Sunglasses and Helmets Revisited

Pretend that you put on your stylin' helmet before putting on your stylin' sunglasses, but then you face a dilemma: Do you put the sunglasses under the helmet straps or over?


If you answered over, congratulations! You are one stylish cyclist. In fact, rule 12 of the OREC states that sunglasses should be "worn over helmet straps at all times". You will be hard-pressed to find a professional cyclist wearing his/her sunglasses under the helmet straps.

Geraint Thomas, British national champion. Sunglasses over the straps, of course.

Even when wearing an aero helmet, Vino puts his sunglasses over the straps and pulls them out to show everyone.

If you answered under, either you haven't seen the light or you might be a triathlete (not that there's anything wrong with that). But it just doesn't feel right wearing your sunglasses under the helmet straps. Triathletes do it because they need to get their helmets on and off in a hurry, but as cyclists, we want to be different from these people who swim before and run after they ride.

These triathletes crashed because they had their sunglasses under the straps,  not because of their lack of bike-handling skills. Or is it...

Whenever you don't need your sunglasses, tuck them in the vents of your helmets. Many companies design their helmets so that you can stow away your sunglasses in a convenient fashion (no pun intended), while still showing off what sunglasses you have.

Scarponi showing how it's done. 

If your sunglasses don't fit into the vents of your helmet, you can also put them on the back of your head right under the helmet. 


By the way, if you are a smartphone user, the Cycle of Style is now available in mobile version. The URL is the same as the web version. Now you can read up your favorite blog on the go!

What's In Your Head, Zombie?

Helmets save lives, but they also look dorky. So to overcome the dork-factor, get a helmet that looks good. All helmets sold in the US meet the same safety standards, but higher end helmets have more vents, carbon fiber bits, less exposed foam, usually lighter, and look better.

One of the lightest in the market, but for a high end helmet, it looks cheap and dorky.

This one looks awesome. It's also a Belgian brand, so you know it's totally Euro.

Cycling-specific helmets are for cycling (though inline speed skaters use them too), which means they'll work for road, mountain, 'cross, etc. Some helmets come with a detachable visors. They're meant for protecting the rider's face from tree branches and stuff in mountain biking, so don't use them for road. BMX helmets have no place in road cycling. For color choice, it is the same as for sunglasses. Black is hideous, team colors are cool, and if in doubt go with white, or silver in the case of helmets only. White and silver helmets will go well with any kit, be cooler in hot days, and more visible in the dark.

Since wearing a helmet is a serious matter, I won't dwell too long on what colors or brands of helmets to get. Instead, I will talk about how to wear a helmet for maximum style and protection for your noggin. First, make sure the helmet fits. Second, sit the helmet on your head and align it to just above your sunglasses. If you're not wearing sunglasses, make sure the helmet covers your forehead. Not only does it look better that way, there's a smaller chance of the helmet moving backwards and coming off your head in a crash.

Niels Albert still has yet to learn how to wear a helmet properly.

Fabian Cancellara saying: "Yo Niels, this is how you wear a helmet correctly".

Lastly, don't leave the excess strap hanging free. Either cut them off or keep them tied up using the rubber band that usually comes with helmets. Most importantly, whenever you are out riding, wear a helmet, regardless of what it looks like. Riding without a helmet was cool in the Mesozoic era because it was legal to race helmet-less back then. But we're in the 21st century, so unless you are a dinosaur, wear a helmet.