Almost three months ago I added an internal belt to my DIY plastic-poncho rain cape (DIY Rain Cape 1.2) and I finally got to put it to the test as it rained, and rained hard on yesterday afternoon's ride home. It had rained before now, but not during commute times.

The belt is really two strings I tie across my waist, and It was a complete success!

My main goal was to eliminate the back billowing behind me, as that tends to obscure the view in my glasses mounted take-a-look mirror. It was tremendously windy for the first part of my ride, and the poncho-cape rippled in the wind, but stayed out of sight.

Cross winds were also a non-factor with this improvement, and the poncho-cape didn't catch the side wind as I feared it might, possibly due to the copious side vents. This is one of those ponchos with two snaps on each side. My idea was that this would provide better ventilation than a solid poncho/cape...and it does.


Also, when I turned a corner and the wind was behind me, the cape didn't ride up my back as it had a couple of times before.

Another unexpected benefit of the internal waist belt was standing and sitting. When the back was loose I sometimes sat on the tail when resuming sitting after a stop or a climb out of the saddle. But also sometimes the back of the cape rode up during the same. Yesterday, it just stayed put.

The one minor drawback, and I mean minor, was a slight sense of trapped warmness on my back, which could actually be beneficial when the temperatures are lower.

I don't see any need for any further development on the DIY rain-cape. If I lived in a wetter climate I would probably try a purpose-made rain cape, except, I wonder how the ventilation works compared to mine. Also, my cape cost under $20 bucks, and folds to half the size of a folded newspaper, so it takes up practically no space in my backpack.

I wanted to share my DIY rain cape as I know many bike commuters are on a budget, and/or rely on their bikes for primary transportation.

Excellent!

That works. I've been known to cinch my belt up around it (on the outside) for the same reasons. I once put velcro tabs on one, but too much trouble for a basically disposable poncho.

That would possibly work with a split poncho like mine...but it's the tent-like openess that allows for cooling ventilation.

Well that's clever! KUDOS! I especially like it's adaptability. If the poncho dies, no biggie! 30 minutes and one poncho later, BOOM! Girded!

Looks solid! Riding in the rain definitely loses it's appeal when you know you don't have a shower or change of clothes waiting for you on the other side..

Best cycling rain capes are conic, (cone shaped) not rectangular....

I realize that, I just repurposed what I had.