Commuting - Gear for miserable weather

Hi all. I am looking for commuter gear that will handle down to 20F + wind + rain (i.e. Portland, Oregon in the winter). My commute is 20 miles round trip. I have a bunch of good backpacking and outdoor gear (shirts, pants, etc.) but am searching for optimal comfort. Of particular interest are solutions for the hands, feet, and head. I have a huge head and my helmet just fits me on the largest setting (so knit cap under the helmet will not fit). I have ridden in cold (freezing) weather and have been OK. Cold + rain resulted in very cold hands and feet.

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?
2) I have a set of Arc Ter'x rain pants but am not sure if they will be comfortable after the first few miles (stiffer fabric, rubbing the knee area, etc.). Would something more form fitting might be a better idea (wet but warm legs, etc.)?
3) Do people wear glasses to keep the driving rain or cold wind out of their eyes?
4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?
5) I have tried various glove options (wool, etc.) and the wind kills the fingers. What gloves or hand covering options would people recommend?
6) I have a Brooks saddle (leather). Should I take this off the bike or is using the saddle + cover fine (in terms of hurting the leather)?
7) How can I keep my melon warm? I'm thinking a rain cover would hold in a lot of heat and that would be enough for the conditions that I'm riding in.
8) What bike maintenance do you perform after riding in similar conditions? Just wipe everything down with a dry towel and hit the chain with a few drops of lube?

What does everyone wear for cold and rainy conditions? Thanks, I'm looking forward to everyone's tips.

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?
Rain jackets are a waste of money, IMO. On a 10 mile commute, you're either getting wet from the rain or wet from sweat. I haven't found a single brand of rain gear that's worth spending money on. (Others will swear by Showers Pass, though.)
Smartwool midweight base layer and a Performance Tundra II winter jersey for anything down to 20 degrees. Lower than that and I throw my fleece vest on between the layers.

2) I have a set of Arc Ter'x rain pants but am not sure if they will be comfortable after the first few miles (stiffer fabric, rubbing the knee area, etc.). Would something more form fitting might be a better idea (wet but warm legs, etc.)?
PI Gavia Plus bib tights down to 30 degrees. Lower and I put on a pair of fleece longjohns underneath.

3) Do people wear glasses to keep the driving rain or cold wind out of their eyes?
I wear clear lens glasses until it's 20 degrees, then I switch to ski goggles.

4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?
Neoprene booties with rubber soles should work. Performance booties used to come without the cleat hole pre-cut.

5) I have tried various glove options (wool, etc.) and the wind kills the fingers. What gloves or hand covering options would people recommend?
PI Cyclones. Down to 15 degrees I've never needed more.

6) I have a Brooks saddle (leather). Should I take this off the bike or is using the saddle + cover fine (in terms of hurting the leather)?
Velox saddle cover. $8.00 from Wallingford Bicycle.
Sno-Seal or Proofide the bottom, even if you've got fenders.

7) How can I keep my melon warm? I'm thinking a rain cover would hold in a lot of heat and that would be enough for the conditions that I'm riding in.
Microfleece beanie helmet liner or wool cycling cap with earflaps.

8) What bike maintenance do you perform after riding in similar conditions? Just wipe everything down with a dry towel and hit the chain with a few drops of lube?
Every week I clean the drivetrain and re-lube it. A bit of lube if things sound squeaky before the weekend. Other than that, the road grit just builds up until spring.

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?

I mostly use my rain jacket as a windbreaker. Around 30-35F, my rain jacket starts being too cold, particularly if it is raining. I can wear it in temps as high as 70F, but the clothes underneath start getting pretty light. I've started using a Land's End Squall jacket in lower temps, and I'm quite pleased with it... but I don't have a ton of biking miles with it. (stupid knee injury)


2) I have a set of Arc Ter'x rain pants but am not sure if they will be comfortable after the first few miles (stiffer fabric, rubbing the knee area, etc.). Would something more form fitting might be a better idea (wet but warm legs, etc.)?

So far, my rain pants have been used so I could get pants on despite that knee injury. I got them in anticipation of getting in some bike miles at around 20F, which is around where my wool pants + long underwear combo starts getting useless. For temperatures above that, I'd expect they'd be too warm.


3) Do people wear glasses to keep the driving rain or cold wind out of their eyes?

I wear glasses so I can see. They help a little in rain, and do nothing for cold wind. If the rain is at hurricane intensity, there isn't much of anything that works.


4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?

If I need dry feet, I wear my snow boots. They're also waterproof and are ok for moderate length walks. They're not something most people would pick for a ride as long as you have tho, so I'm not sure what the correct solution would be.


5) I have tried various glove options (wool, etc.) and the wind kills the fingers. What gloves or hand covering options would people recommend?

My usual problem with gloves is that my hands are too warm, particularly in temperatures 20F or higher. I mostly wear my own hand knit stuff, with 2 layers of yarn, fine gauge and long cuffs. Conventional gloves and mittens leave me with cold hands and don't fit well.


6) I have a Brooks saddle (leather). Should I take this off the bike or is using the saddle + cover fine (in terms of hurting the leather)?

Mine seems to handle mistreatment just fine... I probably should get around to proofhiding it before it's a year old.


7) How can I keep my melon warm? I'm thinking a rain cover would hold in a lot of heat and that would be enough for the conditions that I'm riding in.

Some manufacturers make rain covers for their helmets. You can also stick a large shower cap over a helmet to get a similar effect. Covering the holes will make the helmet much warmer. If you need more warmth after that, I'd check to see if there are larger helmets that will work.


8) What bike maintenance do you perform after riding in similar conditions? Just wipe everything down with a dry towel and hit the chain with a few drops of lube?

Um, what maintenance? I *like* riding in crappy weather, which is why I got a bike with a chain guard and internal gears. If something was really soaked that shouldn't be, I'd dry it out as best I could, but otherwise it's *meant* to be a bad weather bike. I'll probably hit the chain with some lube before it's a year old, but it has stayed pretty silent so far.

I should note that I'm the kind of person who tends to be always cold. My usual layers at around 30F are wool socks, long underwear under wool pants, then an undershirt, wool sweater and jacket, wool hat under helmet, and wool mittens for my hands. At 20F, that leaves my thighs getting very cold if it is at all windy, and I'll often have to unzip my jacket or take off the hat to keep myself from sweating, even on short rides. I don't do much over 5 or 6 miles at a stretch, so I don't have as much time to warm up as others might. Someone who bikes further or is naturally warmer would wear lighter layers... sometimes a *lot* lighter.

Hi all. I am looking for commuter gear that will handle down to 20F + wind + rain (i.e. Portland, Oregon in the winter)....What does everyone wear for cold and rainy conditions? Thanks, I'm looking forward to everyone's tips.

Try http://www.bicycleclothing.com I purchased the jacket, pants and helmet cover. All 'breathable' for under 200.00 including shipping. The best foul weather gear, ie wind, cold, rain I've ever seen or used. They're local to you. Use a visor for real rainy days as they help to keep one's goggles clear. And a set of fenders if you don't have any already.

For my feet I've got a pair of Lake winter road shoes(I ride clipless-spd) w/a pair of knee-high gaiters from http://www.campmor.com. when it's REAL wet. Different weight balaclavas on closeout from http://www.sierratradingpost.com. 5.00 per, I think. My gloves are Gordini Summit 2 from campmor on closeout for 20.00(regular 50.00). To 20F I use a pair of clear safety glasses I purchased from Home Depot for 5.00(I bought 3 pair) and below that some Bolle ski goggles from a thriftstore for 3.00. Got 5 100% wool close knit sweaters for 3.00 per from the same thriftstore.

The statement someone posted about getting wet from rain or sweat is largely true. Raingear simply serves to make the commute suck less...it's still going to suck, but usually only one direction. There's something to be said for the satisfaction of rolling up to one's place of employment during a downpour and having your co-workers look at you w/that unmistakable mixture of wonderment and respect. :thumb:

Hi been reading these forums a while and just registered.



I live across the river from you in Vancouver, WA.



I have been commuting everyday for the last six months. This is my present winter gear.



Gloves. I have three sets, a fingerless, Performance full finger and Performance winter gloves, rain and wind resistant. The last month I have used the winter gloves exclusively. Even in the 20 deg weather last month, they were adequate. These last days, they have actually been a bit warm.



Pants. Cheapest shower pass from Bike Gallery. They have been fine. A bit warm at times. I wear them with tights underneath on the way to work, generaly with just shorts on the way home.



Booties. Sugoi. They are ok. I think cheap neopremes would have been just as good. They keep me dry for about five miles, then start to leak through.



Jacket. Craft Labrotories. $100 from Performance. I use this most of the year. Good wind breaker, and I like it in the rain also. If I over dress or ride hard, I do sweat and get pretty damp, but its better than wet rain in my opinion. If its dry or warm on way home, I leave it off.



I run clipless peddles. Eggbeaters ($49) and a mountain bike shoe that looks like a road shoe, but you can walk in them.



I wear glasses, but in todays heavy rain and the dark this morning, visibility is limited. Unless you live in Troutdale, its unlikely you will see cold enough weather to need the goggles.



Head. I Use a balclava and a hat my sister made me. Covers my ears but leaves the face open. Less glasses fog, and its warm enough. These are both pretty thin. Even the single layer nylon skull caps help alot, though not in the rain.



I have race blade fenders and a bike rack. I still get alot of road grime on the bike if its wet. I run a single speed Madison and have come to just spray off my bike every night.



Overall I have found that for the coldest weather, layers covered by rain gear does a bunch for keeping you warm. Usually over warm.



The good news is, its unlikely we have more than a month left of sub 30 weather.



Ps. How about the wind today, going up my one hill, I literally almost cried it was so hard. I would have if it would have helped. lol.

4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?
Neoprene booties with rubber soles should work. Performance booties used to come without the cleat hole pre-cut.

The Performance neoprene booties STILL come without the cleat holes pre-cut. This is the only model from any brand that still has the sole intact. There are three cut-out guides on the bottom, but I don't have shoes yet so I left them uncut and just walk from the bike rack outside my office to my cube and remove them there. They are pretty durable.

And if they fall apart, they're constantly on sale for $20. When it's really cold, or really snowy, I wear my Salomon Avo hiking boots, which are insulated and waterproof.

Sorry I didn't answer the questions, I just wanted to point out to other readers the current situation with the Performance booties.

In my experience gear gets easier when it gets colder. The toughest weather is 40 - 50 degrees and raining. That's when cycling rain gear is handy. When it's a lot warmer you can just get wet and it's not a big deal. When it gets colder you can bundle up in regular winter gear and not get too sweaty. It's the middle temperatures that are wet and cold, but you heat up real fast when wearing rain gear that's hard and that's when the showers pass stuff really comes in handy.

Just because I like picking fights with CliftonGFK1, here is another Seattle perspective:

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?

- Not necessary, but IMHO the ShowersPass Elite 2.0 is worth the $$. Love the fit, the pockets, and the pit zips.

I recently added the Showers Pass Hood; it fits under my helmet, and helps keep me drier + helps retain a lot of heat.

2) I have a set of Arc Ter'x rain pants but am not sure if they will be comfortable after the first few miles (stiffer fabric, rubbing the knee area, etc.). Would something more form fitting might be a better idea (wet but warm legs, etc.)?

- I discovered I hate rain pants. I hate the noise of really waterproof rain pants. I have found that regular cycling tights or form-fitting running/exercise pants work find. I don't mind getting wet; I have a one-hour commute and I don't ever seem to get too drenched.

3) Do people wear glasses to keep the driving rain or cold wind out of their eyes?

- I wear prescription glasses.

4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?

- I wear Specialized BG Defroster boots with SPD pedals. Love 'em.


5) I have tried various glove options (wool, etc.) and the wind kills the fingers. What gloves or hand covering options would people recommend?

- Either Specialized BG full-finger gloves or NorthFace gloves from REI. There are lots of non-cycling options available at any sporting goods store for temperatures below 30.


6) I have a Brooks saddle (leather). Should I take this off the bike or is using the saddle + cover fine (in terms of hurting the leather)?

- I cover my Brooks saddles with my butt while riding. Underside is waterproofed. I have abused my Brooks saddles in every way possible and they don't seem to mind.

7) How can I keep my melon warm? I'm thinking a rain cover would hold in a lot of heat and that would be enough for the conditions that I'm riding in.

- Rain cover over helmet. I really don't think it adds much warmth, other than keeping your head drier.
- Skull cap on head if it's dry and cold; baseball cap under helmet if it's wet (to keep rain out of eyes).
- Showers Pass Hood instead if it's cold + wet.


8) What bike maintenance do you perform after riding in similar conditions? Just wipe everything down with a dry towel and hit the chain with a few drops of lube?

- Bike dries itself. I never dry the outside, I figure all the damage is being done on the inside anyway.
- I try to lube chain after every wet ride.
- Watch your brake pads; if they're getting gritty from road sand in the winter they'll eat your rims. And they'll wear fast.


The 4 keys to my comfort are:
- ShowersPass rain jacket
- Rain cover over helmet
- Baseball cap or Showers Pass hood if it's raining hard
- Specialized BG Defroster boots.

(BTW, I am assuming you have already have fenders?)

in my experience gear gets easier when it gets colder. The toughest weather is 40 - 50 degrees and raining. That's when cycling rain gear is handy. When it's a lot warmer you can just get wet and it's not a big deal. When it gets colder you can bundle up in regular winter gear and not get too sweaty. It's the middle temperatures that are wet and cold, but you heat up real fast when wearing rain gear that's hard and that's when the showers pass stuff really comes in handy.


+1

Just because I like picking fights with CliftonGFK1, here is another Seattle perspective:

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?

- Not necessary, but IMHO the ShowersPass Elite 2.0 is worth the $$. Love the fit, the pockets, and the pit zips.

I recently added the Showers Pass Hood; it fits under my helmet, and helps keep me drier + helps retain a lot of heat.
- Rain cover over helmet. I really don't think it adds much warmth, other than keeping your head drier.
- Skull cap on head if it's dry and cold; baseball cap under helmet if it's wet (to keep rain out of eyes).
- Showers Pass Hood instead if it's cold + wet.

The 4 keys to my comfort are:
- ShowersPass rain jacket
- Rain cover over helmet
- Baseball cap or Showers Pass hood if it's raining hard
- Specialized BG Defroster boots.

You'll have to try harder to pick a fight. I knew someone would chime in and sing the praises of SP's gear! It really is nice stuff, and worth the price; comfortable, durable, and well designed for cycling. I just find that no matter how well vented it is, I get drenched from sweat if I'm wearing a rain jacket. That's why I gave up on them and just opted for wool instead.

(How're you liking this rain/wind for the past couple days!?)

Just because I like picking fights with CliftonGFK1, here is another Seattle perspective:

1) Are bike specific rain jackets worth getting if I already have a nice rain shell?

- Not necessary, but IMHO the ShowersPass Elite 2.0 is worth the $$. Love the fit, the pockets, and the pit zips.

I really liked my burley raincoat until I finally got the fear of invisibility put in me and went out for a blinding chartreuse Craft Commuter which is inferior in every way to the burley (including being too heavy but at least that works for it in the 30s and below...). There are few to no bike coats in blinding chartreuse w/ reasonable pitzips. This craft jacket has'em but they're ~1/2 the length of the ones on the burley.


2) I have a set of Arc Ter'x rain pants but am not sure if they will be comfortable after the first few miles (stiffer fabric, rubbing the knee area, etc.). Would something more form fitting might be a better idea (wet but warm legs, etc.)?

- I discovered I hate rain pants. I hate the noise of really waterproof rain pants. I have found that regular cycling tights or form-fitting running/exercise pants work find. I don't mind getting wet; I have a one-hour commute and I don't ever seem to get too drenched.

I hate rainpants too. This am is 30s and rainy, not quite sure what to do yet. Running pants over long underwear (smartwool) or just regular jogging shorts over long underwear. Former too hot, latter too wet. 50s and up for sure it's just shorts for me.



3) Do people wear glasses to keep the driving rain or cold wind out of their eyes?

- I wear prescription glasses.

I was pretty well blinded the day before yesterday w/ blasting rain on my glasses and headlights glaring either at me or off the wet roads. Yesterday I finally broke out the $5 lab safety glasses and they worked great I have to say. While wet glasses were still wet, at least I was looking at/through them w/ focused vision from my dry eyeglasses.


4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?

- I wear Specialized BG Defroster boots with SPD pedals. Love 'em.

I've plugged my mesh shimano mtb shoes before. Good drainage during the ride and airdrying (after removing insole) at work. Haven't really found dry dry dry to be do-able. Double up on socks w/ decreasing temp (I never wear more than maybe a mid-weight sock, and layer really really thin ones underneath).



5) I have tried various glove options (wool, etc.) and the wind kills the fingers. What gloves or hand covering options would people recommend?

- Either Specialized BG full-finger gloves or NorthFace gloves from REI. There are lots of non-cycling options available at any sporting goods store for temperatures below 30.

Mazelle I think is the name glove liners under regular bike gloves for me.



6) I have a Brooks saddle (leather). Should I take this off the bike or is using the saddle + cover fine (in terms of hurting the leather)?

- I cover my Brooks saddles with my butt while riding. Underside is waterproofed. I have abused my Brooks saddles in every way possible and they don't seem to mind.

I found a new way to abuse mine, burying them in snow and building rubble when my garage collapsed. Lotta scuffing there. I also only treat the bottom (w/ sno-seal). I gave up on the wallbikes $10 cover (seemed to act mostly to pull water around its seams through capillary action) in favor of a plastic supermarket bag plus a rubberband to lash it down to the rack.


7) How can I keep my melon warm? I'm thinking a rain cover would hold in a lot of heat and that would be enough for the conditions that I'm riding in.

- Rain cover over helmet. I really don't think it adds much warmth, other than keeping your head drier.
- Skull cap on head if it's dry and cold; baseball cap under helmet if it's wet (to keep rain out of eyes).
- Showers Pass Hood instead if it's cold + wet.

I always wear a baseball hat under my helmet. When it was in the 20s I wore a thin watchcap under that.



8) What bike maintenance do you perform after riding in similar conditions? Just wipe everything down with a dry towel and hit the chain with a few drops of lube?

- Bike dries itself. I never dry the outside, I figure all the damage is being done on the inside anyway.
- I try to lube chain after every wet ride.
- Watch your brake pads; if they're getting gritty from road sand in the winter they'll eat your rims. And they'll wear fast.

I intend to do this kind of thing but I seldom do anything more often than weekly. I think the rain lubes the chain well enough while moving but yeah removes any petroleum lube and I shudder to think of what the drip-drying process is doing. I'm pretty much scheduling a new chain for March. I'd love for this one to make it to the dry season but I'm not banking on it. That would actually be my ideal situation, new chain in July, get the best of the summer out of it, then let it grind down through winter. Maybe a 2nd sacrificial chain from Feb/March to July isn't so hard to accept.

And oh yeah PB Cascadia fenders

I like third gear for miserable weather, fourth gear is OK too.

I'm just trying to be helpful - if you have questions about winter biking or winter commuting, perhaps you might check out the Winter Biking section of the this forum.

4) I currently use platform pedals. Are their any dry-foot solutions out there or do I need to go clipless first?
Neoprene booties with rubber soles should work. Performance booties used to come without the cleat hole pre-cut.


My Performance booties aren't waterproof though. I'd call them mildly water-resistant.

Sealskinz waterproof socks are good in cold, wet conditions. You can use them with any type of footwear and they seem to last OK. Their gloves are bit too sweaty so I use some cheap woollen ones with a Thinsulate fllece liner.
If your head is getting cold, try a neck buff. I can raise mine up to cover the ears or higher to cover my head.