Commuting - Rain Pants: A Change of Heart

I give up.

For years, I've believed in the oft-said phrase "rain pants are a waste of time." Given that they don't breathe well, you might as well get wet instead of wearning them.

That was all fine and good, until I got serious about bike commuting this year. About a month ago I started leaving my car at work (for day trips from work), and cycling five days a week (15.5 to 20 miles round trip, depending on extra loops).

I've now done many commutes in rain and driving rain, often in the low forties (or just below forty degrees), and I'm giving up on the "tights are all I need" stance. With the "heat" performance tights I use (brushed on the inside), once they are wet the wind chill really sets in (some of my downhills are over thirty mph, followed by 10 mph twisting trails to chill me down). The cold soaks in so bad that I can feel chilled all morning at work. Wearing polypro underneath the tights helps, but they soak through too and get cold, and then I have the challenge of hoping they dry enough during the work day so I don't freeze right off the bat on the trip home.

So, I broke down and bought some Burley rain pants today (black). My ten year-old REI Goretex cycling jacket is working perfectly (warm, dry), and I'm hoping the rain pants will keep me warm, even if I sweat up inside. I may need to use them tomorrow morning, so I should find out soon.

So, is there a rule for rain pants? I imagine that I would just wear tights if it were mid-fifties, sixty or higher. I'd had it, though, with cold, driving rain in the forties.

That's about the way I view it. Much above 60 it doesn't make much difference. 50s and below the wind resistance, more than the water resistance, makes the rain pants more comfortable.

I just purchased a lightweight GoreTex jacket in December. What a delight compared to the nylon Performance jacket I was using! I actually feel dry and warm without being sweaty, even at temps into the 60s, maybe even 70s. I would love to find some GoreTex pants of the same light weight (about like a golf windbreaker) at a reasonable price.

I give up.

I've now done many commutes in rain and driving rain, often in the low forties (or just below forty degrees), and I'm giving up on the "tights are all I need" stance.

The cold soaks in so bad that I can feel chilled all morning at work.
I remember a local club that advertised "if temps are below 40F, ride cancelled."
What does that tell you? :D

If you're feeling chilled all morning at work, TO HELL WITH IT. YOU ARE NOT DOING A HEALTHY THING.

Forget about CW (conventional wisdom) and go with what works.

:p

I use some cheap rain pants I bought from Performance as a wind shield over my polyproplyne tights and it feels gooooooood.

Koffee

I'm envious of my wife, who has the matching Gore-Tex pants that went with our jackets (they were marked down to something like $45 and we picked them up). The jackets themselves were $145 each, even marked down as returns, ten years ago. It's amazing how well they work, though. I never seem to sweat up in mine, unless I'm wearing a backpack. I normally only need a long sleeve jersey under it from the upper 30s to the 50s.

As for riding in the cold, I normally enjoy it. Back in the PPTC (Washington, DC club), I remember some memorable rides we did in the 20s. We still have the nylon-fronted fleece jackets and tights, and we slipped chemical hand-warmers into the toes of our neophrene booties. I could also do my daily commutes through the twenties, because they were short enough not to get chilled on.

Back east, though, the winters were much colder and drier. In Portland, OR, it's much warmer (almost always above freezing), but the soaking rains with the moderate cold are hard to get used to if my gear soaks through.

Of course, now that I'm addicted to the rides, I have to find a solution... <g>

I wear rain pants over long-johns for temperatures under 45F. Since I keep my work clothes at the job during the week this arrangement works quite well.

I bought the rain pants by Performance at about $70 for the rain pant. Supposed to be thinsulate, I think it was. I also have a pair of rain proof tights... The times I have worn them, I prefer the tights. The rain pants are supposed to breathe. They do not. The tights do. Definitely a cooler ride.
The tights do a decent job of keeping the water out and they breathe. I do notice of the tights; At seams, some water penetrates through the seams and the knees are a little wet and chilly. The pants, pretty uncomfortable.

I wear rain pants when it drops into the 40's. Otherwise I don't bother with them. Also use them for those really cold AM's we have been having lately, they make good wind breakers.

I have some North Face rainpants that are great in the 30's and 40's, very sweaty at temps above that. I wear Columbia lined nylon pants over my bike shorts for the winter commute, have put the rain pants over them when it was really cold (+5 F) and windy, found they made a big difference.

My first winter commuting, one of my big insightful moments was when I was riding during weather I really dislike being outside in (steady rain, 35 F) and found that I was totally comfortable.

I have a set of Marmot Precip, the jacket and the pants and both can be had for less than $90 if you're a good shopper. Not Gore-Tex but don't need to be, they are a DWR coated shell that has kept me dry in all my commutes and tours. Pants come in a full zip version or just an ankle zip which is the one I have. Can be put on over bike shoes and is dry.

Jay

Back east, though, the winters were much colder and drier. In Portland, OR, it's much warmer (almost always above freezing), but the soaking rains with the moderate cold are hard to get used to if my gear soaks through.
Yeah, Pdxcyclist, I agree, though I live in the East. I can handle cold down into the low 20's better than I can handle a cold, soaking rain. Water really draws heat away from your body faster than anything.

I have some North Face rainpants that are great in the 30's and 40's, very sweaty at temps above that. I wear Columbia lined nylon pants over my bike shorts for the winter commute, have put the rain pants over them when it was really cold (+5 F) and windy, found they made a big difference.

My first winter commuting, one of my big insightful moments was when I was riding during weather I really dislike being outside in (steady rain, 35 F) and found that I was totally comfortable.
Pinerider..I did one really wet ride last year. Had on shoe covers, helmet cover, rainproof gloves.Rain pants and jacket.
Wet still gets in under openings about the neck. Rain came in through cleat openings. It was acceptable,but still hardly perfect. Think maybe a face shield would make it more comfortable..Should the temp's be really low,maybe fog would develop under even a shield.
Does you jacket have a hood. Mabye that is the secret.?

Well, this morning it wasn't raining, so I packed the rain pants in my pack for the afternoon ride. Soon as I left the garage door, however, a steady rain started so I put on the Burley rain pants and my performance "bra like" neophrene shoe covers.

I was expecting to "get hot" in the rain pants, even though it was 42 degrees out, but instead the pants were just warm to begin and then they became cool for the rest of the ride. The rain was pretty steady, but not drenching, and overall my legs stayed cool and comfortable through the ride. I had to stop twice because the pant leg was catching in the chain ring, but once I figured out how to use velcro at the ankle correctly that problem was fixed. Overall, I felt a bit like Klinck with the jodhpur look.

The cut of the pants was good for riding, and overall I didn't find them distracting. At work, I found the tops of my tights damp at the top of my leg, and I'm not certain if that was from water getting through or sweat. Overall, though, I feel much warmer at work this morning, and I'm glad I've got the rain pants for the trip home.

I like the idea of rain-proof tights mentioned above, but for now I think this is a good solution.

I wear the Burley rain pants and jacket over my work clothes almost every day unless it is obviously going to be sunny all day. Even then, I like the rain pants because they keep the crud from getting on my work pants. And all us Portlanders know that even a pleasant looking day can end up rainy. I have liked wearing them, they haven't been too intrusive to me. A few times on really long rides I've built up a decent sweat since they aren't breathable, but it's better than being drenched with rain.

I have a cheap pair of nylon pants that I wear over a nice pair of water resistant tights. This outer shell is not entirely water-proof, but it repels water for awhile and, as was mentioned by a previous post, they keep the rest of my outfit clean. The combination with the resistant tights keeps me relatively dry for commuting. I'm sure longer rides would require a better shell.

More importantly I've found, the outer pants minimize the wind chill on cold or windy rides. Sometimes, if the temp is high (50s in F), I will feel a bit overheated, but I think the benefits outweigh some occasional discomfort.

And all us Portlanders know that even a pleasant looking day can end up rainy.

Rule number 1 of riding in the PNW, always pack a rain coat :)