A Case for the Cycling Cap

To be frank, urban hipster culture in the early 2010s stands as an example of a caricature that will outlast its underlying culture by eons. It’s hard for the mind to stray away from the stereotypical image in one’s head of a flannel-clad, coffee-drinking music snob glazing over the ‘vintage’ section of the local underground bookstore; however, one sartorial faux pas exists in my mind as their most outstanding misrepresentation of another culture: the cycling cap. After the release of films like Premium Rush, the contemporary crowd hopped onto the trend of cruising around on brakeless fixies and, ever notably, wearing cycling caps as casual attire. The appearance is distinct, as it makes the top of one’s head look like a shrink-wrapped chicken breast wearing a tennis visor; despite its looks, however, its history spans nearly as far back as the bicycle itself. To purists, the introduction of the headwear in pop culture is utter blasphemy, but the uptick of this fad has allowed a globally renowned sport to find a comfortable resurgence in the States (albeit with a somewhat pretentious group of individuals).

Functionally, cycling caps emerged in an era long before the advent of the modern helmet, the professional application of which only becoming required in 2003 after a fatal crash involving Kazakh rider Andrei Kivilev. Caps served as a means of sweat absorption, protection from the sun and rain, and provided sponsors with more of that all-important ad space, with logos most popularly being displayed on the visor (or peak, as it’s more commonly known). A cyclist who finds himself the winner of a race in the professional circuit will still occasionally don one of these cotton casquettes while stood atop the podium to maximize brand publicity, as they offer significantly more legible surface area than the typical baseball cap (such a look was popularized by a certain American, of whom we do not speak, in the late 90’s and early 00’s; it’s experiencing a quick death following that of his career).

In the end, it’s important to acknowledge the impact of the humble cap beyond its glaring, conventionally unattractive nature. It represents the quirky history of one of the world’s most gruesome and demanding sports, as well as the small nuances that separate a professional from your average coffee shop socialite. While it’s certainly more functional (and legal, in some countries) to be wearing a helmet instead, it’s hard to come across a seasoned veteran of the sport without one tucked underneath, for good measure. Some still argue that it can even serve as a proper alternative to sunglasses. Furthermore, it’s common for a group of well-invested geeks to find themselves enveloped in a debate about its smallest details, e.g. whether the peak should be worn pointing up or down (there is no right answer, it seems). It’s a simple piece of cotton, but the depth of its character allows it to exist as more than a mistake of some sadistic fashion deity hellbent on disturbing the sanctity of your local cafe.