Why do mountain bike helmets have visors? If you want to take the visors off, check our post first.
We will cover all of their benefits, making you want to stick with them whenever you’re on the ride. Now, let’s join us and find out everything about this topic!
Table of Contents
Why Do Mountain Bike Helmets Have Visors?
Many manufacturers produce helmets with visors to protect riders from obstacles such as sunlight, rain, and flying debris. It also helps the driver avoid hitting tree branches on the trail or in muddy terrain.
Eye and face protection
Protection is the main reason why you need visors for your helmets.
They work as safety gear that you must include in your trip as they will protect you from many obstacles.
- From sunlight
Riding on a sunny day is excellent. Yet, the sunlight may get in your way at sunrise or high noon, blocking your view.
You can get the required eye protection by equipping a helmet with a sun visor. Even if you are biking in the sun’s direction, its glare won’t impede your vision.
Additionally, the visor can block some excess sunlight from hitting your face.
It helps protect you from the scorching sun and lowers your risk of becoming sunburned while biking.
- From rain
Cycling in the snow and rain is even more dangerous than in the sun. Thankfully, the visor can act as a protection layer from poor weather conditions.
You must wipe away any raindrops that land in your eye so that they don’t block your eyesight and make you lose focus while biking.
A similar thing can occur if you’re traveling through a snowstorm, where snowflakes can smash you in the nose and eyes.
The helmet visor can also shield your face from mud droplets. This feature is especially crucial if you are behind somebody who will unavoidably flick up some dirt or mud.
When the mud gets in your eyes, it could impair your vision the rest of the way.
- From flying debris
On some trails, you can find yourself pedaling straight into the wind. It sounds dangerous, and it really is.
The wind will send flying debris into your eyes and face. How can you avoid it while you’re busy riding?
The helmet visor will be the best choice if you need a shield. It can clear insects, dust, and debris that fly in your direction.
Moreover, your sunglasses and toggles can be clean thanks to the visor.
When it’s chilly outside, the wind’s stinging gusts can make your eyes tear and slow your speed.
Luckily, even in frigid, windy conditions, a visor will protect your eyes, allowing you to bike at higher speeds.
Sun and shade transition
You can fix, screw, or mold the visor to the helmets. Some visors are even detachable and tiltable.
You can tilt it up when you’re going through shaded areas and tilt it down when the sun gets hotter.
Adjustable visors allow you to use the mountain bike helmet as a road bike one.
In your neighborhood, you can tilt the visor up and have a better vision of your surroundings.
Accident prevention
Riding a bike on single-track roads under low-hanging branches can be challenging. You must keep your attention on the path while protecting your head from threats.
Imagine that you have to use your hands and arms to deflect all obstacles on the trail. Yet, if your helmet has a visor, it will get you covered.
Impact cushioning
The helmet visor diffuses impact stresses directed to the helmet and your brain during an accident, minimizing the severity of your head injuries.
Moreover, even when the visor can shatter, chip, or break down, it can still protect your teeth, nose, and face before breaking.
Cycling accessories
The helmet visor provides an excellent place to put add-ons to improve your cycling experience.
You can also install a camera on your visor to film your adventures. And if you like to ride at night, insert a night light into your helmet visor.
You can attach many accessories to the visor. Goggle strap clips or a storage bag won’t be a problem.
Types of Helmet Visors
You can buy helmet visors in different sizes and styles, but fixed and adjustable visors are the most common choices. The difference between them is how they attach to the helmet shell.
Fixed visors
Some helmets have a built-in visor. Manufacturers attach the visor to the shell and introduce them as a unit.
You can also find models with adjustable visors. It means that you can tilt it up or down and decide whether to stash the goggles underneath.
Fixed visors are perfect for biking on narrow routes or in nice weather.
Otherwise, they may become a hindrance when riding during crashes or falls since you land on them. Such impact will injure your face and head.
Detachable visors
Detachable visors generally use strong magnets, plastic stems that lock in place, or tool-free fasteners to allow quick removal and reattachment to the shell.
Those visors are frequently longer and broader than built-in visors. Hence, you will be more secure as they provide better protection.
If you intend to use the same helmet for both mountain biking and road cycling, having a detachable visor is a prevalent option because it makes the helmet more efficient and flexible.
We do not advise changing from a mountain bike helmet to a road cycle helmet. But if you really want to, this model is one good choice.
Disadvantages Of Having A Visor On Your Mountain Biking Helmet
The visor is highly helpful in terms of protection. However, it still has some drawbacks riders don’t want on their helmets.
Single-track trails can become overgrown with sticks and branches. These branches may catch your visor and tear the leaves off.
The visor might be a nuisance if you’re cycling a long downhill and want to stoop like on a road bike to minimize wind resistance. The helmet visor comes into your view.
Finally, your helmet can become jammed up. You’re touching leafy branches that have insects. These annoying species will get inside your helmet.
Do You Need A Visor All The Time?
Experienced mountain bikers have conflicting views on whether or not you should always use a visor when riding the trails. Your comfort level and requirement for your safety will determine how you answer.
Using a visor is excellent if you are a trail rider who likes the challenge of handling rugged terrain. Although it may restrict your range of vision, it also protects your face and head.
Nevertheless, you might not need to use the helmet visor if you’re using your bike to commute in the town or your neighborhood. The lack of a visor allows you to better view your surroundings.
Cross-country biking is another activity when wearing a visor might not be helpful. Mountain bikers, in this case, would bend down to maintain their pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if the visor on my mountain bike helmet breaks off?
Replace the broken visor as soon as possible, and you can find the replacement on the internet or in your local bike store. They may have to buy a special visor for your helmet.
2. What’s the difference between road bike helmets and mountain bike helmets?
Road biking helmets do not often have a visor because they may block the rider’s vision.
Instead, these models come with sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from the external elements.
3. What is the best visor length for my mountain bike helmet?
In general, longer is better for protection against the sun, bushes, etc.
Unfortunately, it might be a little bothersome for a built-in visor, especially when climbing.
A long visor will limit your view if you continually look up while climbing. It’s like jogging in the mountains with a cap.
Once you start looking up, your vision becomes a little blocked. Hence, a fixed visor is considerably shorter. We advise going for an adjustable visor as a result.
4. Can I add a visor to my mountain bike helmet?
Yes. You can attach soft, flexible visors to your helmet. Most fasteners use Velcro and are self-adhesive.
Add-on visors typically have a length of about three inches, which is a little longer than regular visors.
Conclusion
The visors in your mountain bike helmet can protect you from external elements, ensuring that your trip will be safe and comfortable.
Thus, we have reached the end of the article. Hopefully, the useful information in the article can satisfy your question.
Thank you for your interest in this article! See you in the next useful content!