Touring - cycling in rain

Hello,

I went for a ~40 mile cycle ride yesterday in North Wales, and it was heavy rain for most of the way. I had just bought these new overshoes:

http://www.altura.eu/products/men/overshoes/nevis-overshoe.aspx

But they completely failed! My feet were soaked through, and then once it stopped raining the overshoes just kept them damp.
Is this just a bad product?
Anyone else got good tips to keep your feet dry in heavy rain?

Thanks,

Rob

Booties (overshoes) aren't supposed to keep your feet dry ... they are supposed to keep the wind off your feet so that your feet will remain warm, even if they are wet.

There aren't many things available which will actually keep your feet dry.

Keeping one's feet dry in the rain seems to be an unsolved problem. Sealskinz socks are waterproof, so they will keep your feet dry (but sweaty) but not your shoes.

Booties might work, but they have other problems, like getting worn while walking and/or exposing bike cleats through them.

I came up with a homemade solution involving a plastic water bottle sliced up the side, a waterproof gaiter, and some velcro. They sorta worked the only time I tested them, but it was humid and the water in my shoe was probably sweat, not rain. YMMV.

This article tells you how to make them (http://www.biketouringtips.com/showTipComments.php?tipID=1806) and has photos.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uDk8xuVgsy8/TrrSGiUDUfI/AAAAAAAABTs/zUJjLadX4L4/s400/DSCN3894.JPG

Plastic shopping bags inside my sandals, toasty warm and dry.

Thanks for your tips. Apologies, I realised I posted the wrong overshoes.
Its this one that I bought:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/endura/road-overshoes-ec011695#reviews

And it is supposed to be waterproof!

i think the only way is as already said plastic bags inside shoes ,never tried it myself i have the altura overshoes which is a right pain to get on and sealskinz socks.but i think northwave do a winter cycling bootie might be some help.

I Have the same over shoes and I think the issue lies in the cloth material on the bottom.
It gets soaked and is in direct contact with the insulation on the inside of the over shoe.
The moisture is then wicked up into that insulation and then soaks your shoe.

I bought a new pair of shoes that have a large portion of the rubber sole that comes up over the toe in an attempt to keep the wicking water from soaking into my shoe a little longer.
I don't know that it will solve the problem completely but it should keep the feet dry for a little longer.

I almost bought a pair of lightweight, waterproof, tactical style boot that I was going to try out for riding in the rain but they are all pretty pricey and I didn't want to spend the dough at this time.
The boots I was looking at---> http://www.bellevilleboot.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=79
Of course will need some proper platform pedals for this.

As mentioned before wet feet are not too bad as long as you can keep the wind off of them and the overshoes certainly helps with that.

I have used waterproof shoe covers but I find them to only slow down how long it takes for my feet to get soaked. One problem I have in rain is stopping and standing in puddles at stop lights and stop signs. Since the bottoms of cycle shoes have holes for the cleat attachments, if you stand in a shallow puddle your foot will be soaked in a second or two. I also wonder how much of the water that gets in my shoes is splashed up off of the road and onto the sole of my shoe, then working its way into the shoe through the cutouts for the cleats.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31743
might work but expensive to find out for sure :rolleyes:

a front mudflap large as a gideon bible does wonders.

Using a honking large mud flap, I've always been happy with just using toe covers, and I've lived in Seattle and toured the northwest in the off season quite extensively.

I agree with the others that wet and warm is the goal.

In the hiking world, we call the plastic bags over the socks "Bagtex". It works wonders when you're caught in wet snow with light trail shoes. On my recent Northern Tier tour, when my first eight days in WA and ID were in rain, I kept some bread bags in my pocket but it was never cold enough to need them except one pass descent in snow. It's a fine balancing act between rain and sweat. If you wear plastic bags on your feet all day, bad things can happen.

In my commuting days in Seattle, I made some Goretex booties from scraps and they worked pretty well as long as I didn't have to walk anywhere.

Wet and warm is probably about as good as you'll do in heavy rain. I've taken to double bagging my shoes with grocery sacks and wrapping strategic spots in narrow strips of duct tape. Cheap and ugly, but does work for a while. I don't commute, so only need protection when touring.

Another vote for Sealskinz socks and sandals, though I also use bread sacks over ordinary socks for short commutes. Use thin cycling socks inside the sealskinz for a wicking layer.

Thanks again for all the advice. I think I'll go for the sealskinz socks. The only problem there is that the socks are quite thick and won't fit into the shoes I normally use for cycling. Seems like a shame to have to have one pair of shoes for sealskinz and another for when you wear normal thin socks ...

For bicycling, trail running, and hiking I find that the best approach for temps much above freezing is to use a shoe that drains well and socks that remain comfortable when wet and dry fairly quickly.

Even below freezing I don't try too hard to keep dry, but do add a wind barrier and maybe some extra insulation. For me that has most often been neoprene shoe covers. I have never needed to take shoe covers on tour but have used them if very cold temperatures at home whether it was wet or not.

For bicycling, trail running, and hiking I find that the best approach for temps much above freezing is to use a shoe that drains well and socks that remain comfortable when wet and dry fairly quickly.

Trying to waterproof is a hit or miss and sometimes just one foot is effected. I'm with staehpj1, I use sweat wicking socks and cloth shoes.

Brad

It is better to have some larger shoes for winter.
Sealskins are very good but you have to cover the top or water drains down inside them. I use rainpants so the socks are tucked safely inside.

If you really want your feet dry.....regular pedals,boots and gators......your feet will be dry and warm as toast.

Otherwise plastic bags are your friend,sort of.

come on, nearly 20 posts and on one else is endorsing an extra large front mudflap?

Heavens, whatever has happened in the sport of cycling.

It is better to have some larger shoes for winter.
Sealskins are very good but you have to cover the top or water drains down inside them. I use rainpants so the socks are tucked safely inside.

I do the same.

I have a cycle rain cape. it drapes over my hands, and so forms an awning
over my feet.
yea, mudguards are required.


years back i got some nice shoe covers,
2 layers of nylon fabric+ 1 of fleece.

worked nicely on my 97 Irish tour, but the home sewing shop,
that made them went away,
was "mountain minded" on Lopez Isle, WA..

beko, yes 100% correct but another trick is to put a viser on the front tip on the front mudguard ,i done this piece of strond but light plastic glued on sits about quarter of an inch from top of tire.
sorry cant post photos.
not great for keeping your feet dry but no splash back either.:thumb:

That's what I use.

278722

They are lightly insulated, so if you have a problem with hot feet..

Keep in mind, if you do not have something waterproof on your legs, water will just run in the tops of the shoes rendering them just as soaked. I like the Endura Venturi pants:

278723



http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31743
might work but expensive to find out for sure :rolleyes:

Not much, unless it is pretty cold. I generally wear wool socks which helps, but I'm also looking for a good method of keeping my feet dry.

A couple of weeks ago, while touring northern Michigan, we experienced some really wet and cold weather. We stopped at a park and got some of the "doggy poop" bags that we found in a handy dispenser by the park entrance. Not very elegant, but functional:)

If the rain pants don't cover the booties, the water funnels right into the tops. I wear shoe covers for winter riding, and also have a pair of waterproof insulated winter shoes for real cold weather. The trouble when touring is I use a shoe that fits the majority of conditions, and just put up with the discomfort on those rainy days.
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Europe%202011/DSCN8179-1.jpg

I bought these (http://www.goreapparel.com/GORE-BIKE-WEAR%C2%AE-UNIVERSAL-CITY-GORE-TEX%C2%AE-NEON-Overshoes/FNCITY,default,pd.html?dwvar_FNCITY_color=0800&start=4&cgid=gbw-men-geartype-accessories-shoe-covers) for a charity ride in the PNW this summer, and they worked like a charm over 120km (75 miles) of more or less solid rain at temperatures just over 10C (50F). I had wool socks underneath and my feet got damp, but they stayed warm and comfortable. And you wouldn't believe the number of comments I got about the dayglo yellow effect.

You really want to have dry feet? Then get a pair of Lake MXZ302s. Run them with SPDs. Put a pair of replacement wetsuit leg seals on first and pull the bell down over the top of the Lakes. Feet stay dry all day.

For ordinary bike shoes, get a pair of rectangular plastic produce bags. Cut the bottoms out, so they're cylinders. Put on your tights, unzip the bottoms, and pull them up. Put on your wool cycling length socks and shoes. Pull on the plastic bags so the bottom of the bag is even with the sole of the shoe. Wrap the bag tightly around your bare ankles. Zip your tights bottoms down over the plastic bag, holding it against your skin. Put on your booties over the tights. You can also reverse the booties and tights, whichever hold the plastic bags more tightly against your ankles.

Your feet get wet because the water runs down your legs. The leg seals or plastic bags prevent this. However, if it's not actually raining, your feet will be warmer without the plastic bags, because they will make your feet sweat.

Good fenders with good mudflaps, platform pedals, wool socks, Neos overboots.

once i got out of kindergarden I resolved to never again be seen in public wearing plastic bread bags on my feet, convinced even at that age there must be a better way.

and there is.

As someone who has incredibly sweaty feet , I've basically completely given up in wearing socks or attempting bothered waterproofing and discovered the best method for me: Suffer with wet feet, wear wool socks regardless of the weather and keep a dry pair for sleeping. I cycle/hike/live in a pair of trekking sandals.

once i got out of kindergarden I resolved to never again be seen in public wearing plastic bread bags on my feet, convinced even at that age there must be a better way.

and there is.I have found it more socially acceptable to have my plastic bags hidden under other apparel. Otherwise I dunno. After riding year-round in the PNW for 15 years, I've never found that my fenders, with extra-large home-made mudflaps coming almost to the ground, keep my feet dry. Rain does, after all, fall out of the sky. It doesn't sprout from the road. In just a few minutes of hard rain, my legs are thoroughly soaked and water is running down them. My shoes and socks, if I had only toe warmers on, would also be soaked. Personally, I can wear neither waterproof pants nor jacket. I've tried and I'm soaked with sweat and uncomfortably hot in about 3 miles. It is pretty hilly here.

Hence the preoccupation on this thread with methods of keeping one's feet at least warm if not dry. The mudflap does make a huge difference in keeping road grit off my drivetrain, being after all, a mudflap. My bike is usually cleaner after riding in a hard rain than it was before.

The preoccupation with keeping dry is not really about keeping dry at all. It's about keeping warm. You can't keep dry. It's just that people are more likely to get cold when they are wet with cold water. Hence the preoccupation is really with keeping the water on one's body and feet warm but not hot. The method will be different for each rider, depending on how much heat they generate and the conditions in which they will ride or not ride. From my PNW perspective, I find photos of cyclists standing under bridges or underpasses in the rain quite funny. Like it's going to quit?

From my PNW perspective, I find photos of cyclists standing under bridges or underpasses in the rain quite funny. Like it's going to quit?

out here in the summer, it often does after a little while.

the PNW take on it makes me think of a friend who came to Montreal when I did to go to Uni, being from BC coast, she remarked how when it began raining, she would be the only one on the sidewalk, as a west coaster, she was used to it just not stopping. The rest of us will duck in and wait the 5, 15 mins or whatever for the heavy stuff to let up.
Difference in areas really have diff rain patterns (we do of course of rain that does last all day, but not like where you guys are)

The weather pattern , when the planet axis leans towards the Sun,
is to have a high pressure cell over North Pacific, forcing the jetstream
onto, above the Northern BC, AK coast..
and the CW circulation provides a favorable breeze down the Coast.

that pattern held from July through September, this year.. :thumb:

I use these when commuting. They are perfect.

http://www.showerspass.com/catalog/accessories/club-shoe-covers

Best part is they have multiple uses ;)

279083

they must be a tad tight on ye old ankles. but I digress.

I have found it more socially acceptable to have my plastic bags hidden under other apparel. Otherwise I dunno. After riding year-round in the PNW for 15 years, I've never found that my fenders, with extra-large home-made mudflaps coming almost to the ground, keep my feet dry. Rain does, after all, fall out of the sky. It doesn't sprout from the road. In just a few minutes of hard rain, my legs are thoroughly soaked and water is running down them...............Personally, I can wear neither waterproof pants nor jacket. I've tried and I'm soaked with sweat and uncomfortably hot in about 3 miles. It is pretty hilly here.

:roflmao: good point about the bags going UNDER. As to rain not sprouting from the road, au contraire. When you're riding a bike, it actually does. And I'm not sure how you've gotten that wet in a few minutes, in my 15+ years of riding year round in the PNW, my feet often stay quite dry in only a set of toecovers when riding a bike with effective mudflaps. Are you standing in puddles at stopsigns?

I would go out to the garage and check - your mudflaps might have lightening holes in them, I don't know. Maybe riding sans raincoat colors perceptions about how your feet are faring? clearly a contrarian approach to staying dry in the PNW. No coat, no rainpants, no mudflaps doesn't sound like the smartest strategy, to be perfectly honest. Even in hilly terrain.

(i do recommend people try riding in weather resistant tops instead of a waterproof coat as much as possible when conditions are inclement, and that rainpaints, though seldom necessary are sometimes vital)

Best part is they have multiple uses ;)

279083
This is so awesome! Seems a little expensive.

And the ribbed ones have a reported aero effect, kinda like the dimples on a golf ball.

the PNW take on it makes me think of a friend who came to Montreal when I did to go to Uni, being from BC coast, she remarked how when it began raining, she would be the only one on the sidewalk, as a west coaster, she was used to it just not stopping.

Between May and October, it actually rains more and more often in Montreal than in Vancouver. Almost twice as much if you take out October.

its those nov, dec, jan, feb, mar, apr months that must be interminable.

The Pacific Northwest has four seasons:
Summer: July and August
Fall: September and October
Winter: November, December, January, February, and March
Disappointment: April, May, and June

You have not seen anything until you come to Oregon:)

http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/IMG_6923_OregonRiding-1.jpg



Carbonfiberboy
I find photos of cyclists standing under bridges or underpasses in the rain quite funny. Like it's going to quit?

I take quite a few pictures of fellow cyclists standing under bridges on rainy days. If it is really raining, it keeps my camera and the contents of my bar bag dry:) You don't see a lot of "on the road" pictures of cyclists in pouring rain.

Waiting for 15-20 minutes for a thunder shower to blow by is common practice in a lot of places. On a recent tour a shower blew by in the time it took me to fix a flat tire under the protection of a store front overhang.

It was actually this dark at 10:00 in the morning. It was a little eerie (read scary). A violent thunder storm heading our way sent us scrambling for a grove of trees and our rain gear. Failing to find a bridge to hide under, we spent an exciting 20 minutes hunkered under our tent's ground cloth. There was a pretty good pre-frontal squall that generated high winds followed by heavy rain and hail. Thirty minutes later it was only sprinkling lightly with very little wind.

The Netherlands
http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy112/Doug64_photos/Europe%202011/DSCN8121-1.jpg

I think it's probably impossible to remain completely dry, ever. The human body's skin needs to breathe, and sweat will always form whether it's summer or winter.

With that being said, you need to take a certain amount of moisture into account as guaranteed, and then find ways to stay warm despite it if you want to ride in rain.

My solution on my tour was to wear as much merino wool as possible. it stays warm when wet and barely soaks. Instead, moisture seems to kind of stick to the outside but it doesn't penetrate and saturate like cotton.

This is good down to about 40º.


Below that, I am not sure what my plan is yet. Insulated overshoes will block water from rushing into the toe of the boot. That means any moisture I feel is from sweat and water dripping down into my ankles, which thus means it'll be warmer than the air temperature.

This should (untested) be good down to 32º


Under that, you're dealing with snow. Here, you can actually just seal yourself up, since it'll likely brush off you or not stick at all. Rain gear should do the trick (always insulate!)



I will be tackling this fully this winter, so I would like to keep reading other's experiences. Has anyone donned a wetsuit-style getup successfully in midwinter? I know O'Niell and other companies make wetsuits for surfing in a sub-zero ocean, lined with merino wool. They cost a fortune...

The Pacific Northwest has four seasons:
Summer: July and August
Fall: September and October
Winter: November, December, January, February, and March
Disappointment: April, May, and June

that 6th month has been renamed 'Junuary' around here.

I have a pair of rubber galoshes that I use for riding in heavy rains in November when it's close to freezing... they are made for work boots so it's best to buy in person to get a good fit... they come halfway up the calf and with my long fenders I don't really get my legs too wet. I tend to wear wool dress slacks. I use bmx pedals to avoid slipping. They make galoshes for dress shoes as well but they only come up to the ankle. I also use a rain cape. I've certainly avoided being soaked in heavy rains but not everyone's riding style is suited to heavier gear choices like this. I ride slower in the rain anyway so I don't really mind.

I've just posted something similar in the 50+ forum...

Recently, I bought a lightweight polar fleece Quechua jacket in France. One on day it was cold (and I think raining), so I used a polypro long-sleeve as a base layer, and put the polar fleece over the top, then finished off with my GroundEffect rain jacket.

On the legs were an a pair of MEC rainpants, and a pair of Decathlon booties that come all the way up the calves like gaiters.

We rode some distance in the rain. At the end I pulled off the rain jacket and felt the outside of the polar fleece. It was quite wet. Yet my skin and the polypro underneath were dry. I remember finding this combination works extremely well on centuries and other rides in the past, but had forgotten.

The MEC pants are simply the best rainpants I have ever had. They do seem to breath quite well, and the zips up the sides have double ends on them, so I can open up the tops a bit if needed. The knees also are articulated so knee problems are minimised.

The booties also are very good. With the pants over the top of the "gaiter" extensions on the booties, there is no way water is going to trickle down into my shoes. Water does tend to seep under the booties from underneath, and on strenuous rides, sweat build-up soaks the shoes.

Essentially, this is as close to a perfect touring and general riding wet-weather kit I've ever had... polypro base, polar-fleece mid-layer, and the outer shells.

Oh, and the most effective head covering in rain still remains the venerable clear shower cap. My Ground Effect jacket has a very good hood on it (doesn't limit side vision like some can), and can be a secondary cover in really bad weather, but I opt for the shower cap because it allows ventilation around my head through the helmet.

Finally, hands... I've found repeatedly in the past that Thinsulate is excellent when dry or wet. Match that with waterproof mitts, and I'm good.

Having said all that, the volume and weight of good quality wet-weather protection can add up. Because I knew we would be meeting all sorts of bad weather on our current trip, I packed just about everything, with the only compromise being not to have thick, bulky Thinsulate gloves.

On shorter trips, it might be better to go with a reduced quantity and volume of gear, put up with the discomfort of being wet and cold for a short time, and just head for the nearest shelter (pub, cafe, awning, motel) until the bad weather passes.

A final note: I have a pair of Gaerne waterproof boots at home. If I knew I was going to be touring in consistently wet and cold weather, I would use those. I cannot stand wet feet -- I spent enough time working outdoors in wet weather to know how much energy they can sap out of me. So waterproof MTB boots would be a great choice in those conditions.

I go for something like this combo to stay dry and warm all year long.

http://sitemanager.rockyboots.com/ProductImages/rocky/enlarge/7367.jpg

+

http://www.unicycle.uk.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/d/odysseytwistedpedals2.jpg

Hello,

I went for a ~40 mile cycle ride yesterday in North Wales, and it was heavy rain for most of the way.
Anyone else got good tips to keep your feet dry in heavy rain?

Thanks,

Rob

Heavy rain means water running down your legs and spray up from the road. The only way you'll be dry is with rain pants and goretex or Sealskin socks where the pant cuffs go over the socks. Otherwise there's being warm and wet with any combo of wool and plastic bags.

Heavy rain means water running down your legs and spray up from the road. The only way you'll be dry is with rain pants and goretex or Sealskin socks where the pant cuffs go over the socks.

or in my case, rain pants combined with waterproof shoe covers where the rain pants go over the top of the rain booties.

I've got some gaitors/overshoes which have never failed. Decathlon. Can't see them on the website, but combined with a front mudguard and a poncho, I've stayed warm and dry (poncho I find good as it vents from the bottom - just make sure its got ties inside to stop it flapping about).