General Cycling Discussion - rain, rain, blah, blah...

Hi guys,

On my commute to work today, it was raining (not so unusual in Britain eh!?!) and not owning a pair of rain pants, my trousers got absolutely soaked. I'm thinking I need to invest in a pair of rain pants, anyone got any suggestions.

Cheers...............Rich

(writing this in his also wet boxer shorts, but you probably didn't want to know that! :p)

Freestyle Pertex are well worth the £30. I prefer them to Goretex.

Fold your pants up and put them in your pack. Wear shorts and cheap ripstop nylon rain pants.

It was raining in Scotland too this morning.

If it's not too cold, wear cycling shorts and a waterproof top. I have a Castelli showerproof jacket which is OK and a light racing waterproof jacket but it gets a bit sweaty.

I never bother about the legs unless it's cold.

Originally posted by Rich
writing this in his also wet boxer shorts

What kind of workplace lets one sit around in their wet underwear?

You got it made, dude.

I just bring a change of clothes on really wet days now. I learned about the ineffectiveness of wet weather gear in massive downpours a few months back, so on the ride in you should just concentrate on keeping warm. Put you change of clothes in a plastic bag inside your pannier to keep them dry, and just change when you get to work.

Chris

If your commute is long your will be wet anyway (from rain or from your own sweat) but I got some cheap waterproof pans. Here is NM it does not rain nearly as often as in England but when it does it does! (And of course I always remember that I left my stuff home in those time).

Main problem is the feets that get wet also. Taking your clothes off and riding naked while carrying a dry towel in your bag is not the worth option. I depends how liberal your workplace is I guess ;)

Cheers Guys,

It was pretty embarassing yesterday as I was running up and down the corridor of where I work in my boxer shorts...luckily I get in early, so it wasn't a problem taking 15 minutes to dry my pants in the hand dryer in the toilets! :D

He he...what is this world coming to eh?

I think I might try the cycling shorts and dry bag approach..I figure that I'd be almost as wet through sweat if I wore some wet weather pants.

Regards

Rich :thumbup:

Down in the SE corner of England it rains a lot less than people imagine. During commuting hours, I get caught in heavy rain a couple of times a year, with a few more light showers, but its mainly dry.

I like wearing polycotton trousers (US Pants) like Rohan. If they get wet , they dry out within 15 mins as you wear them. Jeans are the worst for riding in the wet.

Wet underwear is more of a problem. Its probably wise to keep a spare, dry set of undies/socks at work.

Polycotton is great stuff, i wear PC-pants when i go walking, for bicycling i got tenson MPC pants, pretty expensive, but more comfortable than Gore-tex.
Mostly i bike in cheap short pants, short pants rules!!!:D

Of course, we should not lose sight of the fact that riding in the rain is something very beautiful.

Chris

Okay, I just want to know how you guys do it . . . I was out riding last Monday when it started to rain buckets . . . I had to slow down to a near crawl and could barely see to get home. Fortunately I only had about a mile to go to get there . . . So how do you do a long commute in the rain???

So how do you do a long commute in the rain???

Fit fenders and lights.
Wear a breathable waterproof top, and pants if it is cool enough.
If it is cold rain, put some plastic bags between socks and shoes (until you can sort out some waterproof footwear).
Fit a peak to your helmet.
Keep braking to dry and clean your rims.
Try and stick to a route you know.
Beware of potholes full of water, metal drain covers etc.


Ride a bit further out in the road, so you are not in the gutter.

That is about it.
Cycle safety advocates have a wonderul phrase "Percieved Danger". Well rain is a percieved problem. For people who cycle in the rain, it is not a real problem at all.

Originally posted by MichaelW
Down in the SE corner of England it rains a lot less than people imagine.

Mmmm. I lived in both the SW and North of England where it rains a lot. I always found it funny to see English hickers wearing a combination that has little to envy to navy seals.

Originally posted by bikebrat
Okay, I just want to know how you guys do it . . . I was out riding last Monday when it started to rain buckets . . . I had to slow down to a near crawl and could barely see to get home. Fortunately I only had about a mile to go to get there . . . So how do you do a long commute in the rain???

Chris L lives in a part of the world where the weather can be accurately described as 'stinking hot' for nine months of the year. Chris L welcomes the change that the rain brings. Chris L suggests that the most important thing is glasses of some kind to keep the sh*t out of your eyes. Chris L also believes that you get used to it eventually.

Chris

Here in Texas it can be dry for so long that there are generations of frogs born who will never learn to swim. Well, it's been raining all week, and today I said enuff! and went for a ride anyway. Since I didn't dare go fast on the slick roads I went to the nearby Hills ( where Lance used to train) and got a good burn in my legs. Steaming!!

Today i`l go riding in stormy weather, it`s fun because it`s you against the elements.
And the roads are pretty quiet, so its nice and relaxed riding!

Have a beautiful ride you all, and cheers :beer: