Rain suit for bike commuting recommendations
 

Greetings,

Any recommendations for a rain suit suitable for bike commuting in the rain.

I tried a Rock Brothers and the jacket fit OK, but the pants were too tight around the legs. I also would like to be able to pull the rain pants on over shoes, which was difficult with the Rock brothers suit

I would be wearing the rain suit over business casual attire, and a lightweight jacket.

The length of commute on my flat bar commuter bike is fairly short, 1.5 to cal train - 1.5 to office, and reverse on the ride home.

Any advice/recommendations most appreciated.

I recommend a LL Bean hooded Gortex raincoat, paired with Gortex pants and Neos overshoes.

If it's just a couple of miles you can probably get away with regular urban cycling apparel that have a water repellent finish like the Levi's commuter series or swrve wwr. I have a pair of swrve lightweight wwr trousers that are water repelling and nice enough that I can wear in the office. If riding for extended periods in the rain, though, they will become saturated.

A rain cape will keep you cooler. You could still add rain pants.

I have a Showers Pass jacket (https://www.showerspass.com/collecti...nt=27454433477) and a pair of North Face waterproof "shell" pants. I've been in some torrential rains and stayed dry with these. I also wear business casual under them.
I'm particularly fond of the jacket. I've had a few over the years, and this one is the most well-constructed. I also like the color ("Firecracker Red"). I'd recommend that whatever jacket you get have a hood that's thin enough to fit under a helmet. This one does. I also have an O2 "Calhoun" jacket I bought a few years ago (Calhoun Jacket (hi-viz yellow) | O2 Rainwear). It's very nicely made and visible, but does not have a hood. This is OK in the summer when if your neck gets wet and it's warm you may not mind. During the winter I don't want a drop to hit my neck!
Steve

Greetings

Thanks so much to everyone. All of you provided some great ideas and resources. Take care, and stay dry...

I agree and mine has lasted 10 years.

Also, of note, I usually just dry my clothes out with the blow dryers in the bathroom would they get wet. Not really a problem with a short commute (10mins each way.)

i use an ikea poncho. it isnt perfect but it keeps me reasonably dry for under 10.00

I am also a fan of the Ikea poncho. I haven't had the chance yet to try the idea somebody on BF gave me, to improvise thumb loops by snugging rubber bands or ponytail-bands around a coin pocketed in a fold.

Also, for other rain gear, I would look to Frogg Toggs, or other motorcycle gear. Should be rugged, and lower priced since a larger market with more competition drives down prices a lot lower than boutique bicycle-specific stuff.

I like this for my socks when they get wet. I wring 'em out and put them on the blower nozzle. :thumb:
Steve

First off, your top and bottom doesn't have to match - brand, color, etc. I'm using an Illuminite jacket.
With a Novarra Stratos pants. Pants have zippers to make them go over boots/shoes easily.

Bicycling wears out rain pants quickly, the fabrics don't last long being sat on, and pedaling.
coating peel off , and laminated 3 layers de laminate and seam tapes come loose.

great idea! i'll have to try that.

A few comments:

There’s another active thread about fenders. IMHO, they’re essential.

Second, specific to your query about a rain suit, if you ride a bike in the rain, you’re going to get wet. Your choice: rain or sweat. My experience with breathable fabrics like Gore-Tex®: they work for me if I’m standing motionless. My physiology: I sweat more abundantly than breathable fabrics seem to be able to handle. That’s me; YMMV.

I’d second recommending a cycling poncho, but a cycling poncho is useless unless your bike has fenders. A cycling poncho (as compared to a generic poncho) includes straps attached to the leading edge of the poncho that loop around your wrists: essential to keep the poncho where it belongs. Downside to a cycling poncho: it’s a sail. If you’re pedaling into a headwind, you won’t go anywhere fast, and a crosswind presents a new set of risks.

This is a thread about commuting. Drawing from my touring experience, cycling in rain for more than a few minutes and / or more than a few miles means I’m going to get wet. That said, in relatively calm air and for relatively brief commutes, fenders and a cycling poncho work for me.

I wore out a couple pairs of Red Ledge rain pants after about one year each. The inner coating would wear out in the crotch area where there's friction with the saddle nose... then I would look like I'd wet my pants. :o
I've got about 3 years on the North Face ("HyVent 2.5L") pants with no wear on the linings. See the attached image of the <ahem> area in question; there's a little bit of the sealing tape starting to peel off, but that's it. I only wear these in the rain in the warm months, but any day the temp is below freezing during the winter. These were not inexpensive, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for! :D
Steve

Now a rain cape does it for me.. the pants ? having mudguards matters more..

but the OP has a dress code to meet. going into that city he has to be paid well to keep going.

frogg toggs

Gore tex paclite or Marmot preclip would be my suggestions. Either are on ebay for good prices.

I bought my Grunden's Nordan cycle rain cape from Riv bike 5/2011, they just sold their last one ,

perhaps because people have not bought them fast enough , it took 7 years to sell through the first batch,
they will not be re ordered for another production run.. perceiving demand weakness..

so the best cycle rain cape made, is no longer available..


every thing else, is temporary ,, all those high tech light weight fabrics sewn goods by from Showers Pass and the others have a brief lifespan..




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