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My hills are steep enough that I can't ride slowly enough to not sweat, until it's below freezing when I don't need a rain jacket. I sweated in my J&G bike poncho, too. I, too, have and like their jacket but I added some more reflective material to the back.
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I like the idea of NOT buying a Chinese made product and the only two I have seen are J&G and Taiga. Taiga is made in Canada and seems to be really nice. Anyone know anything about them? Thanks. Great help. Looking forward to riding in all conditions.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q5jd...eature=related in the snow
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0mSV...eature=related in the rain |
Full coverage fenders and a mudflap in front will do the most to keep your feet dry. Get some steel, alloy, or metal core fenders like SKS p-series and DIY a mudflap.
Once you're shielded from the gross road spray if you do get wet you'll at least stay clean. I don't bother with shoe covers. I just keep shoes at work. Even on the rainiest days in Seattle that's usually enough. Jackets are a personal preference thing. I have an older Swrve Milwaukee Hoodie in softshell. Typically for winter I'll layer that over a wool Pendleton shirt and a t-shirt. For me this works great over a huge range of temperatures. Like 60's to below freezing. Cycling cap under the helmet for cooler rainy days. Wool cycling cap with earflaps under the helmet as it gets closer to freezing. The bill is great for keeping rain/hail/frogs/locusts out of the eyes. |
there are bike commuters and then there are bike commuters who do not own cars.
since i have bike clothes/shoes and work clothes/shoes i really don't pay much attention to wet weather. if i get wet...*shrugs*. in the winter i layer up and make use of my own inherent heat generation ability (muscles). i also gotta say that i really don't get this new fixation with wool. wool feels like sand paper, stinks like dead sheep when wet, and is the opposite of sustainable. |
Originally Posted by trx1
(Post 14900196)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q5jd...eature=related in the snow
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0mSV...eature=related in the rain the downside to fetishizing "normal" clothing is that bike traffic in CPH drops 40% when its raining. just sayin' |
The best shield against bad weather is your attitude.
There is no miracle piece of clothing, and sometimes high prices come with high expectations. |
Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 14900991)
wool...is the opposite of sustainable.
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This is me exactly!
Originally Posted by tarwheel
(Post 13882966)
In my experience, cold rain is actually easier to dress for than warm rain. I've got a Craft rain jacket that is fantastic in temperatures below 50 F, but it gets too hot once the temps approach 60. So I have a much lighter weight Castelli jacket that I use for warmer rainy days. It is also very small, light-weight and packable so it fits in my seatbag without taking up much space.
I don't mind riding in light rain, or riding on days when the forecast is iffy -- that is, it might rain. However, if it's raining hard or steady, I'm gonna drive most of the time. The exception is during periods when I've missed a lot of rides due to weather or other factors and I just want to get some miles in. Otherwise, I dislike riding in the rain. I hate not being able to see due to my glasses getting all spotted up and foggy. More that anything, I hate having to clean my bike later. It's not worth having to spend 30 minutes cleaning my wheels just to ride in the rain. Most of my rain rides come on days when afternoon thunderstorms pop up, or the forecast called for a 30% chance of rain and it became 100%, or unexpected showers develop. If it's raining in the morning, I will usually drive that day unless it's a light rain and expected to clear during the day. |
Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 14900991)
there are bike commuters and then there are bike commuters who do not own cars.
since i have bike clothes/shoes and work clothes/shoes i really don't pay much attention to wet weather. if i get wet...*shrugs*. in the winter i layer up and make use of my own inherent heat generation ability (muscles). i also gotta say that i really don't get this new fixation with wool. wool feels like sand paper, stinks like dead sheep when wet, and is the opposite of sustainable. I grew up in Tennessee, wore wool 3 seasons of the year. Good stuff - I'd rather wear wool than the synthetics almost any time but summer. To each his own. |
h_curtis, how much money do you feel comfortable spending on the rain gear?
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Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 14900991)
there are bike commuters and then there are bike commuters who do not own cars.
since i have bike clothes/shoes and work clothes/shoes i really don't pay much attention to wet weather. if i get wet...*shrugs*. in the winter i layer up and make use of my own inherent heat generation ability (muscles). i also gotta say that i really don't get this new fixation with wool. wool feels like sand paper, stinks like dead sheep when wet, and is the opposite of sustainable. |
Originally Posted by voj112
(Post 14901691)
h_curtis, how much money do you feel comfortable spending on the rain gear?
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Originally Posted by spare_wheel
(Post 14900991)
there are bike commuters and then there are bike commuters who do not own cars.
since i have bike clothes/shoes and work clothes/shoes i really don't pay much attention to wet weather. if i get wet...*shrugs*. in the winter i layer up and make use of my own inherent heat generation ability (muscles). i also gotta say that i really don't get this new fixation with wool. wool feels like sand paper, stinks like dead sheep when wet, and is the opposite of sustainable. |
Please elaborate 1. methane production 2. water use 3. insecticide use 4. animal cruelty most wool comes from concentrated animal feed operations where sheep are fed drugs and antibiotics that enhance wool production. in these operations sheep are also repeatedly washed with insecticides and harsh chemicals. and then there is the heart-wrenching cruelty of merino wool production: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-u...-industry.aspx |
I think I am going with the J&G. It is made in the USA and I am really tired of everything I buy being made all the way in china. I have certainly never read anything negative. No idea why so many cyclists live for chinese stuff? It just seems to be against what we do in a way. At least Oregon is in our country and doesn't need a ship to travel thousands of miles to bring our stuff here. Goodness!
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Get their shoe covers and rain pants while you're at it. The J&G website sucks in terms of unbiased reviews, seeing as they only post positive testimonials, so it's not surprising you didn't see anything negative.
Take a look at the tags on your work jeans and t-shirt, shoes, socks, bike components, anything, and it's probably been made in China or some other country with filled with cheap labor. I would prefer if stuff was made where I live, as it would make my home a better place, but we need to make way for profit... |
The weather has never stopped me, at least not yet. It's delayed me. I've ducked under overpasses more than once due to lightning and I've taken longer routes due to flooding. I'd wait out a tornado too... same for tsunamis, volcanoes and earthquakes.
I've talked to people who won't exercise unless it's practically ideal weather. I don't get it. I'd like to be healthy no matter what is going on around me. |
Presently I don't have anywhere to store rain gear at work so I only ride if it is dry or light drizzle. Riding home in pouring rain is no problem but I can't get to work soaked.
Early next year we will have our new facility complete with showers, lockers and covered bike parking! Then it's ride rain or shine! |
Originally Posted by voj112
(Post 14909273)
Get their shoe covers and rain pants while you're at it. The J&G website sucks in terms of unbiased reviews, seeing as they only post positive testimonials, so it's not surprising you didn't see anything negative.
Take a look at the tags on your work jeans and t-shirt, shoes, socks, bike components, anything, and it's probably been made in China or some other country with filled with cheap labor. I would prefer if stuff was made where I live, as it would make my home a better place, but we need to make way for profit... |
I've got a rain suit I bought from Meijer this season (I just started commuting again this August after 3 years of living 50 miles away from work). In 10 rides, I don't have a problem yet. IT does appear to be wearing a bit thin in the thighs, but I've got thunderthighs and would probably be tough on anything. Cold weather is no problem. I layer and wear gloves and hats that are either layerable or can be matched to the weather. When it really cold, wear a headband and a beanie. ONce you warm up, take off the beanie. You'll stay cool, but keep your ears warm. It's a matter of course that if there is enough clearance, all of my bikes are rocking fenders.
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