this is a weird question during COVID but does anyone know particulate filtering masks that have enough airflow for high effort on a bike?
it doesn't need to be covid-levels of filtration, I just want to be breathing less exhaust from every car running rich or diesel truck.
right now I just hold my breath at intersections, which isn't really all that safe or tenable.
When I was bike commuting during wildfire smoke conditions, I used the rigid 3M N95s with the exhalation valves and found it very manageable -- but that wasn't necessarily "high effort." The exhalation valves made a big difference though.
There are masks designed for cyclists, but they tend to be quite thin and I have no idea how to meaningfully gauge their effectiveness at filtering particles. But FWIW I have used the Primal ones and they were very comfortable and breathable.
I have used the respro techno face mask, while cycle commuting, which was better than not having it, and I used to do some high exertion when cycling. It was useless in the wet, which is why I stopped using it for cycling to work here in Glasgow. I now commute along the canals, but when I did commute in traffic the respro was a good investment and definitely better than not having one, and it did filter particulate matter.
