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.
Talking of being pissed - does this cycling lifestyle ruin your drinking legs - I can't neck it like the proper Irishman I used to be anymore, without falling over and dying a thousand deaths the next day?
Just bought this one online (I know...) to wear...
and this one...
to burn
@Dr C - you've been neglecting critical aspects of your training. We are not pros, so being able to hammer 120k of cobbles before flinging ourselves up a brutal 20%, plaque crusher, is futile if the subsequent refreshment leaves you as weak as a floppy armed child for more of the same the next day.
Suffering in the real world needs to be more three dimensional. I recommend a lunch of potted pork products followed by at least three pints, an evening of intervals on the turbo whilst explaining to your wife why you will not be able to take her to dinner, followed by an night of predominantly guitar based music under the influence of substances not found on the WADA list. If the above is not sufficient, follow it with a 6AM reveille, a shot of napolitan style espresso and a series of punishing hill repeats.
Whatever you do, always end in the pub.
Slainte!
podium hats are MUCH worser than cycling caps, a flat billed skater hat (with the sticker on) might be better
but i do the shaved bald with no hat(no facial hair) and bushy eyebrows
even if bald guys look like dopers
@frank
Looks like Little Miss Molteni is confused. While wishing the Merckx bike was hers, I suspect her own bike is the single speed in the background - much more hipster/poseur appropriate. Also, while the bike is at rest, it shouldn't have the chain in the largest rear sprocket as the right-hand down tube shifter would suggest. Unless she's at the top of a very steep hill- which I doubt. Also, what are the chainrings on the Merckx? It's not 52/42. Looks like 52/48 or something. The tubs look like they need some air too . . . Is it wrong to more interested in the bike than the girl? It's a stunner, she's just a stupid distraction.
@wiscot
that makes me feel a bit more normal for pointing out the shoes were inappropriate - cheers bro
@Joe
After that remarkably insightful appraisal of the matter, I think it is time to down tools, switch off this wretched PC and go get mullah'd - shall maybe even pic up a melton mowbray on the way home
Goddamn you if I pay dearly tomorrow as I am forced to stand in the rain entertaining my kids as my other half commits the ultimate sin and performs the swim/cycle/run circus act
Just found out that Fridays this month are team hat day. How bad a violation would it be to wear a cycling cap to work? I have last years saxo bank, leopard trek and EE(basque team).
If memory serves, the Raleigh fellow pictured above is wearing a yellow cap issued to the members of the team leading the team competition in the TDF. (Or was it the team of the GC leader?) Was a great visual in the days before helmets.
View Comments
Talking of being pissed - does this cycling lifestyle ruin your drinking legs - I can't neck it like the proper Irishman I used to be anymore, without falling over and dying a thousand deaths the next day?
Just bought this one online (I know...) to wear...
and this one...
to burn
@Dr C - you've been neglecting critical aspects of your training. We are not pros, so being able to hammer 120k of cobbles before flinging ourselves up a brutal 20%, plaque crusher, is futile if the subsequent refreshment leaves you as weak as a floppy armed child for more of the same the next day.
Suffering in the real world needs to be more three dimensional. I recommend a lunch of potted pork products followed by at least three pints, an evening of intervals on the turbo whilst explaining to your wife why you will not be able to take her to dinner, followed by an night of predominantly guitar based music under the influence of substances not found on the WADA list. If the above is not sufficient, follow it with a 6AM reveille, a shot of napolitan style espresso and a series of punishing hill repeats.
Whatever you do, always end in the pub.
Slainte!
podium hats are MUCH worser than cycling caps, a flat billed skater hat (with the sticker on) might be better
but i do the shaved bald with no hat(no facial hair) and bushy eyebrows
even if bald guys look like dopers
@frank
Looks like Little Miss Molteni is confused. While wishing the Merckx bike was hers, I suspect her own bike is the single speed in the background - much more hipster/poseur appropriate. Also, while the bike is at rest, it shouldn't have the chain in the largest rear sprocket as the right-hand down tube shifter would suggest. Unless she's at the top of a very steep hill- which I doubt. Also, what are the chainrings on the Merckx? It's not 52/42. Looks like 52/48 or something. The tubs look like they need some air too . . . Is it wrong to more interested in the bike than the girl? It's a stunner, she's just a stupid distraction.
@wiscot
that makes me feel a bit more normal for pointing out the shoes were inappropriate - cheers bro
@Joe
After that remarkably insightful appraisal of the matter, I think it is time to down tools, switch off this wretched PC and go get mullah'd - shall maybe even pic up a melton mowbray on the way home
Goddamn you if I pay dearly tomorrow as I am forced to stand in the rain entertaining my kids as my other half commits the ultimate sin and performs the swim/cycle/run circus act
Just found out that Fridays this month are team hat day. How bad a violation would it be to wear a cycling cap to work? I have last years saxo bank, leopard trek and EE(basque team).
@Joe
I still say it's Gianni.
If memory serves, the Raleigh fellow pictured above is wearing a yellow cap issued to the members of the team leading the team competition in the TDF. (Or was it the team of the GC leader?) Was a great visual in the days before helmets.