Originally Posted by
MichaelW
Nikwax treatments last about 3 months but the beading gradually reduces.
The clothing you are looking for is Paramo, their jackets are a bit warm but good for riding at moderate pace in temperate weather and higher pace in cool/cold conditions. I use mine from Nov-May. You really cant compare the breathability of Gortex to Paramo. I took my jacket on a big Northern Europe tour and ended up wearing it all through Norway in days of torrential rain. It dried inside the tent within 15 mins.
I wash my jacket every 3 months, retreat it once or twice a year and fix worn out zips/velcro every couple of years. After 10 years, it is still in good shape.
I checked the Páramo site and came up with this interesting info:
Páramo Directional Clothing Systems was set up by the founder and owner of Nikwax, Nick Brown.
He is still very much part of the day-to-day running of Páramo, continuing to contribute to new fabric developments in particulr.