How to keep the knees dry when riding in the rain?
08-10-17 | 07:04 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 11
From: Ottawa,ON,Canada
Bikes: Schwinn Miranda 1990, Giant TCX 2 2012
https://www.amazon.ca/Fleeced-Windpr...cm_cr-mr-title
08-11-17 | 06:51 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 48
I frequently ride w/ an umbrella and also experience wet knees. Riding w/ umbrella's is very common outside of the US. If light rain and jeans I usually just let them get wet as they'll dry fairly quickly when I get inside. If heavier rain or I'm wearing nicer pants or a suit then I'll use either a cape or thin rain pants. The cape works well on omafiets or bakfiets but will sometimes slide back behind my knees on an opafiets because of the top bar.
Some people use gaiters over their knees and that seems to work quite well.
Videos:
Posts:
Good overview: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2...ve-cycle-gear/
Numerous riding in the rain posts: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/tag/rain/
.
Some people use gaiters over their knees and that seems to work quite well.
Videos:
Posts:
Good overview: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2...ve-cycle-gear/
Numerous riding in the rain posts: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/tag/rain/
.
Last edited by CrankyOne; 08-11-17 at 08:42 AM.
08-11-17 | 12:30 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
I'm still a little incredulous at the OP's question. If you're only going a mile, why not just walk? Then the umbrella will be plenty for keeping your knees dry.
08-11-17 | 06:13 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 11
From: Ottawa,ON,Canada
Bikes: Schwinn Miranda 1990, Giant TCX 2 2012
11-14-18 | 12:48 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
vs.
20 walking, potentially carrying 40-50 pounds of stuff.
The on call stuff has switched to potentially biking out two miles. Year round. If the rain's right, my thighs start getting soaked and it gets old. Full rain pants is overkill, more to haul/put on/take off.
11-14-18 | 01:22 PM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
^--- information that might have been helpful 1.5 years ago when you first asked. 
How about getting some track pants? They snap on and off pretty quickly.
How about getting some track pants? They snap on and off pretty quickly.
11-14-18 | 01:48 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,472
Likes: 4,553
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
11-14-18 | 03:13 PM
#37
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,180
Likes: 6,418
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Bingo. Huge thanks. 
https://www.amazon.com/RAINLEGS-CL13.../dp/B001SEQRCW
I didn't think they looked worth it at first. They actually go on fairly easily. But then to ride, they do protect the knee from rain. Problem solved. It depends how much rain there is vs. the effort to find them and put them on, but if it's coming down, these will ekep the rain off and leave the back of the pant leg and seat uncovered so it's all breathable. I ended up with pretty dry pants and little sweating from these things. They work and go on better than what they look like just by themselves.
https://www.amazon.com/RAINLEGS-CL13.../dp/B001SEQRCW
I didn't think they looked worth it at first. They actually go on fairly easily. But then to ride, they do protect the knee from rain. Problem solved. It depends how much rain there is vs. the effort to find them and put them on, but if it's coming down, these will ekep the rain off and leave the back of the pant leg and seat uncovered so it's all breathable. I ended up with pretty dry pants and little sweating from these things. They work and go on better than what they look like just by themselves.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
11-14-18 | 09:18 PM
#40
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14,164
Likes: 5,292
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
11-14-18 | 11:59 PM
#41
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22,676
Likes: 2,642
From: CID
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
11-15-18 | 01:20 AM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 96
Likes: 5
Bikes: Tern D7e
I'm only riding about a mile for most trips. Holding an umbrella that long works. Coasting a lot and keeping as much under the umbrella as possible is good. But I have to pedal at some point. When I do my knees get wet.
I could do a change of clothes. That's still extra work though. A change of shoes, wearing boots, or rain pants over regular clothes also works.
But wouldn't it be easier to block the rain somehow?
Something like "rain chaps" might work, but it's weird and still quite wouldn't be what I'm thinking of.
Or an umbrella or something attached to the front of the bike, more like a windshield, that would cover the knees.
I saw videos of entire coverings from places in Europe, more like a clear sail that wraps over the entire rider, but that's too much.
Most of the time I know when it's going to rain, so quick adding something to my bike would work. I'm thinking either an attachment on the bike or some kind of clothing (without it looking too weird though).
Any ideas?
I could do a change of clothes. That's still extra work though. A change of shoes, wearing boots, or rain pants over regular clothes also works.
But wouldn't it be easier to block the rain somehow?
Something like "rain chaps" might work, but it's weird and still quite wouldn't be what I'm thinking of.
Or an umbrella or something attached to the front of the bike, more like a windshield, that would cover the knees.
I saw videos of entire coverings from places in Europe, more like a clear sail that wraps over the entire rider, but that's too much.
Most of the time I know when it's going to rain, so quick adding something to my bike would work. I'm thinking either an attachment on the bike or some kind of clothing (without it looking too weird though).
Any ideas?
