The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad makes up part of the 'Cycling Classics' season and is the first race of the prestigious Flanders Classics. This is a tough, unforgiving and typically Belgian race which is characterised by cold wet weather and cobbled climbs, and is a rude awakening for many riders who have been training in Majorca and sunnier climes. To further cement its reputation as a hard man's race, last year's winner was none other than UK pro-peloton animal Ian 'Yogi' Stannard, who outsprinted the favoured Belgian Greg Van Avermaet. Stannard is so nicknamed 'Yogi' due to his bear-like strength and love of pic-a-nic baskets (that last bit's not true).
This Is Cambridge (TIC) are a company that pride themselves on making cycling caps, the 'finest handmade' ones if you please. They have attempted to address the issue with many cycling caps which is the poor construction, cheap fabric and ill-fitting size. With that in mind they have gained inspiration from Cambridge's cycling and tailoring traditions and developed several caps in styles ranging from urban, road, to classic. I am a big fan of the cycling cap or casquette, and its resurgence in the last five years is not before time.
I received TIC's Omloop Winter Cap, which is a fine, retro-styled, 100% merino wool headpiece designed to keep you warm during those long, cold winter morning rides. That hat fits snugly and prevents any cold getting into or around your cranium. Being of merino fabrication it effectively wicks away any moisture while keeping you warm; essential for the winter.
When I rode out to test the cap this weekend I was slightly disappointed as it was blue sky and uncharacteristically warm at 8ºC; not really the perfect conditions to test a winter hat. Unperturbed I ventured out with one less layer on to compensate for the inevitable sudden onset of hot head! Actually, once I set off there was a biting wind which dropped the feel of the temperature by a good few degrees. The hat fit closely underneath my helmet, and the merino definitely did not want to be any thicker or it could have caused problems. The side panels on the Omloop kept ears and the sides of my face toasty as I ploughed on.
Grey clouds in the distance and the disappearance of the blue skies indicated that I would inevitably be getting damp; with no waterproof I would need to rely on the Omloop to regulate my total body temperature and get me home. I did not know how true this was about to be!
The aforementioned grey clouds decided that instead of unleashing rain, they would indeed begin to drop hailstones, which quickly developed into light and then steady snow. Brilliant. One less layer than planned and no waterproof. Still, at least my ears and brain were warm and that was important as my brain needed to tell my body what to do, i.e. pedal faster and get me home you tart; and my ears could just make out my chattering teeth and mild profanities as I was blinded by snowflakes and skidding on the increasingly wet surface. Double brilliant.
Anyway after much soul searching, and also bus shelter searching, I made it home; cold, damp but very pleased with my Omloop hat. This appeared to be the only sensible decision I had made all day! This also serves as a reminder of the hilariously unpredictable nature of UK weather. The Omloop Winter Cap should be standard issue in any cyclist's wardrobe, and from November to at least March should be the only choice for a comfortable and enjoyable ride.
Omloop winter cap, £55 from this-is-cambridge.com.
*SPECIAL OFFER* To mark the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, TIC are offering a 20% discount on the Omloop cap. Place your order by Saturday 28 February to get the Omloop for £44 instead of £55.
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