Does anyone wear a mask when cycling?

Canis Lupus

Just been pondering this for a bit. I used to think those face masks looked ridiculous but now I'm a little older and less prone to giving a **** what people think I look like I was thinking about getting one. A recent thing on Sky showed that cars expel a considerable amount of small metalic particles in their exhausts although the section seemed to suggest these particles stayed low and hence the article focused on their affects on children.

Do they work? (In that do they cut out a considerable amount of the crap a cyclist in a city inhales?

Do they affect your breathing in a significant way?

Any thoughts/opinions and facts welcome

unionman

I used to wear one in the summertime because I suffered from very bad hay fever. One of the upsides of regular cycling is that it my hay fever has improved a huge amount.

The masks do make breathing a bit more difficult by a factor of around 10%. Not significant but enough to notice.

Also, if there is a lot of harmful particulate matter in the air, I'm not convinced the mask made any difference. The filter, after a few months, wasn't especially dirty (though it didn't smell too good).

Unless you need it to keep the pollen out, I think they are a waste of time.

ednwireland

i used to use one when i commuted in derby, made a big difference much less sneezing and stuffed nose, mask used t get pretty dirty, cleaned them regularly.

petermijackson

I've just started cycling through the city and found that I am very caught up in the mornings so would be very interested to hear what else people have to say about these filters

Junior

Only when I want to pretend to be zorro

robbie_998

yes....i tend to carry a chainsaw too :rolleyes:

Jumpy

I wouldnt mind one at the moment. Sick of swallowing midges tbh.

Canis Lupus

Jumpy wrote: »

I wouldnt mind one at the moment. Sick of swallowing midges tbh.

Cuts down on the amount of food you need to bring with you on long spins tho.

BostonB

On a really cold day I use a scarf.

Chips Lovell

browneire

el tonto wrote: »

This mask may help your breathing in the short term- but you're most likely to be knocked down... hence bad breathing in the long term!

Canis Lupus

Ah this almost became a pointless question. Some ****ers tried to take my bike last night. They cut off the cable lock tying the bike to the house but failed to notice the D lock attaching it to a cast iron wood burner. So 1-0 to me.

Least the pricks didn't **** up the bike once they realised it wasn't going anywhere. The bike is coming indoors from now on even if there really isn't room.

Glico Man

I usually wear a light scarf around my mouth to stop the bugs and to help stop breathing in fumes in the city. You don't look as ridiculous as you would with a heavy winter scarf.. at least I hope I don't

browneire

sucks. moved into a new gaff Friday and bike is still in the car as no room in the house. Will try rig up something to hang on the ceiling today.

Canis Lupus wrote: »

Ah this almost became a pointless question. Some ****ers tried to take my bike last night. They cut off the cable lock tying the bike to the house but failed to notice the D lock attaching it to a cast iron wood burner. So 1-0 to me.

Least the pricks didn't **** up the bike once they realised it wasn't going anywhere. The bike is coming indoors from now on even if there really isn't room.