soymateofeo

OK! I'm sure this has been beated about a million times but I resolve one problem and the next one becomes obvious. After my ride home today in some seriously ugly rain, my top was dry but my bottom half was soaked to the core and I was miserable. M I S E R A B L E ! I didn't care much about the cold but soaked, wet clothes and cycling just chap my hide! literally!

I was thinking of riding with my hi-tec waterproof hiking shoes and getting some cheap rain pants and cutting them off below the knee. But I'd like to know what you guys/gals do for your bottom half. I am in need of some guidance in a bad way!

I'm in Los Angeles so there's no snow or 15 degree weather. Rain and 45 at the lowest. and that's rare.

colleen c

I wear a polyester cotton pant which I treated with Nikwax TX direct wash in. I also use some Silicon polymer waterproof spray around the thigh area where it most likely get soak. I also sprayed my hiking shoe with the polymer spray but I also wear a 1.5mm neoprene sock just in case my shoes get soak. I bought some Seal Skinz socks but have yet to try those out. To help keep water dripping into the shoes, I wear some gaitors. If it is a heavy downpour, I wear my rain pants which I don't like wearing. So far this has work for me in my first season of wet weather commute where I usually just drive but not this year.

B. Carfree

When I was in Davis, one of the students in my lab started wearing a speedo to ride on rainy days. He would park his bike, pull a towel out of his bag, dry off, dress and be ready to go (we all kept work shoes in the lab). Warm rain is a real problem. No rain gear can be breathable enough to keep you from being a sweat-bomb unless you ride at a very controlled pace.

xtrajack

I like my Rain Mates, the actual construction quality is slightly underwhelming, however, they do keep me dry and warm in all but the most torrential downpours.
I also use them all winter long as a sort of wind pants. Because they don't cover my whole leg I don't over heat in them and they cut the wind nicely.

bclc4life

I use a variation of a rain cape. Here is a web site that describes it https://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/rain-capes.cfm

MichaelW

At that temp I would be OK with full rain pant and Sealskinz socks.
Some rainpants have velcro anti-flap ties. You really need pants over Sealskinz to guide dripping water outside the socks.

Ekdog

I wear Montane Atomic Trousers over my Sealskinz socks. Unlike the Showers Pass Storm Pants (apparently), the Montanes do not leak.

thefaceplace

Check out this post on commuting in the rain. Some good tips here: https://www.montaguebikes.com/folding...e-in-the-rain/

dobber38

I live in a warmer climate (central FL) and bike in my work clothes. If it is raining I put my work shorts in my backpack and put on a pair of swim trunks. I carry a rain parka but if it's warm enough I don't even bother with it. I just go shirtless. Obviously this strategy isn't feasible for northern climates.

zoltani

Hahaha, awesome. That's sounds like a plan for a hot humid climate. I'll have to try that on tour, though it might be different after hours and hours in the rain.

fietsbob

where i live, 3 layer WPB rain pants and a parka with wide reflective strips
in neon yellow,
also WPB fabric. Water resistant baseball cap under parka hood.

Ordered some llbean rubber bottom low boots for my self for Xmas,
have a couple different shoes now, dry one , and wear another .

mkeller234

I have a 10 dollar rain cape that works well to keep me dry. It covers and handle bars and keeps my hands and bottom half dry, even in heavy rain. Of course you need fenders for the cape to do it's job. My commute is very short so YMMV. Just type "monkey king rain cape" into google and you will find it.

Senexs

Will cape get caught in bike when there are winds, or is there movement restriction when pedaling?

mtalinm

RainLegs!!!! amazon has them. pick the size by your inseam, not waistline