Making your own VISOR, just as you want it!

Stage 2.

It looks good. First here is what the cut out looks like that I did from AD scan. You can see the 4 Velcro dots in this photo I used to attach it to the helmet.



Next is a picture of my helmet with the Velcro dots on it. (Notice my helmet already came with a visor but it was not big enough to help me.) I have two Velcro dots in the center then one on each side low on the helmet. You have to look hard to see them.



Next I put the visor on the helmet. Here are two views.





With this configuration, my visor extends 2 inches over my old visor. My old visor was 1 1/2 inches long. It was fine for overhead SUN, but mornings or evenings or even late afternoons it didn't do the job. With the addition I have a total of 3 1/2 inches of visor. I tried it on and it looks perfect. Also by using Velcro, I can adjust the visor shorter by pulling it up the helmet and attaching the Velcro dots still.

So tomorrow is time to give it a try. I'll let you know how it works out.

Even though it was a beautiful day, I didn't get to ride today. Had other things to do at lunch (like get my spa refurbished). So hopefully tomorrow I will try out my set up and see if it works OK and stays on the helmet.

AD does your visor work well and do you use it???

 

Great work guys! I have alraedy been down this path. My first one was made from a black document folder, but was a bit thin and flimsy. I only had it held on with velcro. Unfortunately, it disappeared one day while bombing down a hill!
The next one I made was slighly thicker, translucent, and secured with zip ties! wasn't gonna lose this one!
I made them up from a plan supplied to me by another bent rider. Not sure if I still have it though.
I'll try and post some pics if I have made enough posts!
Original visor,

Second visor,

 

Any port in a storm!

......................WHAT?

 

Storms threatening and Paul said, "Let's ride!" Figured I needed a safety net, and half an hour to try something: drilled some holes in a couple of Pony 3201 spring clamps and secured them to the 'braze-on's that were already in the molded plastic seats (for a drink cup holder I guess).................; walla!

Takes 15 seconds to install an umbrella, any umbrella, with a 6" piece of split-foam pipe insulation placed on the pole (for secure clamp gripping). Even adds protection to the panniers.

This was kind of a joke, but if it would have rained (more than the few drops that did fall), those with water running down their face would probably not think it was all that funny!

 

Stage 3 - Wind testing for aerodynamic stability and adhesion strength. (The title is for the engineers in our group. For the rest of us I would put "Does the dang thang work???")

Today I actually got to ride with my new visor. Before I started one of the Velcro dots attached to the side of my helmet was off. So I pressed it back on the helmet for the ride. All other connections looked good.

I wanted to see how well the visor kept the sun out of my eyes. Well today since the sun was behind clouds most of the day I didn't get to try that. But it looks great. The visor still lets me see, but the bill is close to the horizon so all but setting sun would be covered. Perfect!

The second area I wanted to test was how well this would do in wind and would it stay on my helmet in windy conditions.

Well today was the day for that. According to the Knoxville Airport, winds were at 25 MPH with gusts up to 36 MPH. So I had lots of wind. The visor held up well with shifting winds. It flapped a little in really hard gusts but stayed on the helmet. A couple of times my helmet created lift, but it wasn't that bad and this wind was ferocious!!

My final modification when I got back to the office was get two of the smallest zip ties I have and I zipped the Velcro dots onto both sides of the helmet. The fuzzy Velcro still sticks to the visor, but I don't have to worry about the dots coming off the helmet again. I could have put some glue on them, but with the zip tie, I can remove the dots easier if I ever want to.

Well that's it. You now have the full course on making your own visor that is cheap and works very well.

 

Terminology

An................., ADvisor!

 

I like the one Ron Smith made. The link is below and it is post #5

http://forum.bacchettabikes.com/forum2/tm.asp?m=64864&mpage=1&key=visor&#64894

The carbon spider is what J.S. used on RAAM and we were forever taping and re-taping it as the wind would catch it and try to take it right off the helmet. When it worked, it was great though.

 

Bag it!

First of all I should explain that when it comes to rain.............., I'm a puss! I think rainy days are for reading, vacuuming floors, paying bills and sitting on the back porch petting any one of the cats that hangs around to be fed while watching the river level change and, with higher water levels, watching things float by that used to belong to upstream neighbors. So this idea sorta fits in with that type of 'laid-back' lifestyle.

This pannier rain cover idea came to me one day I was just playing around with an 'any port in a storm' mindset. But, the fun side of that play actually had a valuable result. We've all seen the sleek 'helmet-condoms', and other snap-on rain caps that are tailored to a specific clothing brand, but the notion that an extra pannier bag cover could quickly be installed for rain/sun protection seems valid. My Bell Citi Bike helmet featured 2 'braze-on' type 5mm threaded inserts on the rear of the helmet (actually within the molded foam padding). So when I noticed the 2 metal eyelet 'weep holes' on the bottom of my Axiom Large Pannier Rain Cover that just so happen to have a compatible hole pattern spacing with that of the helmet, the rest became history.

Grommets in the 2 cover holes would be best but I simply used rubber washers to pinch the eyelet to the helmet. That left enough extra cover in the back to form a drip overhang that sheds water outside jacket collars. The cover front was pulled forward and around that funky wicker-bill sun hood I had made then tucked into the helmet to hold the front from flying loose. If you'll recall, the wicker-bill can be adjusted during a ride like a flap, staying in place with rubber washer friction. So now, this cover can also be flexed around, even at the sides to help protect the face from any sort of weather condition (sun, rain, snow, etc).

During the Redbud Ride in KY last weekend I actually had two down hills and while dragging the brakes (for wet leaves and tree limbs on the road not to mention 'bikes'!) coasted to speeds of 33 & 39 MPH. Is the 'melted cheese' cover aerodynamically stable..............., NOOOOOO! Thought my head was going to fly off from the updraft (no helmet holes I suppose). Bombing hills with one hand on the top of your headgear is NOT all that much fun, especially if a camera is in the other hand!




Did it work in the rain......? You betcha. Lots of positive comments, but only when it was raining. When it wasn't raining, it did manage to snag some smiles! So, did it add more fun for all on a fun ride? I suppose, but that was an extra besides the main goal of having a dry head.

I haven't tried to leave the cover attached (it's off now and already washed) and fold it in a neat 'wad' to the rear, leaving it available at a moments notice, but don't see why that wouldn't work. Also imagine a small 'trunk' area built into the helmet for those 'convertible top-up' moments. I doubt I'd do stupid stuff like this if I was still riding my Wal-Mart bike! Just call me '****-bent' (thank you) on doin' silly stuff!

 

Now I have seen everything!!! :rolf2:

 

I'm really with you 100% on this, but with a good 'chance' of rain looming beforehand, I'll probably opt instead to go kayak fishing* and welcome the rain; less chance of diluted 'backer' juice, bird droppings, road-kill slime and engine drippings to contend with! *Except in the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River which is excluded until Gatlingurg repairs their damaged sewage treatment facility!

In any case, my old eyes are useless with water running down my face and crud being slung onto my eyewear. My outdoors will be much more enjoyable if I can just see what I'm doing.