Tuesday, November 10, 2009

All taped up with no place to go

When real life gets in the way and keeps you mostly off the bike for a few days, even a simple ride to work can be a genuine pleasure. I've been in one of those stretches lately. Squeezing in a quick commute qualifies as a success.

And now that the morning temps have dipped into the teens, I've realized just how efficient all those cooling vents are in my new helmet. I got a pretty good case of ice-cream headache this morning, and it's not even truly cold yet. At five below zero, it would be excruciating, so I had to break out the duct tape.

Come springtime, I'll probably need a bunch of Goo Gone to get all the tape gunk off my helmet's plastic shell, but it'll be worth it if a little wind blockage keeps me from feeling like someone's driving a railroad spike into my skull.

Now all I have to do is keep riding.

10 comments:

Jeff Moser said...

You did a good job, and it actually looks pretty fancy.

Maybe you could sell kits online. Scissors, duct tape, and instructions for $20.

Unknown said...

So, is the helmet too tight to squeeze in a medium weight liner?

Tim said...

I'm already wearing a fleece beanie from Mountain Hardwear. You don't want much more than that, because after you warm up, it's too much. Brain freeze typically hits me only in the first couple of miles anyway, then I'm fine.

Taping helmet vents is a common trick around here.

EscortRacer said...

I will be trying this method this year, last year I wore a windstopper fleece hat and I found it got to hot further into my commute.

Unknown said...

Sounds like a good time to have an old spare helmet. Or maybe a good time to buy an extra helmet cheap. I would hate to have to clean that each spring. Interesting that I have never experienced brain freeze on a ride.

WheelDancer said...

I just use my downhill ski helmet. It has vents that can be closed and great ear flaps. Balaclava underneath for below zero and I'm good to go.

Tim said...

I've always meant to pick up a snowboarding helmet, which is what several friends wear. But that would require action. Procrastination is easier.

I've never actually bothered to tape over my vents before, so I know might regret it come spring. If the cleanup is too nasty, I'll get a different helmet for winter use next year.

bikegirl said...

It's just because you're so darned fast!

Only thing about the snowboard helmets is they don't always have enough venting for a helmet light...

buying the less-vented, less-expensive helmet might do the trick next time.

Debbie said...

Or just grow more hair? Oh. Wait...

gwadzilla said...

or get a second helmet

I used to have a winter helmet that worked well over my thick cap

this helmet always had a light mount

what happened to that helmet?