Look Pro, Part IX: Proper Cycling Caps
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.
This post has inspired me to start wearing my cap again, even off the bike. I have never liked the hipster-association, but now, with a few well demarcated tan lines, I think I’ll start wearing it again in the spirit of taking back the night. Nice write-up Fronk, and great guidelines!
I am in serious need of new caps. These are some of the most functional items I use. Unlike a helmet that I hope to actually never need or use (but always wear) the hat under it not only wicks the copous amount of sweat I produce as a byproduct of all the V I lay down, but also acts as a sunscreen. Modern helmets actually have a lot of vents and are notoriously light, but I have to admit I am beginning to have egg-timer like attributes. The hat provides a nice block from the glowing orb of pre-cancerous radiation. That is when it is seen in Seattle on both days of summer.
Frank, can we get v-caps in The Gear?
A fuckin sweat band? Is that why we don’t have a cap yet? I used to wear a cap all the time sans helmet in Italy. Always backwards and flipped up. Now not so much but I do have a few laying around. I need to wear them more often.
Let’s make the cycling cap ours again.
@eightzero
Wisdom. Up until last week when I renewed my lease with contacts, I’ve been an exclusively glasses-wearing geek due to my legally blind myopia. The cycling cap ended up being my favorite piece of kit I owned for 2.5 reasons that work together:
Problem 1): I’m wearing glasses, therefore not sunglasses (I’ve never gotten prescription sunglasses as a pair of sunglasses lasts me around 3 weeks until I inadvertently destroy them in some fashion or another), therefore the blazing orb annoys my baby blues.
Solution: Cycling cap slung low. Glorious shade para mis ojos.
Problem 2(a): Sweat running down my face.
Solution: Cycling cap sweet sweat absorption.
Problem 2(b): Relating to 1 and 2(a), sweat drips on my glasses forming a miniature Dead Sea (See) on my lenses. Disgusting and optically debilitating. Solution 2(a) applies here as well.
I can’t rock the caps as stylishly as our 60s, 70s and 80s forefathers, but I rock them nonetheless.
Short of the pro team caps (made by MOA, Santini and Nalini), the only brand I can think of that makes a cap without a sweatband is Giordana. Even Assos isn’t Rule #22.1 compliant in that the rear panel of their cap is a synthetic mesh. What is a Volominatus to do?
I love cycling caps and always wear one so long as the weather is projected to remain cooler than 75degF throughout the course of a planned ride (thereby breaking Rule #21?). If not, I still keep one tucked in the pocket of my jersey to put on immediately following a ride or at a prolonged stop. As far has helmets and caps go, I’ve found both the Lazer Genesis and Helium to be extremely well suited to enable Rule #22.4 compliance (though they suck in the vent/sunglass compatibility department)
@RedRanger
Indeed. I love wearing my cap while cycling, and I’m looking forward to when the temperature dips again and I can start to wear it without overheating my poor noggin. Infact I’ll be cycling at the coast next weekend, where it should be in the mid 60’s… perfect cap weather.
As for a sweat band build into the cap, isn’t that a little redundant? The cap itself seems to wick sweat plenty well. Every time I wear mine on a ride I have to wash the salt off afterwards.
@VeloVita
If you know someone who is handy at sewing, they could make you one customized to your liking, sans sweatband.
@mcsqueak
I’m sure the V Cap will be perfect when its available…Plus, I tend to look like I was hit in the forehead with a shovel when donning a three-panel cap.
Short visors are to be preferred, but longer visors do have their place””primarily during Rule #9 riding for those myopic souls who require Rx lens at all times.
Interesting timing from my point of view, this article, which has thrown me some confusion regarding my commitment to the sacred testament of the V-Rules
As I be a greenhorn, I have no caps, but have oft thought the interminable drip of sweat onto my specs would be swiftly ammended by wearing one of these little chappies under my helmet
Thus I went to my LBS, only today, and as well as re-arming myself with a new tube of Chamois cream (is it really £15 anywhere else?), I asked, might the kind and jolly proprietor avail me of said chapeau to keep the sweat and rain out of mes yeux – he looked at me as if I was spastic (sorry, blessed with spasticity) and, probably coming on the back of my purchase of aforementioned ludicrously priced Chamois cream, told me they didn’t keep them and that I should harden the fuck up
My instant thought was that this was a correct suggestion, and I was indeed openly violating Rule #5 – indeed, was he a secret Velominatus?
This reassured me after a previous very upsetting visit there yesterday, when I enquired as to the possibility of acquiring a new bike, in due respect of Rule #12, only to be told rather patronisingly, that I didn’t need another bike, calm my jets and leave it for a while….ggrrrrr!!!
So here I have a situation where, not only will my LBS not allow me to lust after an unnecessary (ITHO) extra velo, but they won’t sell me a fuckin cap now either!!
How am I meant to abide by Rule #58 in this climate
I was about to declare that his staff were to cool for school and I was going online, when he started chatting about trips to Belgium, getting wankered on 2 glasses of trippel, and how much fun the Belgians were at cyclocross events, upon which change of tack, we became best mates again and I left with nothing other than my tube of scroteglide, and a gawmless grin on my bake, feeling a bit shit
Not easy the life of a V-newbie
:o(
Great pic. I’m trying to identify the rider. Lammerts? Lubberding? It’s not Joop, Bert, Gerrie, Jan or Ad. The cap he’s wearing though is a special one. Back in the day, before helmets, riders on the tour teams that were leading the team (time) and team (points) competitions wore yellow and green caps respectively. I suspect this cap is yellow. Between 1976 and 1983 Raleigh won an incredible 56 stages, including a magnificent 11 in 1980. Speaking of Team Raleigh, from 1982 to 1984 I has a Raleigh frame in team colors. It met it’s demise when it/we hit a car door in a time trial. It was replaced by a lovely red Colnago. As for caps, I used to have a bunch including a couple of great rain ones with Peugeot team colors. I’d wear two – Sean Kelly style – one forwards, one backwards.
@VeloVita
I have no doubts about the perfection of the V-Cap. But until then, it’s still vaporwear.
That link has a 4-panel cap as well. My VMH is pretty good with that sort of thing and has told me she’d make me some caps if I were to pick out the materials. We’ll see if it ever happens.
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!
Another benefit is that you can ride into driving rain, and the peak/visor deflects it away from your eyes (works best in V-Locus, trying to get home faster!). I’ve actually found this more effective than clear glasses, as there is no fogging.
Inspired by the rider in the picture at the start of the article, I searched for retro jerseys but found this site with a good range of caps.
@Dr C
He wouldn’t sell you a new bike??!!?? Where in the name of Merckx’s ball sack do you live? The LBS that is the sponsor of my team has staff that they must have picked up when all the GM and Chrysler dealerships went out of business. Meet you at the front door, and follow you around trying to sell you stuff, wether you need it (according to them I do), or not. Annoying to be sure, but cost +%10 is hard to pass up. And there shit is nice. And it’s not the internet. And I’ve just typed myself into understanding your dilemma. Fuck………….
And I postulate that this is the one piece of kit where it is acceptable to don a bit of team kit without actually riding for the team. Additionally, flashing W.C. stripes and race leader colors of any kind is suspect unless you’re the W.C. or race leader, but showing alliance/appreciation for a team is acceptable.
My BMC Hincapie cap is too small. It makes my scalp fall asleep as it cuts off the circulation (you all may be able to tell as I wear that cap mostly while posting and writing article here). My Garmin cap is nice and meets all the above requirements.
And I hereby pledge my undying allegiance to any PRO who wears a proper cycling cap on the podium or post race interview as opposed to a wanker baseball/NASCAR hat. Yes, HAT not cap.
@Bianchi Denti
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?
@Dr C
Chamois cream isn’t 15 pounds where we live. Nappy cream from the chemist is about 8 bucks. Same stuf but a bit thicker without the meditteranean alpineflower breath of 19 virgins menthol fragrance. That you rub on your taint.
Having said that, I like that guy already. Every Cyclist needs a healthy sense of introspection. Every Punter (notice the distinction) needs a new bike.
@Dr C @minion
Is anyone else thinking “bike nazi”, a la Seinfeld?
“So you want a cap to go with your new bike, ah? Well, I tell you what. No bike for you! Come back in 2 weeks and we talk then.”
@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
@frank
Gah, it’s as if they’re running a business to make money or something!!!
@Steampunk
It’s the gift which keeps on giving – albeit vaguely reminiscent of Paul Keating (erstwhile Australian premier): “Mr Speaker, like a dog returning to its own vomit, the opposition returns to the topic of the economy.” If Brett doesn’t bite, I’ll stop baiting the hook.
@frank
Have you looked into Walz caps? they tent to be a bit pricey but its decently made. That said I own one of their 3 panel racing stripe caps and I don’t lice the way it fits. maybe the 4 panel is a better fit.
@RedRanger
Visor too floppy, the back too rounded. Not right. Seriously. The right cap is hard to come by custom. It’ll happen, don’t worry. And it will be good.
@G’phant
Why don’t you return the mirror? Surely that’s the only thing he’s ever sold? I can’t imagine that his “Oi! FUCK OFF!” sales strategy worked with anyone but you. That would learn ‘im.
Start them young. I did and at five she now yells, “Car up!” and “Go faster!”
Hell yes. I thoroughly enjoy wearing a cap out of doors, keeps the rain off my spectacles, the sun out of my eyes. I ride a bike most places, whether training, commuting, or grocery getting. I also ride a bike to the watering hole. Baseball hats are too big on my smallish head, and they fly off when cycling. I gotta do what I feel on this one, despite the Rule.
And I don’t give a fuck who else is wearing them. We all can tell via a quick glance who is a cyclist and who is a dick in a cycling cap. Fuck ’em. That’s like saying I’m not going to drink cheap beer to save money for cycling parts because some dick drinks it too. Fuck ’em.
I love cycling caps. And in reality they are a badge. You might see hundreds of baseball caps but you are only going to see a few cycling caps. Unless you are hanging around the wrong dickster hangouts…
Nice one, Frank!
Also, I love it when my VMH wears a cycling cap.
Great frank. Having never used a cap until about a year ago, I can vouch whole heartedly for their practicality and the V – coolness. As you described though, they have to be the right cap.
As someone with quite a large noggin’ they don’t always fit and as @Marko commented, they can cut off the circulation. With the tell-tale line across the forehead for the next hour or two it is always cause for comment/query/mirth for the next person/s that one may meet. The fact that they don’t quite fit/sit right makes them that much better!
Part sun visor, scalp protector, head warmer and a 100% awesomely special piece of kit.
@Ron
Haha, right on!
I too dislike baseball hats – my head is sort of small too, and I’ve never though I’ve looked good in them so I don’t wear ’em. And while I like watching a baseball game in person, I don’t really follow any teams. I do think I look good in a cycling cap though, as it seems much more proportional to my head. I have a cheapie Castelli one I wear cycling, but I’d like a nice wool one for relaxing.
Funny you should mention hats flying off heads, too. I stopped to help some young 20-ish something kid with his bike while I was out for a ride the other week. He was wearing some sort of newsboy cap, and as soon as he got back on the road and up to speed it flew right off of his head. It was sort of funny. (yeah yeah, “cool story bro”)
So gotta do a rule check here. I got some pretty cool caps from back in the day: Carerra, dotty ones, yellow ones, Campa (and not one from USPS, Disco, Retirementshack). Anyhoo, I work in surgery and use them as scrub caps sometimes, especially around the Grand Tours. Acceptable use or nay? Frank?
@scaler911
I would say almost de rigueur, especially around Grand Tour time.
Just to be clear on the issue, caps that have been used are uber cool. This doesn’t mean you shit in them to break them in – its just that a little evidence you actually ride wearing the goddam thing is de rigeur cool.
@Dr C
Stick with this shop, I’m liking this guy. The LBS owner has every reason to be a little prickly these days, he is a bike nut who has gone all-in and trying to make a living at it. I enjoyed the mocking and crap heaped upon me by my old LBS owner. I would have to psyche myself up just to go in there but like you, upon leaving with smile on face, it’s alright. He will set you up properly with a new bike when you are ready.
@Steampunk
You smooth talking bastid…in my dreams would that have been me. Alas, no, he is a real professional, some damn Belgian or Dutch fuck. He does have that same je ne sais quoi, devil may care attitude with his smoking though. He is cool.
@G’phant
Don’t ever stop.
@Gianni and others
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and you are right – he is the guy who got me excited last year, and treats me like a mate, all smiles, chat and eye contact – it’s the young lads who work in the shop – all team racers, who talk down to me a bit, who p me off – once I get talking to him again, he rubs chamois cream all over my sensitive places (metaphorically and mentally) and all is good with the LBS-punter relationship again, and my addiction is rekindled
I went into another LBS and I had to chase the guy round the shop to even get talking to him – it’s a bit of a Northern Irish thing, we have a sort of anti-customer thing going here – we become very aware of it when we go abroad (for instance, when we’re in the in USofA, when the waiter recites, like a Shakespearean tome, the menu and specials, we always say “can you repeat it all please?” just to marvel at his willingness to extend his politeness further, as opposed to our guys who grunt, point at the chalkboard on the wall, and slope of for a fag out the back)
So in summary, respect to the LBS owner, knee in the stones to his staff, bollox to our customer care attitude and I ought to tell him nicely to work on his team’s customer service, which I probably won’t
….and yes, patently, I am unable to stop, coz Rule #12 is overbearing and ever present!
@frank
My word, that is a provocative posture this lady is adopting – hair doesn’t seem to go with the Merckx years style, so I think it may be staged
Also, are those shoes not in some sort of Rules violation? Nice bike though
Good hard ride invited I’d say
Too scared to hit the link….
@Bianchi Denti
Ah, my favourite Seinfeld episode ever!!
+1
@G’phant
Do I know you?
I’m so excited about this article. I seem to be collecting cycling caps and the worst quality the more I enjoy wearing them. I tend to make an effort to obey Rule #22 and luckily work part time in a bike shop, so am able to employ the wearing of my collection often!
@frank et al
I’ve just found Octopus Custom Caps on the web, never used it and I don’t know how much it costs but they do a 4 panel cap in cotton (or wool) but the design has to be embroidered.
@M3gurl
Welcome. It’s always good to get the views of the Velominata.
@Dr C
And full World Champs get up too…
@Jonny