Leather hairnet helmet

Posted on January 26, 2009 by .
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Rick Graves owns Clutch Couriers messenger service in Santa Cruz. I ran into Rick Friday night in Santa Cruz sporting a leather hairnet helmet.

Rick Graves leather hairnet

He’s as aware as you and I that these old style leather hairnets offer little to no protection, but I think they look pretty cool.

Racing cyclists began using padded leather strips to protect their noggins around the turn of the century (the last century, not this one!). With the advent of standards, helmets now provide some impact protection.

Leather hairnets show up every now and again on eBay and Craigslist, generally for somewhere around $100, or you can get a replica for about twenty bucks from La Bicicletta. I’ll repeat the CYA warning from La Bicletta’s website that the leather hairnet “is not safety certified and as such should not be used while riding your bicycle. La Bicicletta cannot be held liable for any injury related to the misuse of this product.”



See also:

  1. Leather bicycle
  2. Santa Cruz bike messenger in the news
  3. Win this leather toe clip sewing kit
  4. SLO man recovers stolen bike in Santa Cruz


  • getinlost

    little while ago (1.5-2 years) I remember seeing a company in Denver that was making hand stiched hairnets. They also cost as much. Sorry, I cannot find the link now.

  • getinlost

    little while ago (1.5-2 years) I remember seeing a company in Denver that was making hand stiched hairnets. They also cost as much. Sorry, I cannot find the link now.

  • James T.

    I sold my old Cinelli hairnet many years ago. I wish I hadn't though.

    It is hard to believe that I used to even race with in the late 80s. I guess it was slightly better than a cycling cap, but not much.

  • James T.

    I sold my old Cinelli hairnet many years ago. I wish I hadn't though. It is hard to believe that I used to even race with in the late 80s. I guess it was slightly better than a cycling cap, but not much.

  • GhostRider

    Beer-holding hairnet, courtesy of the folks who make DANK messenger bags:

    http://www.swobo.com/htatbl/
    archives/2008/11/i_dont_know_if_im_coming_or_go_1.html

  • GhostRider

    Beer-holding hairnet, courtesy of the folks who make DANK messenger bags:http://www.swobo.com/htatbl/archives/2008/11/i_dont_know_if_im_coming_or_go_1.html

  • GhostRider

    Let's try that link again:

    http://tinyurl.com/bmuhtb

  • GhostRider

    Let's try that link again:http://tinyurl.com/bmuhtb

  • Johnny

    Great photo, Fitz:)

  • Johnny

    Great photo, Fitz:)

  • Ed W

    Gosh! I had one of these many, many years ago and I wish I still had it. It would be perfect for those club rides that attract the safety nannies.

  • Ed W

    Gosh! I had one of these many, many years ago and I wish I still had it. It would be perfect for those club rides that attract the safety nannies.