Categories: EtiquetteFolkloreLook ProNostalgiaTechnology

Look Pro: Keep a Lid on It

The most stylish bit of gear in Cycling history: the Cycling Cap

Cycling has been suffering a crisis every since the use of a helmet became compulsory. This crisis is rooted in the simple fact that cycling peaked aesthetically with the cycling cap perched casually deliberate atop a sweaty cranium. It was only after mandatory helmet dictum spread its tentacles into all UCI-sanctioned races in 2003 that helmet manufacturers began taking helmet design seriously.

To be clear, I am a helmet advocate. I never leave home without mine, and no Cyclist shall ever be allowed to start a Cogal without perching one on their noggin. But I do this in the knowledge that I look less Fantastic that if I were rolling out in a classic cotton Cycling Cap.

Specialized was the first to make inroads into building a stylish helmet with the Sub-Six. The fact that every other helmet was a hollowed-out bowling ball didn’t matter very much because no one wore them outside Belgium, and even there, they were permitted to wear the second-coolest piece of headgear, the Hairnet. Giro made some inroads with their Air Attack series, but progress was generally at a standstill until the hardshell became mandatory after the tragic death of Andrey Kivilev in Paris-Nice in 2003.

The issue of the helmet has also been compounded by the fact that most continental Pros had no clue how to wear a helmet, given that they spent most of their lives not wearing one. When asked to, they often suffered from Toad Head and other anomalies commonly encountered when violating the Three-Point System.

Helmets are a necessary evil which are improving in style, but they are all uglier than the hallowed Cycling Cap. When wearing a helmet, keep the following points in mind.

Keep the front low to the eyes. Forehead exposure must be limited to 1-2 cm at all times. As always, the Three-Point System is your guide.
Keep the chin strap snug, but not too tight; you need to be able to move your mouth sufficiently in order to allow for the inhaling of wasps.
Helmets look even worse without shades; they must be accompanied by cycling-specific eyewear at all times. If they are not in use over the eyes, they must be tucked in the helmet vents.
Helmets are under no circumstances to resemble that of one worn in other sports such as hockey or rock climbing.
If, at any point, you find yourself reaching for the same helmet as the hipster who arrived at the LBS aboard a fixie, reconsider your life because you are off the path.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/frank@velominati.com/helmets/”/]

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.

Next Velominati Super Prestige: Route de France Féminine 2013 »

Previous « Irreverence: Shift Indicators

View Comments

Cyclops says:

Jul 30 2013 at 10:22 am

@scaler911

Bitch.
wiscot says:

Jul 30 2013 at 10:22 am

@Cyclops

I went for a little spin near my house yesterday. Idaho sucks in that we have to ride in what we call the American Dolomites. Note the La Vie Claire cycling cap (I ride a LOOK) and the Euro switchback in the background.

How do you build such beautiful bikes with such sausage-like fingers?

And seriously, that's Idaho? Wow! Is that road paved or gravel? It's had to tell. Whatever, that's some real purty country you got there.
Jaundo says:

Jul 30 2013 at 10:23 am

Regression

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/photos/giros-rob-wesson-talks-aero-helmets/268425
scaler911 says:

Jul 30 2013 at 10:49 am

@wiscot

It's purdy country if'n you like white supremacists and po-tat-toes.
DeanM says:

Jul 30 2013 at 10:54 am

Just in case folks need a refresher on the does and don'ts of how to wear sunglasses with a helmet.

http://www.cyclingmaven.com/how-not-to-wear-your-sunglasses/
Andre the Fish says:

Jul 30 2013 at 11:44 am

@scaler911

@Andre the Fish

Could I get a clarification on Rule #16 from a Sensei please?

Although I strictly adhere to Rule #16 and respect the jersey, does Rule #16 apply to caps when worn under my helmet?

I want to wear one of my various team caps but do not want to be in breach of Rule #16 which although it applies to the jersey, the spirit of the rule could be extended to caps.

Yes.

Ah I see my misunderstanding - its Race Leader or Race Winner jersey (and therefore cap) where I was thinking about a team cap. Thanks @scaler911

Note to self. Learn the rules properly fucktard
Gianni says:

Jul 30 2013 at 12:29 pm

@Buck Rogers

@Gianni

@strathlubnaig

Das Boot rules during the Tour? Tell me more. I am a huge fan of Das Boot and have made reference to it various times in articles here. But I'll be fucked if I'm going to start following anyone's tweets just yet. Ha! I'm not even sure how I would.

I watched the uncut, 5 or 6 hour long German TV version of this movie about two years ago all in one go. Man, what a movie! Fuck'in blew me away and I was crushed for about two days following the marathon viewing of it. A true must see.

Buck, I was trapped in Kiel Germany for a few weeks and toured a WWII U-Boat. One, it was some cramped scary mofo and two, it took all my self-control not to be using all my Das Boot german while there.
frank says:

Jul 30 2013 at 12:40 pm

@Souleur

the Hairnet. Giro made some inroads with their Air Attack series, but progress was generally at a standstill until the hardshell became mandatory after the tragic death of Andrey Kivilev in Paris-Nice in 2003.

Agreed, but then again, Giro has a real let down with the recent Air Air attack helmet and even worse yet, the Reverb. Wow, maybe some like it, but for me, I'll stick to the Bell Volt

And, I must admit, there is nothing better than donning the cycling cap, in fall, and heading out into the setting sun with the bill of the cap doing exactly as it is purposed for, keeping the sun out of your eyes.

Agreed. And, for the first time since 1993, I find myself liking a Specialized product - if the Evade takes my shades in the front vents, I may be picking one of these up.
Cantona says:

Jul 30 2013 at 12:40 pm

@Marcus

that hurt!
frank says:

Jul 30 2013 at 12:41 pm

@meursault

You're welcome. And, the irony that those helmets are called "nutcase" is not lost on me.