Winter cycling presents certain problems. The biggest one, of course, is how to keep your extremities warm while riding. A cyclist can use layers to cover his torso with long-sleeved jerseys and base layers, leg warmers, gloves, and shoe covers, but how do you keep your head warm?
Most cycling helmets are vented and are made to be worn in warm weather. On a hot day, the breeze blowing through those vents can help cool you down while you ride. However, in the winter when the temperature drops below 35 degrees, that means very cold air is flowing through those vents. The answer: a thermal cycling skull cap.
How is a Skull Cap Used in Cycling?
The first thing to note is that a bike skull cap is not a beanie. But it does function similarly. A beanie is a thick hat that covers the top of your head and your ears, which is fine when you are out and about bopping around town. But your cycling helmet, most likely, will not fit over it.
A cycling skull cap is a thermal garment that has wind-blocking and wicking properties built in. It covers the head and ears and creates a tight bond with elastic and should wick sweat away from your head and not absorb it. However, it is specifically made to fit comfortably under your cycling helmet as you can see in the above picture.
Why is a Bike Skull Cap Essential for Winter Cycling?
There are two primary reasons a skull cycling cap is an essential accessory. First, as you are moving down the road on your bike, air circulates over your body and passes through the vents in your helmet.
The head is one of the places where we lose a lot of heat, so frigid air hitting your bare head will make your whole body cold very quickly. A skull cover will keep that cold air out and off your head. You can also cover your ears, which can easily get numb or even frostbitten.
Second, while you might not think it’s true, your head sweats even in the winter. A sweaty head means you will also get cold faster. But riding on a cold day with wet hair or collected moisture under your helmet opens you up to cold or flu symptoms.
Why risk feeling cold or worse? You don’t have to use a cycling-specific garment, any kind of head covering that will fit under your helmet is fine.
Where to Find a Cycling Skull Cap and Cost
A bicycle helmet cap is pretty much a specialty item. However, I would think most bike shops and sporting goods stores, such as REI, would probably carry them. If not available at these types of stores, you can definitely find them online.
The nice thing about this cycling accessory is that it is a one-size-fits-all type garment, so you shouldn’t need to try one on before purchasing it.
A skull cycling cap like the one pictured above will most likely cost anywhere from $25.00 to $30.00 like the ones listed here on Pearl Izumi’s website. The company even gives you the option to buy a regular skull cap, just keep in mind it may or may not fully cover your ears.
Last Thoughts
A skull cycling cap is an excellent accessory item all cyclists should have as part of their winter riding gear. I have two of them. If your head gets super sweaty while riding, it’s probably not a bad idea to have at least two. I’ve had my skull covers for years, but I don’t do tons of winter cycling.
That said, if I do go out on a cold day, I will definitely wear one of them to block out the cold and, hopefully, secure myself from potential illness. There are those cyclists who refuse to wear anything but their helmets in winter. Don’t be like them, be smart, stay warm, and don’t get sick, wear a cycling skull cap.
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