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?

This morning I wore a LL Bean waterproof jacket and REI rain pants, 4 miles in steady rain. My clothes were dry when I arrived at work.

Fenders and appropriate rain gear as mentioned by Gresp15c might possibly keep you dry.

Rain legs, rain pants, or a poncho should do the trick.

Chaps work great for keeping your knees dry. If that doesn't fit your vision, options are limited.
Kneepads?
Some sort of fairing?

An appropriate pair of rain pants is about all I've found to work reliably. With anything else, it's less reliable. Wouldn't consider holding something (like an umbrella/cover type thing). I've seen folks with cycling ponchos on, but I've never done one of those. Looks like they'd work very well for lighter rain, where you don't want to dress up with "proper" rain gear.

Knee umbrellas.

sorry,

I'll leave now.

Ditto.

those cycling specific rain capes look good but +1 for fenders as well

Novara Stratos rain pants:

When someone talks about holding an umbrella and coasting most of a mile on a bicycle, I start to wonder if it is a troll thread. I wonder if there is any advice I can offer to such a person. I wonder if there is any advice anyone can offer such a person...

See my posts about bike rain capes..

rain legs, best choice *especially* since you have a short ride. No brainer.

Rainlegs innovative Raintrousers- Buy online

J.

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.

Glad you like them. I really like mine. I also use them for skiing in the rain. They really help for that too.

J.

I usually use a rain jacket and rain pants.

However, our local CO-OP makes (or used to make) rain capes. Perhaps other sources too.

Waxed Canvas Rain Capes ? Center for Appropriate Transport


Someone pointed out earlier, you need fenders for the capes to be effective. But, otherwise they should be reasonably good for short trips on a generally upright bike.

For 1 mile? Just ride a little faster and you'll be back inside in a few minutes. Sheesh.

Fenders and rain capes are the best solution I have found for riding in the rain.

Marc

Won't keep your knees completely dry, but if you ride decently fast, it will keep them a lot drier. You'll go faster also. Put Zzipper fairing on your bike. Those clear plastic bubbles that fit on the brake levers from the '70s and '80s. That and full fenders with a deep flap for the front fender go a long ways toward cmfort in the rain. I used to do a 15 mile commute in Seattle riding south against the winter storms. What a difference!

And a fun anecdote - I rode up Oakland's Joaquin Miller to Skyline in a winter rain, stopped at the top to dry my glasses and kept my head low; above the fairing but below the slipsteam "bubble" for the descent and arrived at the bottom with still dry glasses.

Ben

Trek Mate rain wear....

How about this? Beside front wind resistance, crosswind or rear wind could be an issue though.

The back looks like a big wedgy lol.

In my experience anything waterproof causes me to sweat. So the question is how wet from sweating? How wet from the rain?

I just try to wear clothing that won't chafe or rub me raw and get wet. Change when I get there if possible. Of course I live in Phoenix.

Does anyone have any experience with the fairing [MENTION=458309]SylvainG[/MENTION] posted? It could be great, and it could be horrible.

No but from messing with fairings I'm pretty confident that that one would keep you dry in light rain, is pretty horrible aerodynamically, wind will have an impact on handling, and in heavier rain you'd likely get wet and your feet will still get soaked.

Yup, that's what I imagine to be the case. But that knee cape looks like it could be worthwhile. Wet knees when wearing long pants is one of the more irritating things to get wet while riding in the rain.