Oh, and here is the solution to wet-weather commuting:

http://www.go-one.de/ukindex.shtml

yours for only 9995 euros.

That's kinda cool. But I don't know if I want to drop 12 grand for a photon torpedo on wheels. I switched to contact lenses. Made a huge difference.

thanks for the tips everyone. i am going to make an appointment with my doctor for contacts. I just bought an 05 tdf Rabobank cycling cap :), and as for the umbrella tape/rainGothing, they just look dangerous (is it attached to that guy's neck?)

cheers

If there's no way you can change when you get to work, I'd forget riding in the rain. You're gonna get wet no matter what you do. A poncho is going to be blowing all over the place, and I haven't yet heard of a rainsuit that breathes enough to keep anyone completely dry underneath. Riding with a long dress in the rain is going to be a tough one.

Did anybody mention a cycling cap? You keep the rain out of your eyes while maintaining your old school roadie street cred.

Here's a picture from Graham Watson's site:

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs...lk/$file/3.jpg

It's actually not such a lame question...I was in Japan earlier this year and I saw a few bikes that had an aftermarket clamp on their handlebar (or stem?) that held an umbrella. Most Japanese bike commuters only go about 7-10 miles an hour and just hold their umbrellas, so this clamp actually seems like an interesting alternative.

Here's one from Taiwan (although different from the one I saw):

http://cgi.tw.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI....ayphotohosting

Interestingly enough the photo is of a Japanese product as the text on the package is Japanese!

I wear glasses too ... I just get used to it. You ride in the rain enough times, you learn to see through the water drops. And just don't think about how wet you are.

I think someone mentioned before (not sure if it was here) that they didn't mind so much if it starts raining AFTER they're at work already, or on their way home; that's pretty much the conclusion I've come to. I've never been one to squeal and run for the "safety" of my car the instant a drop of rain touched my skin; I think people who react like that are pretty silly. It's not boiling acid, it's WATER. Have some dignity! :rolleyes:

As long as I know I'm on my way to a dry home and fresh clothes, I'm fine with it. I just don't want to show up at work soaked! I guess I could always take clean clothes in a plastic bag in my rear basket if it looked like it might rain in the next 20 minutes or so. After all it's only going to be four miles - n even tho I'm a newbie I biked 12 miles yesterday :D My furthest distance so far. When I can do that round-trip I'll bike to my folks' house in another town (or my sister's, in yet another town, the same distance away) to say howdie :p


BTW... I dunno if someone else might have already thought of this, I'm probably repeating an old tip, but just thought I'd share... anyways, I've found that the 99c vinyl shower caps at Wal-Mart make EXCELLENT bike seat covers, if you bike is parked outside when it might rain or where it's humid ;) In any case it's a step up from the plastic bag :rolleyes:

I've used Gore-tex or similar products for 30 years. Yes they are waterproof AND breathable- just not at the same time!

When it's raining they are not very breathable in the best of cases and once they get wet not breathable at all.

When it's dry and windy then they are breathable and completely windproof. Humid environents might give different results than my California experience.

That said, I can definitely see where a waterproof rain jacket plus a windproof windshirt may weigh less than a combination garment.

when it really gets TOO wet:
Attachment 130957

Lets do the time warp again...

Does this count as a five year bump, or a six year bump?

Looking at a five-year-sleeping thread makes me a little dizzy.
Too danged cold to rain today in the Heartland.

When I was in China I saw these on many bikes:

http://www.made-in-china.com/image/4...lla-Holder.jpg

An umbrella can serve two purpose, one is, as you know, to keep the rain off; the other is in case your brakes fail just bring the umbrella to the rear and have it act as a drag chute.

These are outrageously expensive and I'm not sure they'd hold up, especially in wind. They also look rather strange.

Cycling caps also help keep the noggin a little warmer. I wear one under my helmet.

Gotta love those Paris-Roubaix cobblestones!

Nice thread bump.

My New Year's Day ride was in intermittent rain and low 50s (F) so the cycling cap was perfect under the helmet.

I did use an umbrella on my bike for a while in college and it worked well for short distance trips at slow speed (just going between classes on campus). The umbrella was fairly small and came with a C-clamp at the end of the handle which allowed it to be clamped to the handlebar. No idea of the brand or where it was sold. I found it after someone discarded it due to an easily fixed problem with the opening mechanism

Yeah, but the Go-One still looks like a photon torpedo on wheels:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_DdgtWvQjwRQ/Sf...new_go_one.jpg

In Portland, if the streetcar tracks don't getcha, the gators will:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/...223dd5bed8.jpg

Vespa and several other brands of "goggles Fit Over glasses",and you can search Amazon with that phrase and find them if you like, but if you insist, there is a company that makes a folding seat with umbrella and cane, and the clamp can be removed from the seat and placed on your handlebars rather simply. Nice umbrella, too, golf umbrella, wind proof/vented. Watch for "sail steering", okay?

It's easiest/cheapest to buy Military goggles with interchangeable lenses, smoked/yellow/clear, and they are designed to fit over most glasses. Amazon probably has those too, and you can have them in your hands on Tuesday.

Umbrella Holder
 

Here's some images of my rides with umbrella holders installed. These umbrella holders are installed
in Japanese commuter bicycles as optional accessory. Suitable for hot sunny conditions and light rains.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2462/...05f1808b8b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/...83c351bbca.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/...2aaf3588a2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/...afd3fb404d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/...702f6408c0.jpg

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26292

$7.38

You can be the first to tell us how it goes....

This may not be a good idea to post on a thread that is so dated with so little activity but I believe the technology exists that should make a bicycle umbrella a reasonable, feasible and functioning idea.

I been working on the Rainfish umbrella trying to accomodate a common two wheel bicycle. There is no reason the recumbents and cab bikes should be the big show stoppers that make everyone stop and stare when out riding! I've posted a couple of Youtube videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheRainfish
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220076http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220075

Because this design is still a prototype it is possible to still make broad changes to include in the functionality.

Let me know your thoughts.

How about these?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=220233

Those are pretty slick, is it a wind-up or battery opperated? I would guess SD Ca. gets that much rain.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67919528@N04/6182930267/