Cycling Classic Helmet Visor Brim

[spokewrench]

Did something similar with this Bell visor. A lot pricier than yours though:

I attach mine to the helmet with Velcro so it will pull off if I hit something or take a spill.

These visors work well for low sun angle situations but do little if the sun is to your right or left. I'm thinking of using your idea to make a set of flip up side "blinders". Would be similar to the sun visor in your car when you swing it over to cover the side window.

I zip tied mine to the original visor, which is designed to pop off.

Years ago I bought polypropylene cutting boards, 1mm thick. They're like place mats. Polypropylene flexes well, resists fatigue, can be cut with a box cutter or scissors, and can be shaped with a heat gun. I made an extension for a front e-bike fender designed for fashion, not function. If I hit the extension rolling the bike down steps, it would spring out of the way and pop back undamaged.

For the visor, I positioned painter's tape to guide me for scoring with a box cutter. Since taking the photo, I've cut some off the rear corners. This morning, when shadows were long, I got good protection from the side. Experience is showing me what more I can trim off. I'll probably end up drawing an arc, trimming, and removing corners with wet sandpaper (to prevent clogging).

 

[spokewrench]

In riding, I concluded that I didn't have to take more off, but the angles in my field of vision were annoying. I realized I had something better than sandpaper: a plane with a sharp blade. Soft plastic is terrible to carve with a knife, but with a plane, control was so good that I turned it into the shape of a ball cap visor working freehand.

Otherwise, I would have had to put in an order with a custom visor shop, and they would have sent me the bill.

 

[6zfshdb]

I cut most of my soft plastic projects with heavy shears, a knife or, for thicker pieces, a band saw. I do the final shaping with a belt sander. Picked up this model from Wen a couple of years ago on sale for $49. One of the handiest little power tools I own.

Makes short work of shaping plastic but you need to hook up a shop vac to handle the dust.

 

[spokewrench]

Picked up this model from Wen a couple of years ago on sale for $49. One of the handiest little power tools I own.



Makes short work of shaping plastic but you need to hook up a shop vac to handle the dust.

Can it sand wet? I tried a detail sander on plastic. I guess it's an orbital sander. It looks like a little clothes ironer and has a vac. The plastic clogged the sandpaper, which I had to remove to wash clean. Using it wet would have clogged the vac.

 

[6zfshdb]

No, it won't wet sand. The trick is to not heat the plastic by being too aggressive. don't use much pressure and don't use fine grit paper.
A sanding belt cools faster and dissipates heat better than a pad or orbital model.

To avoid having to remove too much material with the sander, I use these heavy shears to first trim off as much as I can:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU7C7MZ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

 

[spokewrench]

No, it won't wet sand. The trick is to not heat the plastic by being too aggressive. don't use much pressure and don't use fine grit paper.
A sanding belt cools faster and dissipates heat better than a pad or orbital model.

To avoid having to remove too much material with the sander, I use these heavy shears to first trim off as much as I can:

I believe I'll buy a pair! Shears excel at lots of things. I often use shears instead of a string trimmer. When I had to cut sheet metal, cheap EMT style scissors worked. Your shears look better. The last time I cut a polypropylene mat, I used kitchen shears advertised for cutting chicken bones.

 

[spokewrench]

I used to sharpen mower blades with an angle grinder. Then I discovered that a 1/2" belt sander does it better. I believe the speed of an angle grinder is about 150 mph. The heat is bound to soften the edge, I think. My belt sander is adjustable, 10 to 20 mph. I can choose the coarseness of the belt. The length makes it easy to maintain an angle. If I paint the bevel with a red felt-tip pen, I can see when I've got the right angle. It will also reveal edge dings or low spots.

It's a good way to sharpen a plane blade. Then I paint it again and finish up with a diamond hone.

 

[harryS]

Bought my wife a $29 pinkish knit helmet cover off Etsy. It works to keep the sun out of eyes. The other one is pretty expensive from bikepretty as it's sold with a $120 helmet, Ladies love their fashion.

 

[PCeBiker]

I'm hoping that I can move my helmet around on my head a bit to adjust the visor angle?

Maybe I'll attach it with velcro so I can adjust it?
I've got bolts holding my visor on now, and the replacement has snaps that are going to have to be removed anyway.

I finally got around to installing my visor.
It doesn't fit. The bolt holes don't line up,..

So I could only install the center bolt,..

I was thinking of sticking the sides down with velcro or 2-faced tape, when I realized that I can pivot the visor to help block the sun,..

I'm just gunna leave it.

It's really snug and doesn't appear to move around or rattle.
I just reach up and push on it to aim it around.

I'm going to have to give it a test ride to see if it works.
It's hard to tell by looking in the mirror shining a flashlight in my face.

 

[spokewrench]

No, it won't wet sand. The trick is to not heat the plastic by being too aggressive. don't use much pressure and don't use fine grit paper.
A sanding belt cools faster and dissipates heat better than a pad or orbital model.

It weighs 2.8 pounds and covers 12 square inches, so it's 0.23 psi plus a little hand weight. I don't press.

It's a polypropylene cutting board that I sand occasionally so cuts won't harbor pathogens. I tried 240 and 60 grit. In both cases, powder quickly accumulated. Maybe I could have cleaned them dry with a toothbrush, but I washed them and hung them to dry with hanger clips. I bought 24 two weeks ago, and they're so useful that I just ordered 24 more.

Maybe your sanding belt throws off powder on those sharp turns around pulleys.

 

[spokewrench]

I finally got around to installing my visor.
It doesn't fit. The bolt holes don't line up,.


So I could only install the center bolt,..

I was thinking of sticking the sides down with velcro or 2-faced tape, when I realized that I can pivot the visor to help block the sun,..

If you could learn to ride with no hands, you wouldn't need any visor bolts.

 

[6zfshdb]

It weighs 2.8 pounds and covers 12 square inches, so it's 0.23 psi plus a little hand weight. I don't press.

It's a polypropylene cutting board that I sand occasionally so cuts won't harbor pathogens. I tried 240 and 60 grit. In both cases, powder quickly accumulated. Maybe I could have cleaned them dry with a toothbrush, but I washed them and hung them to dry with hanger clips. I bought 24 two weeks ago, and they're so useful that I just ordered 24 more.

Maybe your sanding belt throws off powder on those sharp turns around pulleys.



View attachment 190044

Yes, the belt does throw off grit. The machine has a vacuum port which also sucks the stuff off.

 

[PCeBiker]

If you could learn to ride with no hands, you wouldn't need any visor bolts.

I still have to aim my head around, or shift my helmet to keep the sun out of my eyes.
Riding with my head twisted and looking down isn't comfortable.

I use my head as a gimbal when I ride. I need to keep it balanced and level.

I can turn around and look behind me more easily no-hands than with my hands on the bars.
I drift off the road more easily with my hand on the bars.

 

[spokewrench]

I still have to aim my head around, or shift my helmet to keep the sun out of my eyes.
Riding with my head twisted and looking down isn't comfortable.

I use my head as a gimbal when I ride. I need to keep it balanced and level.

I can turn around and look behind me more easily no-hands than with my hands on the bars.
I drift off the road more easily with my hand on the bars.

I was thinking you could use your hands to hold the visor wherever needed. Better yet, opera glasses.... no lens necessary. In fact, you could make your own opera glasses with toilet paper tubes. Best: an umbrella!

 

[PCeBiker]

I do have both hans free, so I could fly a stunt kite in front of the sun.

 

[spokewrench]

I rode one-handed once, one morning in January, 1973. It was 17 F ( -8 C) and I was riding my motorcycle 200 miles from Baltimore to Manhattan. I was so comfortable in leather over wool that when i reached the New Jersey Turnpike, I stopped for a can of coke to drink as I rode, if it didn't freeze first. It was fun but stupid. If something happened, I figured I could drop the can and get my hand on the bar in 1 second, and that might be too late.