, the helmet goes on with the front of the helmet pushed down snug towards the visor of the cap. If part of the visor disappears under the helmet, you’ve gone too far, and if any part of the front of the cap shows, you haven’t gone far enough.
Visors can be flipped up, especially when worn backwards. Worn forward, it is better to keep the visor down, especially under a helmet. If for some reason it must be flipped up, keep the bottom line of the cap low to the eyebrows. If it is being flipped up under a helmet, it helps an awful lot if you’re also in the midst of riding to a win in a Monument, your name starts with Phillipe and ends with Gilbert, or both.
frank
The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking.
As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it.
Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen.
Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.
@Dr C
Just possibly your LBS plays a long term game, sacrificing short term profit in favour of a long term relationship. I'd rather deal with a Belgian beer drinking funny guy who wants to deal with you long term than a Bud (or, given your location, Tennents?) swilling pressure-sales guy who just wants to sell you stuff right now. Of course, he's gone a bit too far re the cycling cap thing, but that's forgiveable. So here's what you do: go back, and say you've been thinking about getting a mirror for your helmet. If he says "sure, he you go", he fails. If he says "go home and sleep on it", he passes. Whaddya reckon, Brett? I mean, you'd never sell anyone a mirror without a bit of counselling, would you?
@G'phant
Good lord. I think we need a rule about not flogging dead horses. Because, by my count, that's about the V-hundredth time that's come up. Just when did you buy it?
I can recommend the A'qto (http://www.aqto.com.au) cap. It does not have a sweatband - just pure heat-sapping cotton.
Originally bought solely because the celeste/black version matched my Bianchi, it has accompanied me on almost every ride through this (Wellington, NZ) winter. No stink, no loss of shape, still pure white. It's an enigma!
I can second this. I got one free with a couple of their Ts, and it's become my go-to cap. Excellent fit and very comfortable. Next step: get a Bianchi.
Although, Frank, I was rather hoping that this post was coinciding with the announcement of a V-cap. WTF? Someone in The V-Marketing dept. should be shot for this timing breech.
Is that young Gianni in the photo at the top?
Alas, lads, methinks the brim is too long. This is why there is no V-Cap yet. It's nearly impossible to find the proper style from a vendor who does custom orders. Any help is appreciated. Castelli, despite also making a crap cap, makes a fantastic team cap. But the minimum order quantity is ridiculously high, and it's a fairly expensive cap.
I would need 150 of you assholes to pledge to buy at least one cap at about $18.00 a pop for us to qualify for even the minimum order. And, the guys at Castelli are great, but for some reason this is the one product where they can't budge on the minimum numbers.
But it is a fantastic cap; I have the Cervelo test team cap and it's perfect. I've been prowling around for a vendor who will meet my exceptionally high expectations and still provide a reasonable price at reasonable order numbers. Nothing doing. I'm seriously considering hiring someone to make them for me from scratch.
@Dr C
You need to find a new bike shop. Any bike shop worth it's weight in snot is going to get stoked about the Belgian Classics. I went to my LBS today and spent an hour that I didn't have laughing and talking. I bought an $8 valve extender. Its not like I'm a huge profit engine for them. Good people just like other good people.
Finding the right shop is a seriously tough job, though, and takes time. But a shop that doesn't show you respect, is irritating, and tells you what you do/don't need without listening to you, is crap and is no better than buying online.
It sure could be. Looks just like the bastid. I get to see him tomorrow. I'll ask 'im.
I just can't believe the team docs used to prescribe smoking to ease tension. Keeping that in mind together with the notion that they ate a giant steak for breakfast before doing a TT does go a little ways towards explaining why the modern cyclist goes mo fasta.
@frank
Thanks Frank - your little mention of dollOZ has brought on a 6% fall in our currency.
The force of the V indeed...
@frank
Within that minimum order, would they all have to be the same, or could you do two different caps"”one mainly white and one mainly black? Because then you could probably put me down for three.
I've always admired the look of the cycling cap and have a well used one myself. My question is this: As a velominata, (and a feminine one at that although you'd have to confirm with my husband whether the 'velomihottie' status applies) can chicks pull off the cap or have I inadvertently ventured into a no-woman's land?
@Steampunk
Oh, they thought of that already. If you want a while one and black one, it's 300, mate.
I've always admired the look of the cycling cap and have a well used one myself. My question is this: As a Velominata, (and a feminine one at that although you'd have to confirm with my husband whether the 'Velomihottie' status applies) can chicks pull off the cap or have I inadvertently ventured into a no-woman's land?
My VMH does it will style all the time. I give your question a resounding, "YES!" (Just as a point of reference, anything you ladies do you do looking better and with more style than any of us doornob men.)
Also for reference, despite the three-point violation, I would say this is a healthy vote in favor.
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@Dr C
Just possibly your LBS plays a long term game, sacrificing short term profit in favour of a long term relationship. I'd rather deal with a Belgian beer drinking funny guy who wants to deal with you long term than a Bud (or, given your location, Tennents?) swilling pressure-sales guy who just wants to sell you stuff right now. Of course, he's gone a bit too far re the cycling cap thing, but that's forgiveable. So here's what you do: go back, and say you've been thinking about getting a mirror for your helmet. If he says "sure, he you go", he fails. If he says "go home and sleep on it", he passes. Whaddya reckon, Brett? I mean, you'd never sell anyone a mirror without a bit of counselling, would you?
@G'phant
Good lord. I think we need a rule about not flogging dead horses. Because, by my count, that's about the V-hundredth time that's come up. Just when did you buy it?
@Steampunk
Alas, lads, methinks the brim is too long. This is why there is no V-Cap yet. It's nearly impossible to find the proper style from a vendor who does custom orders. Any help is appreciated. Castelli, despite also making a crap cap, makes a fantastic team cap. But the minimum order quantity is ridiculously high, and it's a fairly expensive cap.
I would need 150 of you assholes to pledge to buy at least one cap at about $18.00 a pop for us to qualify for even the minimum order. And, the guys at Castelli are great, but for some reason this is the one product where they can't budge on the minimum numbers.
But it is a fantastic cap; I have the Cervelo test team cap and it's perfect. I've been prowling around for a vendor who will meet my exceptionally high expectations and still provide a reasonable price at reasonable order numbers. Nothing doing. I'm seriously considering hiring someone to make them for me from scratch.
@Dr C
You need to find a new bike shop. Any bike shop worth it's weight in snot is going to get stoked about the Belgian Classics. I went to my LBS today and spent an hour that I didn't have laughing and talking. I bought an $8 valve extender. Its not like I'm a huge profit engine for them. Good people just like other good people.
Finding the right shop is a seriously tough job, though, and takes time. But a shop that doesn't show you respect, is irritating, and tells you what you do/don't need without listening to you, is crap and is no better than buying online.
@Steampunk
It sure could be. Looks just like the bastid. I get to see him tomorrow. I'll ask 'im.
I just can't believe the team docs used to prescribe smoking to ease tension. Keeping that in mind together with the notion that they ate a giant steak for breakfast before doing a TT does go a little ways towards explaining why the modern cyclist goes mo fasta.
@frank
Thanks Frank - your little mention of dollOZ has brought on a 6% fall in our currency.
The force of the V indeed...
@frank
Within that minimum order, would they all have to be the same, or could you do two different caps"”one mainly white and one mainly black? Because then you could probably put me down for three.
I've always admired the look of the cycling cap and have a well used one myself. My question is this: As a velominata, (and a feminine one at that although you'd have to confirm with my husband whether the 'velomihottie' status applies) can chicks pull off the cap or have I inadvertently ventured into a no-woman's land?
@Steampunk
Oh, they thought of that already. If you want a while one and black one, it's 300, mate.
@M3gurl
My VMH does it will style all the time. I give your question a resounding, "YES!" (Just as a point of reference, anything you ladies do you do looking better and with more style than any of us doornob men.)
Also for reference, despite the three-point violation, I would say this is a healthy vote in favor.
The girl looks good, too. More here: http://www.fyxomatosis.com/index.php/trackcnt/142-trackcnt-v15-142