When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
www.wiggle.co.uk have a selection of them (search for mask), but I can't vouch for how good they are.
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When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
although to be fair the OP asked "Can you get pollution masks that actually work?" so the answer is No. The OP can almost certainly reduce his/her exposure by varying route a little (often by cycling in the other side of a lane) but there may be unwelcome side effects in time and convenience
The standard exhaust valves tended to stick up very quickly with moisture from my breath, especially in winter, so I changed to the sports valves which were better. I imagine a lot of the initial design problems have been fixed, but for 12 miles e/w you would definitely need the sports version.
Do they work? Well they won't remove PM5's, which are the most dangerous. Getting the seal around your face is difficult so they will always leak a bit. If the exhaust valves stick then the filter will fill with condensation and you won't be able to breathe. Don't forget you have to replace the filters regularly.
They will remove a good proportion of pollution - I certainly noticed the difference after the first month or so. One time I was stopped behind a refuse truck and the cyclist next to me was on the point of vomiting in the gutter, I didn't know what he was on about until I took off the mask to talk to him!
www.wiggle.co.uk have a selection of them (search for mask), but I can't vouch for how good they are.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
Russ
You need a gas mask to filter out the dangerous gasses
www.wiggle.co.uk have a selection of them (search for mask), but I can't vouch for how good they are.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
When I first moved to a job in Oxford, I thought I could cycle in every day from my home 12 miles out. The air is the filthiest I have ever come across in a developed country. Can you get pollution masks that actually work and act as a barrier to particulates, CO and the rest? I haven't seen any specifically advertised for cyclists.
Russ
You need a gas mask to filter out the dangerous gasses
That worked for Turing against pollen when he was at Bletchley 😉
Chris -- Chris Eilbeck MARS Flight Crew http://www.mars.org.uk/ UKRA #1108 Level 2 UYB Tripoli UK Member #9527 LSMR
They will remove a good proportion of pollution - I certainly noticed the difference after the first month or so. One time I was stopped behind a refuse truck and the cyclist next to me was on the point of vomiting in the gutter, I didn't know what he was on about until I took off the mask to talk to him!
IIRC the research shows that they trap the pollutants and you then breathe in air passing over the trapped pollutants. Net result is it is actually worse in that you are breathing polluted air all the time rather than just in spells. They also have a very short period in normal traffic before they are clogged and cease to have any effect. BICBW.
-- Tony
"I did make a mistake once - I thought I'd made a mistake but I hadn't" Anon
They will remove a good proportion of pollution - I certainly noticed the difference after the first month or so. One time I was stopped behind a refuse truck and the cyclist next to me was on the point of vomiting in the gutter, I didn't know what he was on about until I took off the mask to talk to him!
IIRC the research shows that they trap the pollutants and you then breathe in air passing over the trapped pollutants. Net result is it is actually worse in that you are breathing polluted air all the time rather than just in spells. They also have a very short period in normal traffic before they are clogged and cease to have any effect. BICBW.
My experience is with the original Respro. I found them very hot and clammy so modified it a little to reduce the amount of neoprene in contact with my face.
Generally they work well if you change the filters regularly (every week in London.) I also found it necessary to boil it up every month or so to remove the accumulated cold germs etc. Eventually I found the solution was to leave London and go to a city with far lower air pollution.