Helmet kept on or taken off?

For the first time in my life I am going to buy a helmet and wear it riding. I have curly hair that when it gets messy, it gets bushy. A scary sight! I'd rather not take off the helmet if I make stop somewhere, but then I'd feel goofy walking through a store if I am going to be in there for more than a few minutes.

Being in a farming community I don't come across other riders in gear at the local stops. I only have seen riders on the road.

What do most of you do when you take a break or make a stop?

helmet stays on... That way they also know why I'm clad in lycra with all my bits hanging out...:D

You get used to people looking at you. And the more they see you, the more used of people wearing bike helmets THEY're going to be, and then they will also move closer to wearing helmets themselves or suggesting helmets for their children.
If I am going to be somewhere for a while (like a restaurant) I take it off; but if i just run into a shop, I'll leave my helmet on.

I leave the helmet on. The only time it comes off during a mid-ride stop is if I'm really really hot and I need to pour water on my head.

FWIW, I have a friend who always wears a bandana under her helmet. I'm pretty sure she does it to keep her hair from going wild. Maybe that would help with curly hair.

I wear a buff under my helmet. It keeps the hair in tack and keeps the helmet from getting sweaty in warm temps.

~ JoAnn

I usually take it off, but then again, my hair is only two inches long! Maybe carry a bandana or a Buff with you, just in case?

If I'm just making a quick stop at a gas station or convenience store, I leave the helmet on. If I'm actually stopping long enough to eat a meal, then I'll take it off, but I don't do that very often. In any event, I made a pact with myself not to care what I look like after or during from wearing a helmet. Headbands, bandanas, and pony tail holders, however, can work wonders.

I'd add that I've ridden in some pretty rural places and you'd be suprised how little any one I've encountered has cared.

I used to think people wearing helmets indoors looked like lost aliens, now I don't think of it at all and just walk around looking like a doofus. To eat a meal I'd take it off, though, but I'm usually wearing half a buff underneath anyway to pick up sweat. I'm not sure I look any better for it :p

Cycling cap!

I had to google what a Buff was. Then I watched a video demo from their site. It looks really neat. It was done pretty fast for me to follow, so I had to watch again. Reminded me of this video someone sent me on how to fold a shirt in 2 seconds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5AWQ5aBjgE .

I like the looks of people wearing hats in general. And, although I do have hats, it always feels rather odd and awkward wearing something on my head. It will take some adjusting for me to wear a helmet when riding.
Of course nothing could feel as strange as having parrots poised on your head... as I experienced when on vacation in Miami, Florida!

I also wear a buff under my helmet. I will take the helmet off for a longer stop, not just to walk in and out of a store.

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Originally Posted by wnyrider

Of course nothing could feel as strange as having parrots poised on your head... as I experienced when on vacation in Miami, Florida!

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How about a cat?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Plf1bIo1FI

I have the worst looking hair of anyone after it has been under a helmet. I have several solutions:

Buff. I have worn one around my neck and then pulled it up like a sweat band or bandana after taking my helmet off. Now I wear it over my hair and pulled down on my forehead a little because I was having a problem with sweat running in my eyes. There are really cute ones, too.

On a tour, I carried a hat with a crushable brim that I put on immediately after taking my helmet off.

Now that I know about cycling caps, I like that idea. If I didn't have such an investment in buffs, I would get one!

I sympathize completely.

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Originally Posted by Grits

I have the worst looking hair of anyone after it has been under a helmet. I have several solutions:

Buff. I have worn one around my neck and then pulled it up like a sweat band or bandana after taking my helmet off. Now I wear it over my hair and pulled down on my forehead a little because I was having a problem with sweat running in my eyes. There are really cute ones, too.

On a tour, I carried a hat with a crushable brim that I put on immediately after taking my helmet off.

Now that I know about cycling caps, I like that idea. If I didn't have such an investment in buffs, I would get one!

I sympathize completely.

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I sympathize... though this was actually my solution:

http://www.austshear.com.au/Show%20Pro%20Clipper.2.JPG

I stuff a baseball cap or a cycling cap in my Camelbak or jersey and put that on. My helmet comes off immediately when I stop.

I have crazy curly hair too. When it's short, I just run my hands over my hair and call it good. When it's in-between, I wear a buff. I pretty much need one to tame my hair just so that I could put a helmet on...never mind take the helmet off! ;)

But, like others have said, if I'm going to be somewhere for awhile, I'll take my helmet off...otherwise, I just walk around with it on my head but the straps undone. This is what I do for grocery store trips. It's easier than carrying it!

I leave mine on unless we are stopping in someplace to eat.

I take mine off whenever I can. I always feel a little goofy walking around with it on. :p

I take mine off and if I have bad hair, I have bad hair!! I do carry a baseball hat if I am touring for wearing when we stop to eat if it is really sunny or hot...for sun protection as much as for bad hair. If it is a quick stop for water, rest room, snack, etc., I leave it on!

I take it off. I look like h*ll anyway with no makeup and all red and sweaty (and if I'm mountain biking I am usually filthy too). Somehow the lycra and jersey and shoes scream "biker" anyway. The other crowd is the riding tights and field boots equestrians. They never wear their helmets. But they don't park their ponies outside either.

If I've been riding at all long or hard, my hair is already sticking up through the vents in the helmet. So from that POV it doesn't matter if I take it off or leave it on. :cool:

For me it has more to do with where I'm going to put the thing. For a quick errand or pee break I'll leave it on my head but maybe release the buckle. (If you ride in a forward lean or tuck, your helmet strap should be a little uncomfortable when you're upright! It's not much use if it's just going to slide to the side of your head in a crash.) But if I don't have to think about where to put it, then that's 15 seconds that I didn't add on to a 30 second errand. ;)

If I'm going to be inside for a longer time, like in a restaurant, and there's secure outdoor parking where it won't get jostled and possibly dropped, I'll hook it over my handlebars. Or in the saddlebag of the commuter bike.

I usually wear a bandana under my helmet to keep my hair from sliding down in my face and for sweat. My hair is just long enough to be annoying and I'm growing it out so it will inevitably get more so as time goes on. I don't take my helmet off if I stop unless my head needs a break or I'm gonna be stopped for a while. However, i will admit that I love taking the helmet and bandana off when I'm done riding or going into a restaurant or something...I love the look people give me when they see my hair all wet and shaggy and just generally messed up. I don't get too many looks with the helmet on, but boy do they stare when they see that sweaty mess! :)
My hair isn't curly and I don't know what a buff is (yet) but I'd try the bandana. It works great for me and I know other people who use them for running or working out who swear by them.
Gray

For those who were wondering, these are Buffs, and they simply rock: http://www.buyabuff.com/ :D

The womens slim fit is the same size as the med/jr buff, but in more feminine, grown up patterns. If you have a tiny head like I do, the womens/med/jr should fit well.

I look terrible in buffs! They accentuate the crease between my eyes that would be obliterated by Botox, but I refuse to go there (so far). I just look angry in a buff. I have to have bangs to hide the crease and look like the (normally) happy person I am! :D

But in answer to the original question, I often carry a ballcap in my rack bag when I take utility rides, and I take the helmet off and put the ballcap on to go into stores. The brim helps hide the forehead crease (check my avatar: bonus points if you can find a forehead crease!)

When I used to do club rides, I would keep the helmet on because I am the queen of bad helmet hair and sweat like a pig.

I rode to Whole Foods today and walked around in there with it on. I figure one less to hold onto.

I used to care, but then I accidentally wore my helmet into a coffee shop and no one even noticed (frequented by bike riders on the weekend). Then I noticed it was one less thing to fumble with as my husband rides away.

My husband carries a ball cap. I also have curly hair, and usually slide my sunglasses up on top of my head to minimize to mess. Otherwise, I bend over and give my hair a quick shake, to "unstick" what was stuck to my head. Either way, I'm a sweaty mess and probably shouldn't be walking around in lycra.

If people do look at me funny, I remind myself they are probably out of shape and drove their gas-sucking SUV down the block to buy a cup of coffee :-)

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Originally Posted by Becky

size as the med/jr buff, but in more feminine, grown up patterns. If you have a tiny head like I do, the womens/med/jr should fit well.

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Maybe I'll have to try that. I have a regular buff and it's too loose and slides off easily. I just wish the womens/jr. buffs had a better selection of patterns--there are very few good ones!!

Wear the helmet! They are expensive accessories! Plus, don't want to set it down and forget it right?

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Originally Posted by Running Mommy

helmet stays on... That way they also know why I'm clad in lycra with all my bits hanging out...:D

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A1!!!
Thats me!

Mine comes off immeidiately being as I am usualy stopping because I am so hot that I need to cool off a minute anyway. I also have a very thick head of hair and my heads sweats and gets very hot, so I need the break.

I'm like some of the other girls, I'm all sweaty and red and look terrible anyway, so taking the helmet off isn't going to make that much of a difference.
I'm one of those girls that sweats profusely, so there is no help for me. LOL

I'm big, I'm in lycra, with bike shoes and a helmet in hand. I figure if they don't like what they see, they can turn the other way. In fact, I am less self conscience when I am riding, than I am any other time. :D

I guess my mind is on my heat stroke more than what I look like. LOL

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Originally Posted by DDH

I'm big, I'm in lycra, with bike shoes and a helmet in hand. I figure if they don't like what they see, they can turn the other way. In fact, I am less self conscience when I am riding, than I am any other time. :D

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This reminds me of a ride I did a couple of summers ago. The start/end was a shopping center where there is an Italian deli that makes really good sandwiches and always has a very long line of customers waiting for their food. After the ride was over, I went in and took a number and waited for my turn. It was a really hot, humid day and I'd just ridden over 40 miles. I was still in my bike clothes and was all sweaty and had bad helmet hair. I got a lot of strange looks from the other people waiting in line. There was a bike shop a couple of doors down, so you'd think people would be used to seeing folks decked out in bike shorts, etc. So I guess I must have looked really bad. I actually thought it was pretty hilarious.

p.s. the sandwich was excellent - totally worth the wait.