Commuting - Rain Capes (ponchos) vs. Rain Suits

I'd be interested in the group perspective on how to stay dry (or a reasonable semblence of dry) when riding in the rain.

Years ago I lived in England and wore a rubberized nylon jacket and pants. Works well enough if you don't build up too much body heat.

Now I see that Carradice makes rain capes with loops for your hands to hold them down in front and a waist strap to keep the rear from billowing. I guess you wear gators to cover your lower legs.

What do YOU do? Do you ride in the rain? If so, do you wear rain gear? What kind?

I've done a web search and found a number of opions but this group is uniquely qualified to provide an authoritative perspective. Let's hear it.

Ive used a Gortex jacket for several years, but find that it gets too sweaty even in cool weather. After a lot of use, the beading surface wears away, so the material soaks up water, making it cold, damp and uncomfortable.
For the last few years I have been using a water-resistant rather than waterproof. I use a pile/pertex top
http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/lsthumbs.htm
or for cold days
http://www.mardale.com/alaskan.html

On my legs, I usually wear polycotton trousers or polyester leggings which dry quickly, with pertex overtrousers in heavy or cold rain.

This system wont keep all the water out, but does breath easily and is comfortable when damp.

At the moment I wear either a goretex or pertex jacket, an unless it's very cold just lycra shorts.

In winter I wear water resistant overtrousers.

Like Willic I've yet to find anything that doesn't sweat up if you push hard.

i re proof Goretex with a proprietory spray.

As to capes, having seen my wife going along like a galleon in full sail with a cape, I'll stick with jackets.

I've got kind of a love/hate thing going with capes. I own a nice cape as well as a nylon rainsuit. Even in cooler weather the rainsuit traps sweat so I thought a cape would be ideal. As I said, it is a nice cape with thumb loops and leg loops to keep it in place. It does a great job of keeping rain off from above, but you still get some road spray from underneath. Not too big a deal. It doesn't trap heat/sweat like the rainsuit. That's good. It does catch the wind a bit. My biggest gripe with it is that even looped down to thumbs and legs it still billows up a bit in the back and can make it difficult to see over your shoulder. If I think about it I can keep this managable so that I don't consider it dangerous, but it is something I would rather not have to think about. I have thought about trying belt of some sort so I could keep the back part better controlled.

I read somewhere recently, probably on roadbikerider.com, that confirmed what I have found to be true. If you ride in the rain you ARE going to get wet. You just want to make sure you are dressed adequately so that you do not get wet AND dangerously cold.

I have had a number of rainy day rides the last few months, some in the cold. The nylon rainsuit with adequate clothing underneath has worked well. I also have a "breathable" rain jacket. As long as the weather is cool enough it does a decent job, but nothing "breathes" enough to prevent sweat buildup above about 60 F. I am not a big fan of this particular jacket for design reasons - no hood and no two way zipper. If it had those I would use it a lot more than I do the nylon. It it is raining hard and cool to cold, I don't want my head soaked or water running down my back.

I got a nice rain suit from the Chicago Bike Show last year. It is a dream come true- so thin it breathes, so you don't get a lot of sweat build up, and I can wear it over my clothes. Actually, I got the jacket from the show (made by O2 Rainwear), and I got a pair of rain pants from the performancebike.com website. The pants were flexible, and they slipped right over my tights and outerwear.

The first time I used this combination, it was pouring rain, and I thought for sure when I got home that I'd be somewhat wet, but I was dry through and through.

I don't like the idea of ponchos. They just look untidy- flowing in the wind and flapping all over the place.

Koffee

Regular rain riders should of course fit some good fenders/mudguards. Rainwater is pretty clean, but the stuff that comes off the road is another thing altogether. When the rain has finished, the road is still wet, and spray can get you just as wet as rain. With fenders, you can take your waterproofs off and still stay dry.

I use both a rainsuit and rain cape.

With the cape, you get excellent protection from the rain. You must have fenders to keep from getting wet from below. The cape also protects your fingers which is really nice. However, visiability is a problem: you can't see your computer, your headlight maybe blocked, you can't see your gears (of course, you should be riding fixed so that wouldn't be an issue). Looking behind you is tough because the cape likes to billow up in your draft. The cape slows you down a good bit do to it's wind resistance.

With the rainsuit, (and mine is a good quality nylon suit with pit zips and most importantly a vented back) my body is well protected by my hands still get wet. While I don't have the wind resistance problem that the cape has, I end up riding just as slow to keep from getting too sweaty. I only use the rain pants in cold weather--in summer my legs just get wet. Even if you do have a long way to go, the rainsuit will keep you warm even if you get completely soaked (from without or within).

That being said, the cape is nice "emergency" protection that I keep in my saddlebag. It weighs almost nothing and is quite compact. For any real distance, I prefer the rain jacket (and pants if its cold).

Note: if you ride any real distance in the rain you WILL get wet. What you want is to stay warm. You feet WILL get wet. Even if you use fenders and booties.

On my randonneuring rides, I carry a rain jacket, poly tights that are warm even when wet, and spare socks in a plastic baggie. Some folks use Shimano saddles since then you don't have the problem of soaked shoes for the next day. Simply stop, change into dry socks and you're good to go.

Dave

What do I do in the rain? I get wet The only things I do differently are to use my blinkie and a strobe light or two and pop my fenders on.

I remember back in the late 50s early 60s when I used to club ride with the good old C.T.C, the cape was the most favoured wear, when you got used to them they were quite comfortable & not sweaty at all ! Once in the winter ,after some rough riding ,we were riding back & forth through a ford to wash the mud off our bikes & ,cos it was fun :D the bike slipped from under me & I ended up laying in 18inches of icey water, it was just getting dark & the frost was starting to set , we had about 30miles to ride to get home , all I could do was wear my rain cape ,it became comparatifly warm under the cape & my clothes dried out OK in good time.Im sure with a rain suit I would have been cold & wet all the way home:( & more than likely suffering from hypothermia. On the down side a cape in a head wind is not good , but not too bad riding in a group ,exept when its your turn up front :D

In the words of Joe Dirt, "You gotta keep on keepin' on."

:beer:

wuzzzzzzzzzzupp

anybody out there?

how you doin'?

Riding in the rain means getting wet.

I always admire the image of the British gentleman riding his bicycle in the English rain, covered in a heavy bicycling canopy, and wearing a suit. Somehow, I imagine him arriving at the office looking quite tidy, taking off his bowler hat, and getting right at his morning tea before work.

In reality, this experience has eluded myself, despite attempts with capes and rain suits.

Now, I put on comfortable clothes that can be fairly comfortable when wet/damp and then wear a cape over that. The best thing I have found is good, thick bicycle tights.

I find rain suites are too restrictive, especially when they get wet on the INSIDE due to sweat condensation.

Given a choice, I would choose snow over rain any day.

The funny thing about rain is that 60 degrees can be quite comfortable on the bike, even when soaking wet; but 60 degrees can also be bone-chilling if the wind is from the north.

I try to be prepared for the unexpected. If I have to change into more stuff, or take stuff off, I do it.

I'm still learning (especially since the weather man is no prophet.)

I ride quite a bit in the rain, and like others I have given up on being dry and have focused on being confortable. The best way I've found to deal w/ rain is wool or wicking/insulating layers. I have a rain jacket that is nearly big enough to qualify as a cape and is mostly impermeable. I usually don't bother w/ rain pants unless it is really drenching out. I've also learned that rain pants w/o booties is an exercize in futility.

Things I find necessary commuting in the rain:

Rain jacket (I haven't found expensive fabrics to work better than well made nylon jackets, there is just too much sweat to worry about breathable fabrics, just wear technical layers underneath.)

Helmet Cover. Simple, effective, keeps the cold morning air out on fast winter mornings as well.

Windstopper skullcap or thermal headband. Keeping warm is more important than keeping dry.

Thermal booties. I go neoprene because the waterproof ones seem more trouble than they are worth. My toes stay toasty and the water stays out of my rainpants in heavy downpours.

Wicking layers to keep your skin dry. Spend the money you saved on your rain jacket in fancy jerseys and thermal layers. I swear that $50 spent on good layers will get you the comfort of $250 spent on fancy rain gear.

Anyway, as long as you keep riding and don't let a little rain control your life, you will soon figure out a program that works for you. These are just the things that work for me.

I've used a rain cape for over a year now, and really like it. I've found that on one bike with high handle bars, I can hook the loops over the break levers (they are drops) and it pretty well straightens out the front, without much compromise in the hand positions. It also frees my hands for things like signaling. Also, the cape is a pretty good attention-getter, with all that material out there, flapping a bit and yellow in color, I do get seen. With my rain bike, I've had almost no lower leg water since I put the half water bottle cutout on the bottom of the front fender.

John

Originally posted by OsoGuevara
Keeping warm is more important than keeping dry.

...Wicking layers to keep your skin dry.
Absolutely. I gave up on keeping dry early on. The trick is to trap
the heat with layers and keep the cold water from your skin.

Getting wet does not have to mean being uncomfortable. People go swimming, don't they?

:D

Originally posted by RainmanP
I've got kind of a love/hate thing going with capes. ...My biggest gripe with it is that even looped down to thumbs and legs it still billows up a bit in the back and can make it difficult to see over your shoulder.

I had the same problem, but tied a knot in the waist loop about half way. Now I loop the thumbloops on the brake handles and the waist loop through one leg. That way the back of the cape stays down. The sides still flap some and definitely there will be no records set in a headwind...but I'm more dry. :)

Originally posted by AlphaGeek
I had the same problem, but tied a knot in the waist loop about half way. Now I loop the thumbloops on the brake handles and the waist loop through one leg. That way the back of the cape stays down. The sides still flap some and definitely there will be no records set in a headwind...but I'm more dry. :)
What happens if you start to fly?

:beer:

geeze in the summer i just get wet......... i mean put on shorts before u leave home and ride change when u get there like normal actually in 90+ f weather it feels real good. I have even went so far as to step out of the shower and ride dripping wet on the 100+ degree days LOL. In the winter it is a worry though I bought a cheaper quilted rain jacket at walmart made of a kind of rubberized fabric that is 100% water proof between that and my nylon pants i stay pretty comfortable. I just know i will have to change so thats no issue. It comes down to the same general thing I have heard several times here: its much more important to focus you energy and resources on being comfortable than trying to stay 100% dry.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
What happens if you start to fly?

:beer:

I get high! :D

Yesterday I went out on a 12 mile bike ride, in the rain. I started out in a rain cape, but was dressed too lightly for the cold. After about 30 minutes of riding, I stopped, took the rain cape off and put on a rain jacket (not for bicycling, but a good rain jacket). I put the hood up, and rode with that.

It was a good comparison ride. I will probably go to a cycling jacket as a result of this ride. The cape did interfere with my helmet mirron, and with my ability to use all the handlebar positions easily. After putting on the jacket, it was apparent that this was the better way to ride. The rain cape does have the advantage of keeping you cool, and with my bike set up with high handlebars, it is usable with the cape. But I think the jacket has proven itself superior to me right now.

I also rode with light leg warmers, and came back with a sore left knee; perhaps the cold had something to do with that too.

John

I just did my first ride in the Oregon 48F strong rain (last 15miles of a 30mile trip). I was worried about hypothermia because I get cold easily. My legs and feet got soaked but my head and chest stayed relatively dry. I had on a fleece jacket and over it a windbreaker with a hood. Under the hood I had a wool cap. I was very impressed with the fleece jacket, which had some beaded moisture on the outer surface but bled through only very slightly to my shirt underneath. I was wondering if others had used fleece jackets, and whether there are fleece pants now available. l
I have a second reason for inquiring about gear that can keep you both warm and dry. I will be hiking in tropical cloud forests which are both cold and wet, and am concerned about hypothermia.

thanks

art

Hi Art,

This thread hasn't been active for quite some time, so I was surprised when it flagged me to your post. I also live in Oregon, and we have a company here called REI which has great gear for hiking. Some of the polypropylene materials will wick moisture away while keeping you warm. Wool, believe it or not, is still quite a good choice (though it does get heavy when wet).

For bicycling, I gave my son a Burley rain jacket, which he realy likes. They have matching pants too. The jacket is waterproof, but is also well ventilated. I use fleece pullovers a lot for my cycling, as they seem to allow air circulation while keeping me nice and warm. If it rains hard, I have a waterproof windbreaker I put on over it.

John

I've got kind of a love/hate thing going with capes.

Considering your avatar that is really understandable.
:roflmao:

I manage in the rain two different ways, depending on how much of the stuff is coming down. For very light rain or intermittent sprinkling, a nylon shell suffices to keep my back and shoulders dry. If the weather turns heavier, I resort to a hiking parka that has been modified a bit to make it more suitable for cycling. I added loops to the sleeves using velcro straps so it can be adjusted for whatever bike I'm on, and the front of the parka has been shortened a bit to keep it out of the gears. A clear plastic (disposable) showercap from Holiday Inn over the helmet completes the fashion statement. The bike has fenders, so little or no splash comes up from the pavement.

These rain gear threads always seem to feature ample discussion of jackets vs. ponchos vs. wet but warm. My problem, however, with riding in the rain is conquering the footwear problem.

If I am in the OR that day, I will often wear sneakers. If they become rain-soaked during the AM commute, then I'm squeaking around with damp feet for the rest of the day. This is uncomfortable, stinky, and puts me at risk for a delightful growth of fungus.

What do you all do to solve this problem? Bring another pair of socks and shoes every time? Waterproof booties? A solution I am currently looking into is purchasing a pair of those GoreTex trail running shoes. However, it is a little difficult to justify a $100 pair of rain sneakers on a medical student budget.

I'd love to hear about what you all do about your feet on a rainy day commute.

These rain gear threads always seem to feature ample discussion of jackets vs. ponchos vs. wet but warm. My problem, however, with riding in the rain is conquering the footwear problem.
<...>
What do you all do to solve this problem? Bring another pair of socks and shoes every time?

Yes, I pack a change of clothes (shirt, slacks, socks, shoes) and change on arrival.

Ive used a Gortex jacket for several years, but find that it gets too sweaty even in cool weather. After a lot of use, the beading surface wears away, so the material soaks up water, making it cold, damp and uncomfortable.


the way to fix this is to use nikwax. it is a waterbased waterproof. it will bead up the rain very well and your goretex does not get wet at all. I use it on my regular goretex jackets and on my cycling gear and bags and such.

What do you all do to solve this problem? Bring another pair of socks and shoes every time? Waterproof booties? A solution I am currently looking into is purchasing a pair of those GoreTex trail running shoes. However, it is a little difficult to justify a $100 pair of rain sneakers on a medical student budget.

I'd love to hear about what you all do about your feet on a rainy day commute.

No, just buy a pair of $10 cheapo sneakers and leave them at work. Shoes are way to heavy to carry around. Bring dry socks.

Hmm this is a very good topic as I'm planning to start cycling in the rain.

I tried out a poncho a few times, and ran into some of the same problems mentioned. However it may be that I simply have a very cheap poor poncho.

Check out MEC's Torrent Rain Poncho (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=675427&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=135165&bmUID=1098981272851). It has adjustable hood so you can get it fitted well (should allow you to use mirror), hood has stiffened brim as well, has grommets on all 4 corners (hook them on to your handlebars). Outside.away.come seemed to like them (http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gearguy/200401/20040123.html).

I dunno, probably going to buy that poncho and give it a try. Rain suits seem very bulky and expensive.

That being said, it's going to feel mighty weird spending $72 CDN on a poncho :O

-xan-

Also, has anyone trie the Integrated Deisgns Sil Poncho (http://www.thru-hiker.com/reviews.asp?subcat=4&cid=67)? It looks very impressive...

However I haven't seen it anywhere in Canada so I would have to buy it without being able to try it.. any reviews? Or other rain capes to recommend?

Thanks,
-xan-