The cycling cap: investigation report #1 – How to wear a cycling cap

I’ve asked about, I’ve googled the interwebs and been the the old school library shelves but no real answers until now. When you start coming out of the cycling fashion (and history) closet and admit you’ve got a thing for cycling caps (and classic jerseys but that is out of the scope for this blog) you find out who else shares your passion. One comment to a post gave me my first real leads.

Gemma is an Adelaide Cyclist who opposed by flippant comment that the model wearing the Ride Magazine cap looked uncomfortable. Gemma said of all the images in this blog she was actually the only one wearing it properly (in true Euro style). She sent me these direction:

How to Wear a Cycling Cap & some Rules of the Euro Cyclist:
When riding, sans helmet (with short hair), a team issue cycling cap (white in colour), shall be worn. The bill shall remain in the downward position at all times. The cycling cap may be worn forwards or backwards to coincide with the specifics of one’s current hairstyle. During spring training, cycling toques Previewshall be worn at all times in place of caps.

As noted above, there are only two acceptable placements of a cotton cycling cap (exception when hat is worn under helmet during inclement weather, which must include sustained rain showers):

• Brim facing forward, with cap worn high on head.
• Brim facing rearward, with cap still worn high on head.

Under no circumstances should cap be pulled down onto head such that the hat band comes within 2cm of the top of your ear! It should be perched precariously on top at all times, in danger of being blown away like a wispy climber on Mt. Ventoux…

Just like this, Miguel Indurain was the king or euro cap wearing:

Miguel Indurain

Thanks Gemma. She also imparted some other information that at this point I need a second verification on. It is a shocking concept no cycling cap lover will appreciate.
While you wait for that here is some more classic cap wearing moments from Miguel Indurain and the end of the cap wearing (ie no helmet required) era of the Grand Tours.

http://cyclingcaps.wordpress.com/2010/06/16/new-caps-from-everyones-favourite-cycling-glossy/