How do I stop the sweat running down my face?

doyler78

Basically as the title says. How do I stop sweat running down my face (particularly into my eyes). I do have a very well ventilated helmet (Bell Volt) so need something else therefore grateful for ideas that work from the rest of you. I sweat a lot or as I prefer to think of it. I have a very well developed internal temperature control system

redddraggon

You could wear a sweat band? I have problems with copious amounts of sweat and normally end hard rides with salt marks on my cheeks.

I try to combat the sweat by wiping my head with my gloves - stops the sweat going in my eyes at least.

toshmund

Have you tried smearing Vaseline in your eyebrows? That should prevent the sweat running into your eyes.

doyler78

Thanks - will try the vaseline today and if that doesn't work then I will look at sweat bands? Any recommendations or are they all a much of muchness?

chuckcork

Does your helmet not have a sweatband arrangement inside of it?

Mine does, but I find on hot days when i'll be sweating heavily, I will every hour or even more frequently have to stop and squeeze the sweat out, can be rather a lot, but does show how much the bands absorb.

BUICK

I have an altura head band that wicks the sweat away and helps providing a little warmth and protects my ears too. At the speeds I travel the roar of the passing air can make you nauseous




:twisted:

doyler78

chuckcork wrote:

Does your helmet not have a sweatband arrangement inside of it?

Mine does, but I find on hot days when i'll be sweating heavily, I will every hour or even more frequently have to stop and squeeze the sweat out, can be rather a lot, but does show how much the bands absorb.

My helmet sweat band will get saturated very quickly (even in the depths of winter). On my commute (which is 14 miles each way) I will only get to about half way before it all starts leaking out. When I get to work the helmet sweat bands are absolutely sopping. Takes hours to get it dried out.

Even when doing only gentle sessions I will still get a build of sweat though not quite as quick to show through but still by the end of the commute it will be leaking through.

Thanks Buick will take a look at the Altura ones.

rhext

I use a wrist sweat band, and just wipe my eyes when necessary. Works a treat. You can also use one for your nose in winter ;-)

dodgy

7 replies and nobody has mentioned a Buff :shock: Buy a buff, now!
They're simply the most versatile piece of headwear you can buy, I wear mine 'pirate' style under my helmet and it stops any sweat dripping down. Summer or winter, they're fantastic. http://www.buffwear.co.uk/pages/technic ... o-wear.php

Dave.

FCE2007

+1 for the buff ... Il Pirata styleee

rapid_uphill

good quality gloves have a terry sweat wipe on the outside of the thumb.
typical paddy hasnt a clue.

dodgy

rapid_uphill wrote:

good quality gloves have a terry sweat wipe on the outside of the thumb.
typical paddy hasnt a clue.

You can only wipe the sweat with a glove if it's already dripped down your face. The OP was asking "How do I stop sweat running down my face ", so your answer isn't the most relevant I'm afraid

Dave.

V-twin

Although not a Buff fan I use a bandana under the helmet (well, I'd look a bit of a tw*t with it outside the helmet :roll:) tied at the back below where the helmet goes. That stops the sweat coming off my bald pate into my dashing blue eyes...

andrewjoseph

A buff can help, but I found that this does not always overcome the sweat in the eyes problem.

It may sound a tad extreme, but I've had gutters cut into my face. It goes in a straight line (well, nearly straight, I did wince a little and made the dremmel go a bit wobbly) above both eyes and then turn down, in front of the ears.

This keeps the sweat and rain out of my eyes and also helps cool my core temperature by cooling the jugular and carotid blood vessels.

Only cost a few quid too (for repainting the kitchen walls).

wiffachip

anyone else noticed that if you have a shave after a ride, the sweat stops the shaving gel from working properly ?

Mossrider

anyone else noticed that if you have a shave after a ride, the sweat stops the shaving gel from working properly ?

Try showering first?

Another vote for the buff. I never ride without one now.

wiffachip

Mossrider wrote:

anyone else noticed that if you have a shave after a ride, the sweat stops the shaving gel from working properly ?

Try showering first?

Another vote for the buff. I never ride without one now.

shower before shave ? I'm guessing you're not old enough to shave, or you're a bird, or both

COVEC

wiffachip wrote:

shower before shave ? I'm guessing you're not old enough to shave, or you're a bird, or both

It is the recommended way, you get to lather up in the shower and get the bristles softened up so when it comes to your post shower shave the blade cuts through it easier(unless you do not need the bristles softening up, indicating a very fine growth, ergo new to shaving). Also it would defeat the purpose of all the aftershave products thrust upon us by eager marketing men.

COVEC

woodford2barbican

COVEC wrote:

wiffachip wrote:

shower before shave ? I'm guessing you're not old enough to shave, or you're a bird, or both

It is the recommended way, you get to lather up in the shower and get the bristles softened up so when it comes to your post shower shave the blade cuts through it easier(unless you do not need the bristles softening up, indicating a very fine growth, ergo new to shaving). Also it would defeat the purpose of all the aftershave products thrust upon us by eager marketing men.

COVEC

I thought everyone knew that the correct order is sh*t, shower and then shave.

pneumatic

I keep the perspiration out of my eyes by refusing, point blank, stolidly, and in the face of fierce objections from wife and children, to trim, pluck or otherwise interfere in any way with my eyebrows that were put their by the Supreme Being precisely in order to stop perspiration going in my eyes.

The older I get, the more effective they become. Just like nature intended.

fossyant

I use a thin skull cap made of wicking fabric - wife made it for me... I use a Biemme wind proof one sub-zero days though.

doyler78

Lots of choices there. Didn't get to test the vaseline thing yesterday as I forgot to put it on before heading out :oops:

I do wipe my brow with my glove however it just gets to a certain point where the helmet pads are just so saturated that it becomes a constant stream down my face so that ends up inneffective thus the reason why I was looking at other solutions. In rain it really doesn't matter because I never seem to really get any probs with stingy eyes must be because the rain helps dilute the sweat before it hits my eyes.

Anyway thanks for the all the suggestions and now its make my mind up time.

pcd993

What about a good old fashioned cycling cap under the helmet. The sweat drips off the peak of the cap if you get really sweaty. You can flip down the brim to keep the sun from your eyes.

schlepcycling

pcd993 wrote:

What about a good old fashioned cycling cap under the helmet. The sweat drips off the peak of the cap if you get really sweaty. You can flip down the brim to keep the sun from your eyes.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Rapha caps are designed to channel moisture along the peak so that it drips off the end rather than down your face.

singlespeedexplosif

ride faster. The increased air flow will help the sweat evaporate faster. Let's not consider the 'that means putting more effort in' side of things just now

verloren

And if riding faster doesn't work, try riding in a quizzical fashion with your head tilted to one side. Admittedly your sweat will run into one ear then, but at least it won't be in your eyes!

(+1 for a buff, more helpfully)

Rich-Ti

schlepcycling wrote:

I'm sure I read somewhere that Rapha caps are designed to channel moisture along the peak so that it drips off the end rather than down your face.

It's not a 'design feature' as such - all cycling caps do it, it's partly what they're for. Rapha have just latched on to it as a 'designed in bit of marketing twaddle'