cold weather and ears question

If it starts getting chilly at all I have to wear something over my ears to keep them from hurting. Issue I've had for years with cold weather and wind. I grew up in Ohio and as soon as it started getting chilly and there was any wind I had to get out either earmuffs or winter type hats to protect my ears. I'm thinking earmuffs aren't going to work to well riding a bike, so I'm looking for suggestions on what I can wear. I did buy one of the headband type things to help protect my ears, but am looking for other ideas, esp for when it's like yesterday was (temps in the 30s to 40s and wind). Of course it was raining yesterday, so I didn't ride.

Seek out a buff as they're great for keeping ears warm on coolish days

www.buff.com.au

Thanks for the suggestion. Now to find out if they'll ship to the US.

Whoops...I remembered that site from memory but Buffs are sold round the world :).

http://www.buff.es/

It's alright. Thank you for the 2nd link, that definitely helps. I may get a couple, so I can have one just for riding and have a 2nd for wearing other times.

I've never worn a Buff.

If you can't find one at your LBS, they (or your local/chain outdoor outfitter) will definitely have balaclavas. That's my choice under a helmet - one that's stretchy enough that I can pull the eye hole under my chin when it warms up a little.

I think Buffs may be more versatile - they're so popular here - but balaclavas are easier to find.

I wear this cap under my helmet, and over a buff (which covers my ears neck, and chin).

https://www.ibexwear.com/shop/produc...ns-bo-peep-cap

If you know anyone who knits and owes you a favor, there are a couple of bike helmet earmuff patterns floating around.

I have a vast array of headgear :D

I wear half a Buff all summer as a hairband, to keep my hair in place and absorb sweat. Once it starts getting a little nippy I'll switch to a regular Buff folded in two, pulled down over my ears. A bit colder than that and I'll add another Buff around my neck. Next step is an under-helmet cap. My favourite is thin wool, from Endura, but I also have a windproof and waterresistant one from gore which is better when it rains BUT I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING AND END UP TALKING REALLY LOUD.

Colder than that and I'm on to a thin wool balaclava, plus underhelmet cap. I don't use a balaclava before it gets quite cold because I overheat easily uphill and get a bit desperate if I can't pull it away from my face.

Let me know if you can't find a Buff, I can probably find a spare I can ship to you.

I have a Buff and a really nice wool balaclava, and I find myself using the Buff more. I like the flexibility that it provides, and how snugly it fits. The balaclava never wants to stay where I put it.

FWIW, if you're like me, and have a tiny head/face, there are women's Buffs out there that are junior-sized, but more grown-up looking. Not many places carry them, and I always end up getting them here.

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Originally Posted by lph

I also have a windproof and waterresistant one from gore which is better when it rains BUT I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING AND END UP TALKING REALLY LOUD.

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That's funny... even my lightest weight cap and balaclava each generate a LOT of wind noise. I can hardly hear anything over the wind when I wear them, and I was thinking that heavier/waterproofed headgear might slide through the wind and/or isolate my ears a little better than the lightweight ones. I guess not. :p

I just got a Walz "ear flap" cycling cap - absolutely love it. It keeps my ears toasty, with the added bonus that I seem to be able to hear better than when I was wearing a thin fleece beanie cap. One of my teammates (I did a team order) who also got an earflap cap noticed the same thing - so I don't think its my imagination.

Interesting to see the Buff suggestions, I've asked for one for Christmas :)

I didn't know about the Buff, but it does look really cool, so it may have to go on my xmas list too. This is what I'm wearing right now...

https://www.smartwool.com/default.cf...s/-/Hats/2501/

Light enough go under the helmet and comes down far enough to cover my ears.

Shannon

I love my buffs - but for the answer to this question, I'd specifically recommend the wool buff.
The wool buff is 2x as long as their summer buffs and is even more versatile while being even warmer.

I have 2 buffs, one regular sized and one junior. Even the junior one has a bit too much material for me, but I wear it in the early spring and fall. However, I am not so coordinated with the tying and folding and I basically wear it one way. I have a couple of unisex skull caps that are OK for the 50's, but my favorite cold weather head gear is a very old, thin fleece skull cap that was my son's, when he was junior racer. I guess my head is the size as a 14 year old? It comes down over my ears nicely. I have 2 balaclavas. A Terry one that is fleece and is so warm, I can only wear it when it's below 35 or so, and a Craft one that is made of thinner material. I can actually wear the fleece skull cap over that. But, I have a problem with balaclavas in general, in that I start to feel like I am suffocating. And I don't even put the thing over my mouth unless it is really cold.
I cannot hear well in any of these things, especially since I have a slight hearing loss in my left ear. It bugs me. I can hear traffic, but if I am riding with someone, I am constantly saying "what?" when they talk to me. It drives me crazy.

Nashbar still has cheap balaclavas http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_520020_-1___

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I looked on the site and there are a couple of places that sell the buffs in the Raleigh area. So the next time we go to Raleigh I'll take directions to get to one of or two of the places. Raleigh is about a 2 hour drive for us. There also is a place in New Bern which is about 45 minutes, but we're actually more likely to go to Raleigh.

I use various types of head gear for riding in the colder months. I have 2 earbands...a thinner one and a thicker fleecy one. I have 2 "beanies" that I use...one is a Descente Coldout beanie that I cut a slit in back for my ponytail. The other one is a thin fleecy beanie with ear covers. And then I also have a TurtleFur balaclava for the really cold mornings. I have 2 neck gaiters, as well...a thinner "buff" type one, and a thicker fleece one. I usually end up wearing some combination of head covering, plus a neck gaiter, depending on the conditions.

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Originally Posted by TsPoet

I love my buffs - but for the answer to this question, I'd specifically recommend the wool buff.
The wool buff is 2x as long as their summer buffs and is even more versatile while being even warmer.

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+1. I love my merino Buff!

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I think Buffs may be more versatile - they're so popular here - but balaclavas are easier to find.

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Speak for your area . . . :)

And +1 on the wool buffs.

And I hate balaclavas unless is *^&% cold. Having stuff over my face is claustrophobic.

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Originally Posted by TsPoet

I love my buffs - but for the answer to this question, I'd specifically recommend the wool buff.
The wool buff is 2x as long as their summer buffs and is even more versatile while being even warmer.

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2x as long as the summer buff?!!? Can it be worn as a dress? Wow...I cut all my buffs in half because they are too long for me, I can't imagine a wool one that is even longer. :eek:

If you have an REI near you, they carry buffs.

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

+1. I love my merino Buff!

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I badly want one, but they don't seem to have them in junior sizes :(

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

2x as long as the summer buff?!!? Can it be worn as a dress? Wow...I cut all my buffs in half because they are too long for me, I can't imagine a wool one that is even longer. :eek:

If you have an REI near you, they carry buffs.

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I just dbl it over, makes it more comfortable. I wear it around my neck, but can pull up the fold and cover my head. I also wear it like a beanie or as a bandana (the last two demoed in the below video). Lots of videos with demos on how to fold and use. This is my favorite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yydanA59X0U

Check out REI (recreational Equipment Inc.) They almost always have buffs- these are my favorite cool and cold weather under helment, stick down my neck, cut the wind go to's.

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

And I hate balaclavas unless is *^&% cold. Having stuff over my face is claustrophobic.

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Yeah, the few times I've tried to run with those on drove me nuts. If it's that cold I stay indoors and ride the nowhere bike. But it has to be windchill in the negatives before I will cancel a run.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

2x as long as the summer buff?!!? Can it be worn as a dress? Wow...I cut all my buffs in half because they are too long for me, I can't imagine a wool one that is even longer. :eek:

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Try a little coldweather steelheading. You will wish it was 4x as long. :)

I love my wool cap with ear flaps from Little Package - it keeps me warm and dry and looks great off the bike too :)

Mine is #38/130

if it's cold enough that i need my neck warm, i have an ibex gaiter. but it's sort of thick. might have to investigate the wool buffs!

I showed my husband the website and he told me that the next time we go to Raleigh we'll check out the store there (either the one in Raleigh or the one in Cary, or both). He knows where both stores are and actually has been in the one in Raleigh years ago. He lived in the Raleigh area before I met him for a couple of years and knows the area. I, on the other hand, do not know the area. Unfortunately we can't make a trip up there until Feburary. But that is alright. We don't want to go before the holidays, plus no money, and he can't leave the local area in January as he is the one on call for evenings and weekends for that month.