CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff

Face masks

(20 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by riffian
  • Latest reply from minus six

  1. riffian
    Member

    I've noticed in the past week a few cyclists wearing these pollution face masks type things. Mainly on the north Edinburgh paths.

    I have no scientific knowledge as to their efficacy but I'm sure I heard they are next to useless as the bits that cause the damage are really tiny.

    I perceive the quality of the air in Edinburgh as actually pretty good given our proximity to the sea and the almost perpetual breeze/gale blowing.

    I would imagine cycling in a mask seriously impedes the pleasureable experience of cycling. Does anyone have experience of using a mask or thoughts on their necessity or otherwise?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. ARobComp
    Member

    I know many people like myself have used them in the past to keep cold air away from our lungs. I suffer from sports induced asthma which only manifests when air is cold and body hot - the masks help to heat up the air entering your lungs somewhat.

    I usually just use a buff but sometimes when it's wet/slushy snow the buff get's wet and it's a bit like you're being waterboarded....

    Also perhaps some people are just super paranoid

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. Arellcat
    Moderator

    I remember seeing a fair few of those Respro masks back in the mid-90s, some with the little clicky valves and everything. Did people stop worrying quite so much about particulates? Did cars get cleaner? Did the air get cleaner?

    But like riffian I've noticed a few masks making a reappearance. That said, I rode in London recently and ended with black grot in my nose; and when I got back into Edinburgh I was surprised at how fresh the air seemed - and that was in the middle of town.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. spytfyre
    Member

    Our air is good. I use the mask in the winter to keep chin and nose from freezing but remove the filter as it just condenses the breath trying to go out, the wee vents in the soft fabric let it out and the fresh air in while blocking the old nose from frostbite

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. Smudge
    Member

    twenty(eek!) Years ago when I worked as a cycle courier in Edinburgh a full days work would see your face grimy, black "stuff" when you blew your nose and it looked like I had eyeliner with a layer of black on my lower eyelid (healthy and attractive huh!). So I starrted wearing one of the original respro masks and it really did help. My perception is that the air is not so polluted now, but then I'm seldom cycling in town traffic for more than an hour. Would consider one again though if I was cycling in heavy traffic for long.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Roibeard
    Member

    Maybe we're all seeing the same bloke! I spotted a guy in head to toe black, helmet, mask, the works, as he left Lidl a few days ago. Quite intimidating! He then hopped on a bike and pootled off along the pavement...

    Robert

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. wingpig
    Member

    Apart from Queen Street or the Cowgate when they're really busy (or when stuck directly behind a motorcycle's up-tilted exhaust-pipe or when following a particularly poorly-maintained cloud-factory vehicle (particularly one of those driven by someone who knows how gassy it is and deliberately attempts to time their use of the throttle to the breathing pattern of the cyclist behind them)) I'm never particularly aware of what I would perceive as excessive fumes, though I am perhaps unconsciously choosing routes unlikely to result in being behind a FirstBus as it climbs a hill, after a particularly particulate week of home-commutes up North Bridge years ago. I usually see a bloke heading the opposite way at some point on the first mile of my commute who always wears a mask no matter how not-too-cold it is who has presumably come from London Road.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Last summer I inhaled my own body weight in midges. I considered using a mask then. They (the midges) were back in abundance during last week's tropical break in the weather (before the snow returned) so I wonder if I should invest...? If so, what should I get...?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. spytfyre
    Member

    I have one of these and it works just fine, again I would say remove the filter, most midges will hit the foam and bounce off

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. wingpig
    Member

    Fine mesh would be better for midges than a particle-absorbing (and moisture-outflow-reducing) mask. A light surgical mask would probably be OK as you're not really needing a tight seal at the sides for preventing influx of midges (or expulsion of mucus and snot into a wound or incision).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. spytfyre
    Member

    if you go with surgical get some scrubs too and cover them in fake blood - cycle like a bat out of hell shouting "Run for your lives - it's coming, dear lord what have we created?"

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. kaputnik
    Moderator

    It could just be a new sort of urban-apocalypse "fashion".

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    It could just be a new sort of urban-apocalypse "fashion".

    Ah yes.

    Most of you are too young (or old) to have been involved in the last facemask fashion (not to do with cycling).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. Nelly
    Member

    Face masks seem a bit ninja.

    Buffs work for midges, not sure about particulates, although I do pull it over my mouth if behind a real belcher.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. spytfyre
    Member

    Facemasks - missing Michael Jackson since 2011

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. Smudge
    Member

    You could just use a large hankie/small scarf, but you'll need a stetson and a colt peacemaker to really get the look :-)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. DaveC
    Member

    Never mind cyclists, there is a bloke gets o the bus in Dalgety bay with massive headphones and a respirator mask (not just one of those white painters masks, seriously overkill even if most peoples views on busses includes old smelly incontinents.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. minus six
    Member

    face masks, eh... vicks vaporub... dry ice fog and glowsticks... asterix and space...

    "watch yer bass bins i'm tellin' ya!"

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    I knew someone would remember

    http://www.partyvibe.com/forums/free-parties-teknivals/15013-wikipedia-what-rave.html

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. minus six
    Member

    Posted 12 years ago #

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