Originally Posted by
Leinster
In Berkeley weather, might I suggest stuffing your pants in a plastic bag in a backpack and wearing shorts for the duration of the ride? Maybe stepping up to light jogging tights/pants/leg warmers in the depths of January/February cold? Unless you’re riding in the dead of night, 5 miles to the gym in NorCal conditions shouldn’t require any bank-breaking top-of-the-line REI gear designed for a 3-week bike packing trip in the Cascades.
Yeah, I've had an REI gift card for must be over 10 years that I'm still working on (birthday present). I go in there once in a while, seldom buy anything. Most of what they sell isn't in my wheel house or is too expensive, I'll find cheaper elsewhere, although maybe not as high quality. In Berkeley I'm very unlikely to be riding in the rain in temperatures below 45 F.