cycling cap - I Love Bicycling

The cycling cap, or the ‘casquette’ in French, is a bit of icon in the cycling world. The simple cloth cap graced the heads of all the greats, with the history of the cycling cap going back through the last century and beyond. Now it stands as a symbol, looking kind of ridiculous to the rest of the population, but serving as a nod to your cycling brethren.

Whether you admit to owning one or not, the cycling cap is part of the culture, along with weird tan lines and bib shorts. It speaks to its two wheeled history, and has seen a resurgence in the past few years. Here’s a short history of the cycling cap, as muddy as it is, so you can wear yours with pride as you head on down the coffee shop.

The History of the Cycling Cap

The Early Days

The first documented cycling races started up in the late 1800s, exposing riders to the harsh elements. Some sort of headwear was immediately needed, so the rudimentary flat cap was the obvious choice as opposed to top hats and tails.

The flat cap was a step in the right direction, but tweed is not an ideal athletic material. This set the groundwork for the cycling cap. Riders wore plain white skull caps, which eventually turned brown and grey with dust and grime over the years. It was purely functional, keeping the sun out of the eyes, absorbing sweat, and keeping the rain and muck out.

The Hayday

By the 1950s, the cycling cap became the ultimate mark of a professional cyclist. The design was refined through the 60s, coming to resemble what we know it as today. Sponsors began branding caps, and it became a way to spread your name in the cycling world.

Not only were they worn on the bike, but on podiums and on the heads of coaches and everyone else inspired by the cycling greats. Those who may not be able to afford a Campagnolo-equipped bike could afford a Campagnolo cap, so it became an entry in the cycling culture.

The Decline

With the introduction of helmets to cycling in the 70s and 80s, the cycling cap became less of a necessity. Although it was no longer the mark of a professional cyclist, it remained a part of the cycling kit. The helmet and the cycling cap were not necessarily mutually exclusive, and many cyclists chose to wear a cap under their helmet in cold and wet weather.

When helmets become mandatory, the cycling cap took the backburner. It has even been largely replaced by baseball caps on podiums. For those entering the cycling world today, it holds no meaning as a once essential piece of gear.

The Comeback

Although the cycling cap has had its ups and downs, it is not a reserve of history. The cycling cap is seeing a comeback, and not just as geeky accessory that screams “I REALLY LOVE CYCLING” to onlookers. It is functional and useful, and even with a helmet still serves the purpose for which it was first created. There is more variety than ever before, with caps to keep your head cool, warm – or just looking really awesome.

If you’re looking for an easy way to have a little fun with your cycling kit, check out some of the best cycling caps. Not only are there a ton of styles, but also some creative ways to wear it!

A cycling cap is for both function and style. It keeps the sun out of your eyes as well as the rain, keeps your balding head from baking, and keeps you warm on a chilly day. It can complete the look to a cyclist particularly when wearing other cycling gear and are involved in a cycling related activity. There are a host of ways to wear a cycling cap both with a helmet and without. Wearing it at inopportune times or wearing one the wrong way leaves you looking silly and potentially not getting the best benefit from one.

First – When Is It Appropriate To Wear a Cycling Cap?

The first thing to know about wearing a cycling cap is that it’s not always appropriate to wear one. If you are riding, are about to embark upon a ride, are mid-ride, say at a coffee shop, or have just finished a ride, then it is appropriate to wear one. Away from cycling you should never wear one. The best style is the one that both looks good and is functional. A cycling cap away from the bike is not functional and you’re just trying to look the look. Also, if you are riding and it’s hot out, you should not be wearing a cycling cap. For one it will be too hot and two it’s not functional unless it is to keep the sun off your balding head or out of your eyes.

Getting The Right Fit

The second thing you need to know about wearing a cycling cap is that you need to get the size right. It is not one size fits all even though a lot of hats say that. The cap should not be sitting high up on your head nor all the way down to your ears. It should sit slightly above your ears and have a small bit of loft above your head but not too much. Additionally, you will want a brim size that correlates with the size of your hat; not too big but not too small either. And make sure it’s flat or has a slight curve when you wear it. It should not have any folds or creases in it and it should always, always sit straight on your head whether forward or backwards.

Styles Without a Helmet (When NOT Riding)

When you’re not riding, say you just stopped at a coffee shop or are stepping onto the podium, there are a number of ways to wear a cycling cap. Again, this is when you’re not riding. While riding you should always have a helmet on regardless of if you think it’s stylish or not. In some countries in particular (Belgium for example) cycling caps are worn a lot as a style while riding instead of a helmet. Don’t do this. You don’t want to pay for it with your life.

Forward-Brim Down

This first style is largely the original and intended way to wear a cycling cap. It has the brim over your eyes which is what the cap is made for. If the cycling cap doesn’t sit straight on your head, it will be pretty apparent in this position so make sure it’s straight.

Forward-Brim Up

This is the more hipster/I’m cool look. There is no real reason for the brim to be flipped up unless you’re riding, but you wear a helmet while riding so this is a non-issue. This look can also be used while riding with a cycling cap under your helmet and when you stop and take your helmet of, at a coffee shop for example, you flip it up.

Backward-Brim Down

The guy in the photo above is riding with a cycling cap and no helmet. This is a no go but he has the backward-brim down look down to a T. This is the I’m cool look but not too cool, just out doing my thing the way I want. With a backwards hat, one thing to make sure of is that the hat isn’t to high up on your forehead or too far down over your eyebrows. Again, having the right size hat will help to get the fit right.

Backward-Brim Up

Velominati is the maker of the cyclist’s Rules. This is a list of 95 rules for a cyclist to follow and properly wearing a cycling cap is one of them (Rule # 22). Wearing a cycling cap backwards with the brim tipped up is an I’m cool and serious look. Again, make sure the cap is at the proper spot on your forehead and make sure it’s straight.

Wearing a Cycling Cap With a Helmet

The above ways to wear a cap are for function since you’re cool and only wear a cap without a helmet when your’re not riding. The function of the cycling cap comes into play (besides of course to keep the low hanging sun out of your eyes while enjoying an espresso or beer) while riding. The first thing with wearing a cap under your helmet is that it will keep your head warmer. A perfect addition to your kit when it’s around forty to sixty degrees F (4.5-15.5 degrees C). Outside of this you’re going to be either too cold or warm with one.

Forward-Brim Down

The forward-brim down look while riding is the most functional style on the bike. It will keep the rain (or mud in this case in the photo above) and wind out of your eyes as well as bugs if you are riding into the evening. Also, if you’re riding at night, it is a great way to keep the blinding headlights from the other direction out of your eyes.

Forward-Brim Up

With the brim-down style above, if you wear the cap too low or you’re head is tucked down to stay more aero, you are likely going to have a difficult time seeing the road ahead. When this happens, flipping the brim up will give you the sight you need while keeping the brim right there to flip back down when needed. This style can also be used when wearing a cap to keep your head warm.

There Are No Other Ways

The above ways are the only way you should ever wear a cycling cap. It should never be worn sideways or partially crooked on your head. It should only be worn while cycling or around a cycling situation such as before, after, or during a ride but off the bike.

The Fall of The Cycling Cap

Cycling caps used to be the thing you would wear while cycling because at first, helmets didn’t yet exist and weren’t worn like they are today. Today, cycling caps are much less popular and tend to be worn by the more serious cyclist and the ones attempting to capture the style while getting function out of them. Cycling caps are worn less all the way up to the professional ranks even. Podiums are often outfitted with riders wearing baseball caps with their sponsors on it instead of cycling caps. However, there are some that try and preserve tradition and keep wearing them.