What makes the ultimate cycling cap?

Simon Planet X

I'm trying to make the ultimate cycling cap...
I need some input into what features, peak width, colour and special little bits would make the ultimate cap.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Simon

secretsqizz

Any cap that makes my head not resemble the Mekon has my vote.

ballspondroad

I'm keen on tassels on the top.

How about a miniature wind turbine to generate electricity and power a band of LEDS round the 'brim' ?

daviesee

I lost my Rapha cap and replaced it with a cheapo generic Campagnolo one.

So far so good you would think but here are my issues with the cheapo one:-

The peak is too long so I really have to lift my head instead of just glancing up. Because the peak is long my helmet prevents it flipping up out of the way either.

It does not wick the sweat off my head. I never had a damp head with the Rapha.

It stays wet.

You would think 2 cotton caps would perform roughly equally well but my experience has taught me otherwise. Come the spring I will be coughing up again. They may seem like small details but the difference in comfort is worth the difference in price.
Other suppliers are available but I hope you get the jist.

rhext

I'm still looking for one with a small but functional jet engine built into it!

Ben6899

It must be Assos and it must also be black with white lettering.

hopper1

Look at the Walz site...

greasedscotsman

One that fits would be good. I can never find them in "fat head" size...

fleshtuxedo

Haven't worn one for ages - the abiding bad memory is of stiff rough cotton on sore, chafey sweaty head.

So a soft lining round the rim would be nice.

danlikesbikes

For me any hat that fits/works as good as my Rapha one cant be that bad;
water repellent
wide choice of colours
ability to suit different head sizes (in tiny for me)
able to fold it up to store away in back pocket mid ride it needed
small peak
no seams inside to rub when I have on under my helmet

mrushton

It depends on conditions. That Assos Mille hat looked the business and the Rapha cap or their Belgian hat for winter are good. Mavic have a lightweight cap that works well but it's one size fits all and it's a tad on the small size. In summer my gf swears by her Nike Dri-Fit hats that pull the sweat off her head. They are a mesh hat with a big peak so won't go under a helmet. That £80 Assos fuguHelm might be good but £80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wheelspinner

mrushton wrote:

It depends on conditions. That Assos Mille hat looked the business and the Rapha cap or their Belgian hat for winter are good. Mavic have a lightweight cap that works well but it's one size fits all and it's a tad on the small size. In summer my gf swears by her Nike Dri-Fit hats that pull the sweat off her head. They are a mesh hat with a big peak so won't go under a helmet. That £80 Assos fuguHelm might be good but £80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think you are being kind here. I ordered one of the Mavic "Roadie" caps, but the "one size fits all" wording should have been extended to include "kids under the age of 7". Utterly useless thing. Gave it to a friend of mine for his son, who thinks it is way cool.

Assos Mille is a good one though. The Knog caps *look* good, but lose their shape in 3 minutes, the elastic fails on the second wearing, and are generally a waste of money.

crimsondynamo

I have a gargantuan melon (63cm), just above the one size fits all threshold. If you design a casquette to fit the larger noggined amongst us then I shall be oredring instanter.

Colouring is almost secondary, but anthing predominantly white cannae go amiss.

fluff.

Pretty sure they'll be a few people on Etsy.com that will make caps to order for big heads. Personally the cotton ones from swrve.co.uk fit my (smaller) head well, are pretty cheap and seem to be lasting well.

edhornby

I have the campag ones but find that they balloon above my head - peak size is about right tho

a sensible priced winter (belgian style) one would be good too

Tom Butcher

It's mainly fit isn't it - a fat head needs a bit more circumference, a long head you want a bit more depth of the cap. I've found large size normally means a bit looser but sometimes you want a bit more depth of the hat too. If the fit and design is right I'll buy it.

You want a peak you can flip up and down without it damaging the hat. Something you can stuff in a back pocket without wrecking the peak so it's always mishapen from then on. Something you can bung in the wash without it shrinking. Those are things I'd appreciate but fit and design are the things that would sell it to me.

Headhuunter

One that you can stick in the washing machine would be good. I find that after a few washes in a machine, the edge of the peak of the cap starts to push through the stitching so I have to hand wash mine which is a pain. Thicker fabric or stitching at the corners of the peak would be good...

term1te

I've yet to find a cap that fits well. Agree with the above comments, large tends to be for those on the upper end of the pinhead scale, maybe the modern cyclist is more cerebral than the manufacturers think. Design should be a modern homage to something classic. It should make you instantly look like a European pro as soon as you put it on, and take a good 10 lbs off you. Will that need vertical or horizontal stripes? Mute colours that go well with both pasty white skin at the start of the ride, and beetroot red at the end. The only logos on it should come from an obscure French or Italian drinks manufacturer that went bust in the 1950s.

Should also be machine washable and keep sweat out of your eyes.

gbs

Wheelspinner wrote:

. The Knog caps *look* good, but lose their shape in 3 minutes, the elastic fails on the second wearing, and are generally a waste of money.

Surprised to see that comment. I have had one cap only in my 2 season experience; Knog, washed in shower after every sweaty ride otherwiswe whenever seems appropriate. No satorial failures to report but I always wear a helmet so any inelegance may be hidden.