The humble cycling cap has quite a storied history, starting out its life in the late 1800s (yes, really). As far as kit goes, it’s quite a unique shape and dates back to its origins: as a flat cap.

A flat cap was used to shield the riders eyes from the sun, protect from rain and to help keep sweat from dropping in to their eyes. The flat cap did well, but a few modifications were needed to improve its performance - which is when the style formed. It really is that old.

In the 1950s, the cycling cap became the ultimate mark of a pro. That’s when the money started to come in to pro cycling, and we started to see sponsor logos appearing on hats. Not only were they worn on the bike, but they became a fashion accessory too - being worn on the podiums, the cafe and pretty much anywhere you saw a cyclist.

With the (rightful) introduction of helmets, the humble cycling cap started to lose its popularity. In 2003, helmets became mandatory in the Tour de France - and at that point, the usage dipped significantly. Up until then, you would see most riders still racing without a helmet - it was only the change in the rules from the UCI which forced helmets and in turn changed the look of road racing forever.

In recent years, the cap has made quite the comeback. With new materials, better fit, and a renewed culture around cycling - the cap made quite the comeback. Sitting beneath your helmet, it’s still got a purpose - and also looks just excellent. Oh, and it gives you an extra 10 watts per ride. Facts. We're not biased, either.