Cycling-Induced Helmet Hair May Contribute to Climate Change
by Josh Peterson, Los Angeles, California 
on 10.26.08
photo by Andy Gates
Bicycling is a great way to get to work without using gasoline or other non-renewable resources. It strengthens the body, bolsters the immune system and adds to the overall well-being of the cyclist, but a new poll shows that some may not be utilizing pedal power for the wrong reasons.
Two Thirds of Women Never Cycle
According to a poll from the United Kingdom, the majority of women, aged 18-34, do not bike at all, and most of the women polled would not bike to work. 58 percent of those women cited the fear of sweaty dishevelment as the major deterrence. 27 percent were worried about helmet hair. Other concerns included lack of shower facilities at the workplace, safety issues, unwilling to carry a change of clothing and inadequate cycling skills. Only two percent of the women polled biked every day.
Experts and Celebs Promote Cycling To Women
Although celebrities such as Elle Macpherson and Agyness Deyn have promoted biking, it didn't seem to decrease the gender imbalance. Experts have claimed that slow, even-paced cycling can prevent the unkemptness of the rider and that overall health benefits should outweigh any short-term untidiness.
Do Male Cyclists Worry About Helmet Hair?
Although this poll focused on women, it is almost assuredly true that there are men who do not bike to work for the same reasons. Can you imagine Pat Riley cycling to a Lakers' game? No one wants to arrive at work covered in sweat and smelling like body odor. Does the poll seem a tad sexist? It may have been, but it highlighted some of the societal inequalities between the genders. Men are allowed to be a bit scuzzy. There are plenty men on television with three-day beards, untucked shirts and fashionably disheveled hair. Women, on the other hand, almost always appear in the media in full makeup, with styled hair and smart clothing. The societal inequalities of grooming standards seem to extend to cycling.
Does Helmet Hair Contribute to Climate Change?
Societal standards, pressures and displays of wealth do seem to affect climate change. People use aerosol hairspray to appear more attractive at the cost of the environment. Someone might drive a tricked-out SUV to display wealth and impress neighbors. A leaf-blower might be employed to keep up with the societal standards of yard maintenance. Women refusing to cycle to work is symptom of a far-reaching societal problem. Getting a few ladies to bike to work might cut down on emissions by a negligible amount, but it will take an overhaul of societal standards to make a considerable difference.
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I've thought about this problem as I've biked to work in the past, I arrived pretty sweaty, went to the bathroom to freshen up with a wet paper towel and a bit of deodorant that I kept at work. I had a cube job and didn't have to worry about impressions much anyway. Now I bike to school, 10 miles of trails and I arrive very sweaty, I bring a shirt to change into and do the towel shower in the bathroom. They actually have showers at my school, but I'm not that concerned.
The best options I've thought of for sweaty commuters:
1. Request a shower to be installed at your workplace.
2. Find a local public shower, such as at a gym.
3. Take a bus most of the way to work and bike home.
4. Work closer to home or downhill from home.
Good luck bike huggers ;]
I biked 9 miles to work all summer, and really didnt have to worry about getting sweaty or gross. They didnt have showers, but I would just bring clothes to change into and freshen up my make-up when I got there. Even if there were showers, I dont think I would use them...in the mornings was cool enough that I didnt even get sweaty if I rode slower and steadily. Its really disappointing that most women are more concerned about helmet hair than our earth.
Why don't we all just stay in bed and not do anything since it seems EVERYTHING contributes to climate change; wait, staying in bed requires breathing out CO2, so that's out too.
Yes, you may arrive with helmet head! When you do your drying off in the bathroom, touch up your hair too.You may need to have a lower-maintenance hairstyle, but we have bigger problems to worry about on this planet than hair.
One way to deal with the sweatiness is to walk the last couple of blocks so you can cool down/dry off in your riding clothes.
come to los angeles. the lady bike scene is alive and well, especially at places like the bicycle kitchen ( www.bicyclekitchen.com ). yepyepyep. i'm a liberal dude, but this kind of bemoaning doesn't really seem to be very interesting or productive. positivity!
Where in the UK was this survey done? Clearly not in Oxford or Cambridge! As a matter of fact, I know more women who cycle as their main form of transportation than anything else. This not only includes students but also many professionals - office workers and university employees (professors, administrators, et al).
The other thing that I wonder about this survey is what form of transport do the women use? Many of the women that I know that don't bike use either bus or train because of the distance they travel. For instance, if I lived in London and had to travel any significant distance, I would probably not cycle but would take public transportation.
Just out of curiosity: How come you all get sweaty from cycling?
Do you all live in California or do you always ride at race speed?
I live ca 5 km from my work, ride in my normal working clothes and arrive after ca 20 minutes as dry as when I left (at least when it is not raining ;-) ).
By the way: I don't wear a helmet, but then dutch traffic is more bike friendly than yours, and I have been cycling almost every day of my life since I was 5 years old.
Damn, I look good in that photo. :)
Remember kids, what people say and what they do aren't necessarily the same thing. People say they need showers and they're scared of helmet hair; mostly it's just inertia and percieved grim risk that's stopping 'em riding. "I can't be bothered" is unacceptable (and rarely on questionnaires) so people pick a box that they like, and that handily can't be changed any time soon.
It's a sort of eco-Bradley Effect.
How do I get sweaty on my ride to work?
Answer: I ride about 1 3/4 as far as you do, through very un-bike-friendly areas, over many hills, in Texas (humid/gross) weather.
I have to admit though, while my hair hasn't kept me from cycling, it is one of the more inconvenient things about riding to work. It's up in a ponytail all the way to work, and my only options really are to put it up in a bun or try to rinse some of the sweat out and straighten it. If I were a guy, I'd probably just rinse and gel.
How do I get sweaty on my ride to work?
Answer: I ride about 1 3/4 as far as you do, through very un-bike-friendly areas, over many hills, in Texas (humid/gross) weather.
I have to admit though, while my hair hasn't kept me from cycling, it is one of the more inconvenient things about riding to work. It's up in a ponytail all the way to work, and my only options really are to put it up in a bun or try to rinse some of the sweat out and straighten it. If I were a guy, I'd probably just rinse and gel.
I walk to school and even though it's just one mile, I might bike if I get my bike fixed. However, I live in California and there are times that I arrive sweaty to school. My hair is usually messed up, but I really don't care. Vanity is stupid. However, I do carry deorderant in my backpack and I usually shower after my gym class, but that's after getting up a much more vigorous sweat and consequently, a much more offensive smell. If I just wanted back and forth from school, I would be fine.
Another thing I would like to point out is that life is so much easier for us women if we keep our hair short. Short hair can be beautiful too and women should not rule it out just because it is something that society misunderstands sometimes. It's society that's killing our planet in many ways and we need to actively be agents of change so that we can help direct society in a way that will benefit our planet.
When one sweats, helmet hair happens but if you can accompolish your cycle commute without the perspiration, then....no helmet hair!!
Get yourself an IZIP electric assist bike and enjoy the ride without the sweat on the way to work and IF you desire a workout on the way home - just leave the power off and ride it like a regular bike.
Mine has changed my life. http://www.izipusa.com/
I live in the UK and bike to work and uni every single day, except when I'm deathly ill. Granted, I don't have the longest bike commutes in the world (4-8 miles each day), but where I live is consistently hilly.
Here, the rain and 'cold' is a major deterrent for most people I know, especially ladies, for cycling to work. Biking in weather appropriate clothing, keeping deodorant in your backpack/panniers, and carrying a small washcloth with you to wipe off the sweat when you're changing are the biggest recommendations I can give anyone. Might help to buy some sort of talc, or Lush powder deodorant to soak up the rest of the sweat.
Also, on really wet days, put your work clothes in a plastic carrier bag and then inside your backpack/panniers to protect them from water creeping in.
For me, the helmet hair isn't the biggest deterrent. It's the fact that when it's really cold and I'm biking somewhere where I'll be for several hours and/or where I'll be walking around outside a lot, I can't bring a proper coat with me because it won't fit in my backpack. You don't feel nearly as chic wearing a biking waterproof jacket as you do wearing your long wool coat.
I live in Las Vegas Nevada and bike to work year round. Yes, that includes biking in 100+ degrees in the summer. Luckily I am not that attached to my hair and wear it short so when I get to work I can just wet and refix it. I also pack my work clothes and change at the office. Yes, I do get sweaty but that is what water is for, to wash it off. Not riding a bike to work due to bike head is absolutely ridiculous, global warming is a much more important issue.
one day my mom got happy sooo she went to dorito town and ate all the chips! oh my said me u have grown my deary mother you look like bertha when she was pregnant.
hmmmmmm says sara why have u grown my deary friends mother u look my mother now soo u can be twins with her!
now my little children run along before the day is dust! and if u stay u become as fat as a motha!