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A Doff to the Cap

Door philip deeker • 6th August 2012 05:28pm • Gepost in Products

Choosing the right kit for a ride is a critical moment: too much and you might cook, too little and you could be shivering away any chance of enjoying yourself. With experience this process now takes me seconds rather than minutes, but always ends with a pause before choosing what might seem the least important accessory of all, the cycling cap.

I never ride without one. When spending long hours in the saddle, we become particularly sensitive to every sensation: a bead of sweat, a loose knee warmer. With every passing minute our awareness increases. A cotton cap on your bonce may seem insignificant but personally, on a comfort level, I put it right up there with the chamois pad and those irreplaceable merino socks and base layer.

Rapha receives regular comments about their model riders not wearing helmets (a debate which I prefer to leave to others), so I feel the need to say that one of the many beautiful aspects of a cap is that it slips under a lid come rain come or shine. I am not proposing the use of either one or the other, but both (it's your choice).

Here are 12 reasons why every cyclist should wear one:

Mood Indicator

The Cap is the only roadwear item that really does have its place off the bike too. It can be a beautiful fashion statement or a nod to your heroes and your sport, but it can also be used to suit your mood. The peak-up position is an instant “hello Life, I’m here!”, half-mast suggests a slight moodiness, whereas full-down suggests “gone fishing/ tread gently”.

Wind Deflector

With the peak lowered to that perfect angle a wind-free space is created just around the eyes so that, with or without sunglasses, your eyes will feel protected from the constant bombardment of a headwind.

Rain Shield

Similarly, the peak can be lowered to keep all rain off the eyes, when glasses are often ineffective at keeping your vision clear. With gentle, constant rain, I have found myself gazing at the droplet that swings back and forth on the edge of the cap, like a pendulum, before dropping away. Dangerously distracting perhaps, but useful when the day starts to feel too long. There is a limit to how low one should drop the peak against driving rain: I once listened to a rider explain how he had been handed down the passion for cycling from his father, who rode in all weathers, despite losing all his front teeth when he went straight into the back of a lorry on a descent in pouring rain. His peak was a little too low…

Sun Screen

Obvious perhaps but nonetheless when 30C or more is forecast you might think that less is more. Not so. The cap really comes into its own the hotter it gets. I apparently have a growing bald patch up top – can’t see it, don’t want to see it – and to plaster it in sun cream would be a messy process indeed. With a cap on, no need.

Water Scoop

The final hot-weather attribute of the Cap is one of the best: to scoop up a capful of chilled spring water from a fountain in a mountain village and pour it all over your scorched head is a blissfully simple remedy to over-heating. It is also safer than just ducking your head straight into the usually very cold water basin. The cap then offers you a few delightful minutes of cool refreshment once back in the saddle. (The Cap, I seem to recall from an article somewhere, has also been used as another type of ‘scoop’, when a domestique had to hand his Cap to his Team Captain who had a ‘Call of Nature’ to deal with…)

Sting Protection

When bees get sucked in between the helmet air vents and thrown into a sweaty mess of hair its hardly surprising that they panic and sting you. The smooth surface of the Cap gives them a chance of crawling back out and moving on to more tranquil florets!

Peak Vision

This is my favourite aspect of the Cap. When things are feeling bad, when you can’t see the end of the straight road ahead, or when you can and it just looks too far and too steep, lower your peak. I bring it down to give me a ten-metre vision. Your world has then been reduced to cycling ten metres at a time, which is much easier than cycling thousands of metres. Naturally, care should be taken to look up regularly for safety reasons and in order to keep one’s front teeth.

Sweat Barrier

When the going gets tough and eyes are stinging with the sweat pouring off your forehead, anything that can help reduce this inconvenience is welcome. I’m not saying that it will keep all the sweat out, but it will ‘re-distribute’ the salty stuff somewhat.

Temperature Regulator

The cap may only be made of cotton, albeit windproof and water-resistant, but it really can make a difference when the air is cold (and can be supplemented by a merino hat). Likewise, against the scorching sun, it can also provide a very effective barrier. What I’m saying here is that it is an all-year-round asset to you, so the choice is “which one to wear?”, not “shall I wear a cap?”

Collectors’ Item

Being smaller than most other roadwear, it is the ideal treasure for collectors, especially since it is often the most common choice for a customised product. (If you've ever ridden a Rapha Gent's Race or Ride, you'll have seen some great examples.)

Wall Decoration

Taking up less room than jerseys and being cheaper and easier to hang than stuffed hunting trophies, the Cap is simply the best wall decoration there could be. And when you fancy, you can take one down and actually wear it. (Which is infinitely more complicated to do with a deer’s skull).

Great Gift

I could go on, and maybe others here will, but I will finish this short reflection on a very small piece of well crafted cloth by adding that, for most people, unless they have a head full of dreadlocks, the cap makes a pretty cool gift at any time of the year! Chapeau!

See Rapha Hats & Caps collection »
Read Tom Southam's ode to the cycling cap »

Opmerkingen

charles moreau

6th August 2012 09:19pm

my reason is "wall decoration"

it's the best place for caps - a friend of mine crashed wearing one instead of a helmet and he is seriously injured now, lost an eye.

Oh, they really look nice, but i have a family!!

Olly Wade

6th August 2012 09:45pm

I'm never without a cap! On its own or under my helmet. I've got a nice collection now of well worn campag an rapha.

And another reason…
The cap stops the padding in my helmet getting sweaty and smelly!

Chapeau!

Chapeaulondon.com

graeme cross

6th August 2012 10:02pm

Great piece, love it

justin riley

6th August 2012 10:41pm

I wear with pride my rare Rapha Lanterne Rouge cap.
Finishing last sometimes has advantages!

Lewis Paterson

6th August 2012 10:46pm

I agree. The Rapha cap is a must on any ride I make. The only exception (bearing in mind 99% of my rides are in Scotland) is when it's cold - I wear a Rapha marino hat; and when it's cold AND raining - the Rapha winter hat (I wear the Paul Smith version). Other than that the cap it is…

Ad Vermaas

7th August 2012 01:21am

Fully agree. Always a cap. Well, nearly always. Just like Lewis Paterson a Rapha/PS winter hat when it's cold.

michael cloidt

7th August 2012 02:34am

Grew up with it in the 70's before real helmets. Alone, under the hair net, over the hair net for ITT's. Still the only person on the group ride using it. Like the history of a lot of hats, cowboy/news cap/pope hat, it serves a ton of purposes beyond fashion. And the no helmet pictures… I expect when you sell helmets, you will show more helmets.

philip deeker

7th August 2012 07:23am

funny how quick the "lid / no-lid?" debate can get going! i do actually say that i wear a cap UNDER a HELMET ! perhaps if there had been a shot of one of us wearing both cap & lid, then both camps would have been happy ! i posted this link on FB and a real emotion-fest is now going on there!

Simon Jones

7th August 2012 08:14am

Love the caps got a black and white one, use mine as a mood indicator.

If you don't have one get one!!!

Chris Tree

7th August 2012 10:23am

Perhaps Rapha could design us a stylish helmet.

Howard Taylor

7th August 2012 11:39am

I always wear a cap & I always wear a helmet as well, it just feels right to me! I'm never without a cap when I'm on my bike, no matter what the weather! I have a small collection of caps now, a couple of Rapha, and due to my love of the cap, a couple of handmade ones, the most recent addition being an 'Ira Ryan' cap! (Many thanks to Caroline for the handmade ones, a true artist indeed!!)

Daniel Lister

7th August 2012 01:33pm

I love riding with a cap, I have a shaved scon and I cop dents in on my head from the helmet without one so the cap is a valued asset. My cycling journey only started 3 months ago so I only have one in my possession my 24th birthday is next month and one of my pressies is a couple of Rapha caps! Cant wait just in time for Aussie Spring riding!

Ian Roy Bea

7th August 2012 05:18pm

a cap for me is truly an essential item for riding… don't leave home without it! thank you for posting these thoughts.

as for the helmet debate, i go to this site: http://cyclehelmets.org/
ultimately, it comes down to individual choice.

personally, i prefer seeing the rapha models without the helmet especially on the city riding items.

Robin Bassett

7th August 2012 09:49pm

I love the dull "click" of the peak coming down.
Just one of those nice wee things!

Carl Tully

8th August 2012 06:18am

I Love wearing the cap. I always ride with one under the helmet, for all the reason above with the exception of the roadside assistance for el capitan,

Peter Barr-Watson

8th August 2012 02:10pm

the helmet discussion is such a diversion from the real cycle-safety issues.

as for caps, I always wear mine - under a helmet or just on it's own depending on the roads I'm going to ride and my confidence in the average motorist likely to be around.

on hills, peak down, watching drips rock left and right before falling and being replaced as I climb is simply meditative and dulls the pain.

Yetsuh Frank

8th August 2012 08:36pm

Most importantly, the cap is the only piece of Rapha kit I can afford.

philip deeker

8th August 2012 08:50pm

hence why it makes a great gift too, yetsuh ! saving up for socks is not too taxing either : maybe i should do a piece on them next!

Judd Blitt

8th August 2012 09:45pm

Love caps, but here's the question for me: how is it supposed to fit? I've seen them worn full-coverage like a baseball hat or on the smaller side, sitting well above the ears. Whats proper?

Ian Walton

9th August 2012 07:44am

Also a suitable filter for the mountain water should you wish a drink….Bear Grills should have one, with his film crew and helicopter off screen

www.themusette.cc

Martin Samek

9th August 2012 08:11am

great article! I will try the wall decoration suggestion soon. for me it goes hair, cap, helmet - always! - also when just riding to the bakery down the street.

justin riley

9th August 2012 10:18pm

If you fall off wearing a helmet you are more likely to hit your head - not my opinion , but a FACT
But wearing a cap could actually protect against grazing… ;)

Frederick Powell

12th August 2012 02:34pm

Used mine yesterday for Peak Vision (long straight road, 20mph headwind) and for a water scoop. I own 3 and wear them on the road sans helmet but on the dirt (with helmet) they only get used in winter time. Like Jeep owners I find myself waving hello to other Rapha cap owners on and off the bike.

michael dalton

15th August 2012 12:30pm

Love the Rapha caps, always got one on weather on or of the bike,
wouldn't go anywhere in the world without my Rapha caps.
Bring more designs on RAPHA.
Mike D from little old Bromsgrove worcs

michael dalton

15th August 2012 12:30pm

Love the Rapha caps, always got one on weather on or of the bike,
wouldn't go anywhere in the world without my Rapha caps.
Bring more designs on RAPHA.
Mike D from little old Bromsgrove worcs

Nigel Manson

16th August 2012 02:33pm

Great article - thanks… loved it. Re: "The Cap, I seem to recall from an article somewhere, has also been used as another type of ‘scoop’, when a domestique had to hand his Cap to his Team Captain who had a ‘Call of Nature’ to deal with"

It was Tommy Simpson who borrowed Barry Hoban's cap to - no way round saying it otherwise - take a dump in during one of their stage races together on the same time. In 'Put me back on my bike', Barry is quoted as being fairly irritated as it was his favourite cap, but I think in the long run he got his own back: he married Tommy's wife after the Major passed away on Ventoux.

philip deeker

16th August 2012 11:01pm

thanks nigel. that's the one! will fotheringham's book.

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