Old age, sun and balding bonce

[carlislemike]

I have reached the age of an increasingly (beautiful; not) balding bonce. I have to use a cream on parts of my forehead to relieve a skin complaint caused by overexposure to the sun for the last 60+ years. With a helmet on, the sun does penetrate the vents and although i don't feel it because of the cooling effect of wind whistling through where I used to have hair, I do feel it afterwards. Any suggestions.

[Si]

I've used a bandanna under the helmet- get one made of 'technical' fabric that is light, wicks the sweat away and doesn't make you over heat, but also stops some UV. A good one should be thin enough that it won't require a bigger helmet.

Or just lashings of extra sun cream at every stop - i tend to use factor 60 these days.

[cycleruk]

A lot of "roadies" wear a cycling cap under their helmets.
This does tend to get wet with sweat though so may have an adverse effect on your forehead.
The peak helps to shade your eyes when the sun is low.
Some wear them back to front and then the peak shades the back of the neck from the sun.
I have a cycling buddy who puts a handkerchief under his.

[Big T]

I wear a "Buff" under my helmet, mainly to soak up the sweat, but it would keep the sun off you. I sometimes wear a cap instead, which gives a bit of shade, but is not so good at soaking up sweat.

[gilesjuk]

You might try a helmet with less vents. Since you have less hair you won't really need as much venting.

eg.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Cate ... oryID=1891

[carlislemike]

Thanks for : that lot. I have tried the cap; sweat the issue. Bandana/buff may be the way forward despite my kids' laughter. Sun cream gets stuck in what few hairs |I have left and messes up the inside of the helmet big time as I then sweat profusely. The idea of the hankie sounds ok as long as I can knot the corners and roll up my trouser legs a bit. Cheers.

[cycleruk]

Got to be one of these:-
http://www.umbrellahat.net/

[reohn2]

+1 for a Bandana,I bought one in Mallorca about a month ago and find it does a good job of protecting my bald head for the sun,I wear a Buff in cold weather but find they're too warm in the summer months.

[fredkite]

Go for it big time with a vividly coloured Buff worn in the 'pirate'style'

[quiksilver]

Draw lots of little rabbits on your head, then from a distance they will look like hares

I started going bald at 20, now 46. My head has built up a nice nut brown patina even in winter. Can't use sun block as it gives me spots. Have given up riding with a helmet anyway. Just use a light weight cotton cap on really hot days and reverse the peak to protect my neck. Cycling, balding, sweaty and the sun is an unfortunate combination t
hat I haven't found a cure to yet.

[mw3230]

A pal of mine always wears a buff under his helmet and he wears it in the style that has a flap at the rear - foreign legion style - which protects the back of the neck. He says that sweat wicks away to the neck covering bit and the dampness helps to cool. It keeps the sun off his scalp in the summer and keeps the cold off in winter.

I've noticed that there is also a buff with Coolmax -

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/Adult_Buff_H ... ountry=GBR

Which sounds like it will be just the job for you!

ps - ignore your children laughing at you

[workhard]

I rip the fuzzy felt / foam liner out of any new helmet, bin it and wear a cotton bandana 'pirate style' under my helmet at all times. I find in hot weather the 'moisture retention' of cotton to be quite cooling, and it stops sunburn. On really hot days pouring water over the bandana in situ is lovely.

[petzl]

I have reached the age of an increasingly (beautiful; not) balding bonce. I have to use a cream on parts of my forehead to relieve a skin complaint caused by overexposure to the sun for the last 60+ years. With a helmet on, the sun does penetrate the vents and although i don't feel it because of the cooling effect of wind whistling through where I used to have hair, I do feel it afterwards. Any suggestions.

A situation not to be scoffed at. I wear a single square of paper towel placed on my head under the helmet. Paper toweling can be found in the "bogs" of super stores, rest rooms, garages and the like and I have found that sourcing a fresh supply has not been a problem.
When removing your helmet you must try and remember to take the paper towel off your head as it will remain in place due to sweat and you will look a bit "strange". If the heat of the sun is now becoming a problem you may want to consider protecting the tops of your ears with sun block as they also can lose the protection of a full head of hair.

[glueman]

I wear a single square of paper towel placed on my head...

That's just the kind of practical thing I did before taking a wife. Ladies tights in winter, plastic bags on feet and hands, newspaper down the jersey, Kleenex on the head.
Women seem to have views on these things and insist one wears proprietory brands of less use and much greater cost so they can 'show their faces in public'.

[ukdodger]

I have reached the age of an increasingly (beautiful; not) balding bonce. I have to use a cream on parts of my forehead to relieve a skin complaint caused by overexposure to the sun for the last 60+ years. With a helmet on, the sun does penetrate the vents and although i don't feel it because of the cooling effect of wind whistling through where I used to have hair, I do feel it afterwards. Any suggestions.

Yes dont wear the helmet and wear a cap instead. I'm like you sensitive skin and as bald as a badger. I never cycle without a cap.

Last tuesday a postie cycling down our high street went smack into a car door flung open by a thoughtless motorist. He went right over the top of the door and hit the ground hard. He was taken off in an ambulance with a broken collerbone. His helmet was untouched.