Pollution mask?

[Derivative]

So, on the Official Most Hottestest Day Of The Year I took the bike into the big smoke for a womble. Great fun was had by all, going back at ~6pm on the A13 I saw far more bikes than average, it got to the point at which other vehicles basically gave up trying to make progress and just let the bikes through (15 bikes at every light, some bloody nice models too ).

However, in my old age I'm starting to notice the effect of fumes on the roads. It doesn't help that seemingly every 50 cars you see a clapped out diesel, usually a transit or 1940's flatbed that's spewing shit all over the place. You get in front of it and then there's another one just up the road. After 20 miles I felt a bit ill. It doesn't help when you're filtering and end up sitting at the lights right next to a bus exhaust.

If I leave the visor up there's black shit on my face without fail. I only noticed this when someone pointed it out to me.

Does anyone wear a mask for commuting? I've seen these sort of mental 'terminator' style things for bicycles, but nothing for bikes. Curious to know if they're any good or if they're ineffective/get sweaty.

I've always kind of ignored the long term worries (incoming Alzheimers and whatever else) but it's getting to something when I'm light headed after the journey, I used to think it was just concentration from filtering.

[P.]

I don't sit behind anyone, always straight past them. Try that, looks cooler than a mask

[Derivative]

[jjdugen]

It would appear that the old smoker diesels are not the danger. Yes they stink and cover you in soot, but it is the the ultra high pressure common rail shiny new diesels that are the danger. They emit very tiny particulates that penetrate right into the depths of your lungs.
To block them you would need a very fine mesh filter, you would not be able to breath!
Always said diesels were dirty things, finally being proved right!
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[Rogerborg]

Weird, I was just thinking the same thing this morning, while taking in the sights and smells of various generations of diesels. The whole gamut, from clapped out black cabs laying a long blue smokescreen, through belching bus clouds, to the complex aromatics of modern ecomurdermobiles.

In our crazed obsession to cut back on beneficial plant food, we've encouraged a fleet of filthy vehicles that are actually harming us.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-36274801

Ecomentals are now bawwing for a diesel scrappage scheme. For once, I'm not entirely scoffing at the idea.

On topic, dunno, chap.

Singapore mask makers say yes:
https://aqicn.org/faq/2013-02-03/can-masks-really-filter-the-particulate-matter-as-small-as-pm25/

But who's checking?

https://www.totobobo.co.uk/
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Derivative]

Well, it doesn't seem entirely necessary to filter everything (or all sizes of particles), just cutting down would be enough.

It might not even be particulates that causes short term effects but something like CO that disperses quickly once off the road.

The short term exposure on a 1 hour ride seems to affect me more than living in Hammersmith did (just off a road). If you look at a pollution map the roads are 2-3x worse than the gardens in homes next to them (expected based on diffusion).

WRT cool points no-one's going to see it under a helmet anyway.

Cheers for the link. Amazon reviews don't look promising mind and 23 quid is a bit steep, I might try some disposable surgical masks or something and see if it makes any difference.

[c_dug]

It sounds like I do a pretty similar journey to you (A13 from Hornchurch for me) - I can't say I've ever particularly noticed the pollution causing me breathing issues, though I've heard that as bikers we get the very worst of it all (cyclists excercise counters the effects somewhat, pedestrians are out of the worst of it, everybody else is enclosed).

I agree with the dirt though, I tend to ride with the visor down so my face escapes the most of it, but my neck is always a shade of grey/black. I actually thought it was my leather jacket staining my skin for a long time, but having recently changed to a new textile jacket and still suffering the grubby neck, I concluded it was Road dirt to blame. Yay.

I'm mid 20s so its possible that my young lungs just cope better with the pollution than you?
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[Derivative]

[c_dug]

Ooooh, the old age in your first post was tounge in cheek!
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[skatefreak]

I've thought this myself actually.

Interestingly though I read that car drivers get it worst as the air intake for the cabin is up front, low down, sucking in the exhaust from the cars in-front (so when in traffic, close windows and set the blower to re-circulate before you hit traffic!).

Motorcyclists allegedly get much lower levels as we are higher up so the exhaust diffuses and mixes with passing air by the time it hits us.

When it comes to a filter, its defiantly 'definitely' possible to filter out the smaller particles however it would require a much larger surface area to draw the air through.



Edit - words

[Rogerborg]

[Wonko The Sane]

[pompousporcup...]

this is something i have tried to get around recently but have stopped efforts due to no mask being able to fit under my lid. I havent felt it affecting my breathing but its definitely noticeable.

Didnt go all out with the expensive options but bought a few cheaper alternatives, like the 3m filter masks (as low profile as you can get) and the 3m Aura stuff

They(reportedly) filter out 95% of bad stuff a down to a certain size which would do. Unfortunately the mask moved whenever i put my lid on and i could never get it to fit.

[nitrosurf]

Parks are nice until they fill up with knife weilding chavs and bush-bummers (people who like to bum in bushes, not people who bum bushes). But then if it's just to be a gas scrubber (...) I don't suppose it matters that it's full of dog sh*t and rapists. I had to ride into a city today, it was annoying. And it wasn't even a real city like luuurndorrn either, just Zooport.

Interesting point about newer diesels being worse than old when it comes to murder; I find old diesels smell like knackered old tractors which isn't that bad. New diesels smell bloody horrible, and make the air in the vicinity of the vehicle feel greasy. I normally quite like the smell of chemicals, but that stink is wrong...

🏍
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"Multiple exclamation marks," he went on, shaking his head, "are a sure sign of a diseased mind."

[sinedtomuch]

[Vifferguy]

To answer the OP's question;
Try this, expensive but can you put a price on your health?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SaySure-Anti-pollution-Mouth-Muffle-Protection-UK-BG-SPT-000265/dp/B00N9PBUWK

[nitrosurf]

Weirdly, just under the sales page for that product is a link to another Amazon sales page for the exact same product for seis quids:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B018WWIB9Y/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_200_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4GAQT1M6WKG2CG0KWVZJ

I think the only true air filters are the ones with replaceable canister filters, as the stuff that's really bad for you is tiny. Like, molecular dude. Real molecular.

Check this;

https://www.simpson-helmets.eu/contents/en-uk/d1821_Simpson_CH3NO2_Helmet.html

Discontinued but would have done the trick?

🏍
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"Multiple exclamation marks," he went on, shaking his head, "are a sure sign of a diseased mind."

[Vifferguy]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[MCN]

Waste of time using a mask. For it to be of any worth it would need to be SCBA or have a massive filter canister aattached.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

[jonbee56]

It could be worse.....
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"If you can't turn it, then burn it"

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Have you considered going full space suit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcYUsUOUcng
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]