A sweaty problem

AllanES
AllanES Posts: 151
edited June 2013 in Road general
With the warmer (ish) weather I'm finding a problem with sweat getting in my eyes on a ride.
I wear sunglasses and find the sweat from my forehead runs down onto, or more often and more of a problem, behind the glasses and I end up not being able to see properly.
So i take the glasses off and then end up with flies/grit in my eyes.

Anyone suffer the same problem and anyone got a solution?
I guess maybe a sweatband worn inside my helmet or between top of glasses and rim of my helmet?
I'm not bothered about how I look :) just would like to be able to see where I'm going.
:)
Red Triban 3
Giant Defy 1

Comments

  • navrig
    navrig Posts: 1,352
    Wake up at the back:

    viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12927519
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    Navrig wrote:
    Wake up at the back:

    viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12927519

    Oops! I missed this - must've been when I was out on my bike
    :)
    Thanks
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • simonhead
    simonhead Posts: 1,399
    Its a botch job but seems to work for me. I have cut a peice of toweling into a strip that fits in the front of my helmet, its then attached using velcro to the helmet. The bristly bit is swen onto the towel and the soft bit is stuck to the band of the helmet. I tried the full band but it made the helmet sit funny. When you stop you can then remove the strip and replace with a spare or wring it out and run it under the tap.
    Life isnt like a box of chocolates, its like a bag of pic n mix.
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    simonhead wrote:
    Its a botch job but seems to work for me. I have cut a peice of toweling into a strip that fits in the front of my helmet, its then attached using velcro to the helmet. The bristly bit is swen onto the towel and the soft bit is stuck to the band of the helmet. I tried the full band but it made the helmet sit funny. When you stop you can then remove the strip and replace with a spare or wring it out and run it under the tap.

    Good idea and worth a try. I was worried about wearing the sweatband I have for running under the helemt and how it might affect the fit of the helmet. Maybe this gets round that.
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • jonomc4
    jonomc4 Posts: 891
    you could also ride without a helmet - that solves most sweat problems - sits back and gets popcorn
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    jonomc4 wrote:
    you could also ride without a helmet - that solves most sweat problems - sits back and gets popcorn

    With a wife who used to work for a brain-injury charity....definitely not an option :)
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • samthesham
    samthesham Posts: 8
    edited June 2013
    Had the same problem recently, nearly crashed whilst riding with one eye closed!!

    Purchased one of them one piece snoods, made a beanie to wear under my helmet...hey presto!

    Have to wring out half a gallon of sweat after tho' :roll:
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,018
    Pedal slower?
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I always ride with a bandana/buff/hedy under the helmet.
    Soaks up sweat in the summer. Keeps the chill off in the winter.
    In fact come the winter - I wear two - one round the neck and chin, and the other one over the top keeping the ears warm. I don't know how you'd cope without one when its close to zero.
  • Darv
    Darv Posts: 1
    Try vaseline on your eyebrows
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    Darv wrote:
    Try vaseline on your eyebrows

    Thanks - it's on the list of things to try
    :D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Pedal slower?

    Any slower and I'll topple over
    :D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    I agree pedal slower

    Or wear a sweat band and use it to wipe off the sweat. I sweat like a pig so any sweat reduction methods I will try.
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
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  • pkripper
    pkripper Posts: 652
    get a better vented helmet, or indeed one that fits better. All of mine (specialized) already have that sweat buffer built into the retention system / pads across the forehead.
  • simonhead
    simonhead Posts: 1,399
    pkripper wrote:
    get a better vented helmet, or indeed one that fits better. All of mine (specialized) already have that sweat buffer built into the retention system / pads across the forehead.

    I have a couple of helmets and they all have the sweat buffer but it seems to very quickly waterlog leaving the sweat to drip down the face. The strip of towel i have fixed has the lowest point down by the ears making the run off to the side.
    Life isnt like a box of chocolates, its like a bag of pic n mix.
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    simonhead wrote:
    Its a botch job but seems to work for me. I have cut a peice of toweling into a strip that fits in the front of my helmet, its then attached using velcro to the helmet. The bristly bit is swen onto the towel and the soft bit is stuck to the band of the helmet. I tried the full band but it made the helmet sit funny. When you stop you can then remove the strip and replace with a spare or wring it out and run it under the tap.

    Please post a pic of you wearing that botch job! Could do with a laugh! :mrgreen:
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • simonhead
    simonhead Posts: 1,399
    goonz wrote:
    simonhead wrote:
    Its a botch job but seems to work for me. I have cut a peice of toweling into a strip that fits in the front of my helmet, its then attached using velcro to the helmet. The bristly bit is swen onto the towel and the soft bit is stuck to the band of the helmet. I tried the full band but it made the helmet sit funny. When you stop you can then remove the strip and replace with a spare or wring it out and run it under the tap.

    Please post a pic of you wearing that botch job! Could do with a laugh! :mrgreen:

    You cant see any of it, the bottom of the towel is flush with the lining and the same colour so its not noticeable at all. The only bit that is any lower is down by the ears and you wouldnt notice it.
    Life isnt like a box of chocolates, its like a bag of pic n mix.
  • thiscocks
    thiscocks Posts: 549
    Take off your helmet and get some of these bad boys on http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Oakle ... 3cd2a4c97d
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    jonomc4 wrote:
    you could also ride without a helmet - that solves most sweat problems - sits back and gets popcorn

    That's what I do, plus it solves the bee in the helmet problem and a cotton cap soaks up the sweat.
  • MartinB2444
    MartinB2444 Posts: 266
    My NorthWave sunglasses came with a detachable absorbant strip which fits across the frame above the lenses for just this purpose. Hasn't been hot enough for me to test out yet but seems like a good idea.
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Bozman wrote:
    jonomc4 wrote:
    you could also ride without a helmet - that solves most sweat problems - sits back and gets popcorn

    That's what I do, plus it solves the bee in the helmet problem and a cotton cap soaks up the sweat.

    Cotton cap and no helmet, thats me on my way to work, sweat was still dripping down my face this morning. Thanks Rapha for nothing!
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    thiscocks wrote:
    Take off your helmet and get some of these bad boys on http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Oakle ... 3cd2a4c97d

    Hmmmmmmm! Or I could stick some foam/absorbent material on the ten quid glasses I've currently got?
    :D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    By definition, anything that 'soaks up' the sweat will get waterlogged at some point. When it does, the sweat will then just run out of it. I have a Specialized helmet with the Velcro pads, but I don't think they are designed to soak the sweat up, I think they are there to cushion the helmet on your head. The fact that they do soak up the sweat is merely a consequence of the foam like material. I find it gets waterlogged and then any slight movement, even just raising my eyes to look down the road in a tuck position causes my brow to ruffle and this is enough of a squeeze to cause a stream to run down my face and as with the OP drip over the inside of my sunnies.

    My solution is to remove the glasses whilst climbing and slot them into the vents of my helmet. Every so often I then push the front of the helmet against my forehead to release a stream of sweat onto the road. This is best done when stopped and leaning forward, but can be done whilst riding with your head tilted to the side. This then removes enough sweat to give you several minutes of drip free time, which is good if a descent follows and the sunnies can be put back on to stop the flies getting into your eyes.....

    So I take the approach of managing the problem rather than trying to cure it. Vaseline on the eyebrows would do little for me as the sheer volume of sweat would just run straight over it! Every so often I remove the sunnies and give them a wipe on my jersey to clear them, or if it has dried on, a quick squirt with water from my bottle.

    Now, long time trials with a visor....that is a problem! Just about ok for a 50, but anything longer than that and I can't see a thing after about 75 miles!

    PP
  • NUFCrichard
    NUFCrichard Posts: 103
    I tried out the Mavic under helmet skullcap at the weekend. I am a very heavy sweater, and had given up on wearing glasses as they get soaked and hard to see through after the first climb. I was fairly skeptical that the skullcap would work, but I must say that I didn't get any sweat in my eyes all weekend!

    Ok it wasn't scalding hot, about 22C, but I did some longer climbs and some shorter steeper ones and had no drip through. It's a shame it arrived too late for the 35C heat earlier last week, when it was like it was heavily raining I was sweating so bad! I even managed to wear my glasses yesterday for the first time since April!
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Thin buff or scull cap to absorb sweat, vents then evaporate it. Works for me

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