Poncho?
 

I got rained on a lot on my recent trip. Some days were so windy, only full rainsuits would have been reasonable, but when the rain was lighter, it seemed like a poncho and chaps as per the pre-gortex days would have been preferable. Anyone know where one can get them?

Another option would be to make my own. I've done that kind of thing before. Anyone know a source for super quality pack-cloth and rainsuit cloth? Used to be a lot of local camping stores sold that kind of stuff, but no more. Local fabric places sell stuff, but the quality I couldn't vouch for.

Anyone have the mother of all bicycle gear links?

I picked up my poncho at Canadian Tire for about $7.

I've hauled it around with me on most of my rides for the past 2 years, and have used it frequently. I wouldn't travel without it. It can be used on the bicycle in the lighter rain conditions, as you mentioned. I can slip into it when setting up camp in the rain, so that I don't get wet. I can wear it around camp when slogging back and forth to the toilets or picnic shelter, so that I don't get wet. When I take a day and go hiking, it is a valuable tool to bring along in situations where there is changeable mountain weather - it is smaller and lighter than a jacket, and will probably keep me drier. I've also used it as a ground sheet when I want to take a nap or sit on the side of the road.


You might check a camping/outdoor store like perhaps REI.

The CT stuff usually last me about 30 minutes. I had some cheap rain pants and shreded them in half a day. But at least with CT I can check the stuff out locally. Thanks!

I'm looking for a cycling poncho with thumb loops or simmilar. But I am not being too picky about it.

Bicycle Cape
I remembered seeing this poncho in my Campmor catalog.
It has leg and thumb loops.
http://store.yahoo.com/campmor/50258.html

I have the yellow cape from Campmor and the dark green Duxback one from Carradice. The Carradice one is much nicer, and I love the smell of that waxed cotton. I do wish it was a brighter color though, even though it has a stripe of 3M reflective stuff. Yes, I know Carradice makes a yellow one too, but it's different material, has no hood, one size only and doesn't offer as much coverage.

You should check out Josie Dew who finds her cape invaluable when she is caught short and needs to pee away from public view. Her books are well worth reading.

Thanks all. It's a "cape", not a poncho. I'm not sure I can live up to that!

Try this: http://www.raincoatlady.com/ccb.asp?...239300521vxxmd

Yes, I forgot about that! I have read one of her books. :)

Peterpan can't live up to a cape :D

I have the campmor cape and used it alot on my summer tour. It was great for those inevitable times when you get caught in the rain and have to keep on truckin'. kept me dry enough even in some pretty serious rain. my lower legs got wet, yeah but I had bags for my shoes, so I didnt mind. The thumb loops make it IMHO, and its nice having a big open dry space for the air to circulate beneath it when on your bike.. keeps you from getting clammy or whatever.. Perhaps a rain jacket and pants would be better for hiking or something (umbrella?) but for on a bike, the cape is tops! Its not the best in high winds, but for my situations it worked well. I guess sometimes youre just gonna get wet!

I imagine that if its raining hard enough to render this thing useless, then you probably dont want to be riding anyway.

fun, have.
~Steve

I've got a Carradice Pro rain cape:
http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bi...route-rain.jpg

there's a picture of a few others here

The rain capes really only work if you have fenders on the bike,
and booties on your shoes.

For highend fabrics, look up specialtyoutdoors.com and then click on "useful links", then click on "supplier source list". ALL kinds of outdoor fabric, webbing, etc.