Advice Needed Re: Waterproofs for Commuting

[Richard Brown]

Hi All, I hope you can help me with what to wear in the rain as my choice has failed miserably. I did a little video below to show how badly it went but in summary my waterproof jacket and waterproof over trousers didn't seem to work very well. In addition, my feet got soaking wet as did my gloves. My head got wet too but as I don't have any hair to worry about i'm not too fussed about that.

For those whose commute daily to work how do you deal with the wet? do you just get wet and change into a completetly seperate set of clothes at destination or have you found a solution that actually works?

I bought two Regatta products, the Regatta Men's Magnitude 4 Waterproof Jacket which is a lightweight waterproof overjacket and the Regatta Stormbreak OverTrousers thinking these would work but they didn't do particularly well. Any help or advice on how approach cycling in the rain is greatly appreciated.

 

[LeighPing]

These look quite effective and expedient.

https://www.vanmoof.com/en_gb/accessories?cat=17

 

[Deleted member 4366]

A normal poncho/cape is all you need. You can get cheap and expensive ones. I find that the Aldi one for about £10 is really good. Now I use a proper Chinese one that I bought in a Chinese supermarket for about £3. Just about everyone uses a poncho in China and they know a thing or two about cycling.

The poncho keeps your electrics dry as well as you.

The best ones go right over the handlebars without sleeves, but you have to think about lights for winter evenings/mornings. Some ponchos have a clear panel in the front so can go over the light. If your bike has a light over the front wheel, it shouldn't be a problem. You need to think about weather the back light will be covered too.

Aldi sell spats that cover your feet. Personally, I can never be bothered with the hassle of fitting such things. I'd rather put up with wet feet.

All these things can be bought from Ebay, where there's plenty of choice.

Don't waste your time with normal waterproofs. Even the breathable ones drown you from the inside when you sweat. None of then can cope with cycling. You need air-flow around you, which you get with a cape.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I have a breathable normal parka which works because being bald I don't need the hood, most heat is dissipated by the head and wear waterproof walking shoes. Usually I just let my jeans get wet unless it is really bucketing down when I put the waterproof pants on.

 

[KirstinS]

I cycle commute year round come what may ! Have done for 8 years now. So , my tuppence

First, do you need to Have work clothes on and stay dry ? That's my position as we have 500 people and 2 showers

A cape doesn't cut it for this. Spray everywhere. You need trousers and jacket. The trousers must be cycle specific. Forget anything else. They may be bullet proof but the seems, especially around the bum, will deteriorate fast and leak. Cycle specific are designed to cope. I like altura best to date ie lasted longest and very waterproof

Jackets don't HAVE to be cycle specific as badly......but still find that the seams are better designed against driving force of wind.

I like Gore and Planet X best so far. Check planet x regularly for deals.

I do disagree about the sweat drowning thing. That's a bad , cheap plastic mac. Waterproof but boil in bag. Decent goretex or equivalent doest do this. Especially in an ebike with assistance cranked up.

My message would be this isn't somewhere to skimp. Buy cheap and buy thrice.

I used regatta stuff in early days. I found hopeless

Also , I live on the coast. The cape I have from decathlon is like wearing a bloody kite on a windy day. Terrifying.

Best gear I have actually used till dead rather than binned are. Planet x 360 hydrosphere jacket (a round 100 but I got on discount for 40). Gore bike pathfinder jacket (160 but I price matched Evans for 83). Altura attack jacket and trousers. I wouldn't buy jacket again at 90 quid but trousers are the best I've bought by a mile. Also 90 ish.

And finally , there is rain and there is torrential monsoon. I have a spare Planet x jacket that only gets used in monsoon.

Why ? The other I use all the time as it protects from wind and dirt. But I find the allimportant water repellent chemical that makes the rain bead up and roll off simply deteruotes through use. In a true monsoon you need this really a lot! And despite claims all products and processes to rejuvenate this never achieve the same as the factory finish. I've tried everything over the years.

So get two planet x jackets (100 for two on a deal) and altura attack trousers 90

Not cheapest but this WIll keep you dry

I don't bother with shoes. I just keep my workshoes at work and a few spare socks in my locker

Also bald so wet head is fine

 

[ttxela]

I use a relatively cheap waterproof jacket that I put on in showers and have some waterproof trousers I got from Screwfix that I put on in heavier rain - admittedly this is slightly inconvenient as you have to strip to your underpants by the roadside but I haven't found any over-trousers that are comfortable.

We have to change shoes on arrival at work anyway, if the worst happens and my boots have got wet they go in the boiler house for the day. I keep a small bag with a change of clothes under my desk just in case as well.

We had a proper downpour a few weeks ago when the rain came down so hard I could barely see or breathe cycling into it, I got a bit damp but by no means properly wet. The bike fared well too and never missed a beat despite being subjected to the equivalent of a power shower for around 20 minutes!

 

[ttxela]

Incidentally I find putting the hood of the waterproof jacket over my cycling helmet works marvellously for the head, I stay dry but there is a nice airspace so I don't get a clammy bonce!

 

[KirstinS]

Oh I should add that distance is everything

For first 2 years I had a commute of 7 miles round trip. Cheapo stuff was fine.

Next 6years it's 15 minimum depending on route. Nothing cheap lasted for that much time of downpour

I guess that's why hydrostatic head tests are timed

 

[awol]

I know your not bothered about a wet head but on a freezing icey day one of these is great for keeping the cold wind/ice and rain off your head. Stopped me getting headaches on cold mornings.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crane-High-Visibility-Waterproof-Bike-Bicycle-Cycle-Helmet-Rain-Cover-BLACK-717-/271794311982?hash=item3f4834132e:g:CqsAAOSwNSxU9jj0

 

[anotherkiwi]

I don't bother with shoes. I just keep my workshoes at work and a few spare socks in my locker

Why do you Englishmen hate your feet so much? I remember the first time I saw an Englishman's feet without shoes and socks, would have been a great scene in a horror movie...

I know your not bothered about a wet head but on a freezing icey day one of these is great for keeping the cold wind/ice and rain off your head. Stopped me getting headaches on cold mornings.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crane-High-Visibility-Waterproof-Bike-Bicycle-Cycle-Helmet-Rain-Cover-BLACK-717-/271794311982?hash=item3f4834132e:g:CqsAAOSwNSxU9jj0

I said wet, not cold. We don't have much in the way of icy cold rain here it is either wet or cold rarely both at the same time. When it is cold I wear a pure wool dockers cap (no peak) and a microfibre tube neck warmer. The wool is naturally water resistant and when it eventually does get soaking wet it is at head temperature.

 

[KirstinS]

Why do you Englishmen hate your feet so much? I remember the first time I saw an Englishman's feet without shoes and socks, would have been a great scene in a horror movie...



I said wet, not cold. We don't have much in the way of icy cold rain here it is either wet or cold rarely both at the same time. When it is cold I wear a pure wool dockers cap (no peak) and a microfibre tube neck warmer. The wool is naturally water resistant and when it eventually does get soaking wet it is at head temperature.

A poor choice of words on my behalf.

What I mean is I don't try to.keep my feet dry. I wear socks and trainers. They get wet and I change into dry socks and shoes at work. I don't cycle in bare feet !!

 

[Trevormonty]

I use cheap raincoat and overtrousers with over shoe. 20minute in torrential rain and my clothes and shoes are damp but not sodden.
If looks like rain put your work clothes in waterproof panniers and wear cycling clothes and shoes.
Overshoes are definitely worth while, good when road is wet but rain has cleared. Damp shoes are easy to dry overnight, sodden ones take days.

Not tried them but Sealskin socks and gloves come highly recommended.

 

[anotherkiwi]

@Trevormonty You should grab some opossum and merino socks from my brother, that is what he makes and they a pretty good socks.

 

[cosybike]

Sealskins socks are useless! Too thick and bulky, They hold all the moisture and are a one hit wonder with lengthy drying time. Overshoes more effective for a cyclist.

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-850F using Tapatalk

 

[Richard Brown]

wow thank you everyone for you comments and feedback, really helpful and so much to think about. Am going through everything now and looking at options

 

[Richard Brown]

I cycle commute year round come what may ! Have done for 8 years now. So , my tuppence

First, do you need to Have work clothes on and stay dry ? That's my position as we have 500 people and 2 showers

A cape doesn't cut it for this. Spray everywhere. You need trousers and jacket. The trousers must be cycle specific. Forget anything else. They may be bullet proof but the seems, especially around the bum, will deteriorate fast and leak. Cycle specific are designed to cope. I like altura best to date ie lasted longest and very waterproof

Jackets don't HAVE to be cycle specific as badly......but still find that the seams are better designed against driving force of wind.

I like Gore and Planet X best so far. Check planet x regularly for deals.

I do disagree about the sweat drowning thing. That's a bad , cheap plastic mac. Waterproof but boil in bag. Decent goretex or equivalent doest do this. Especially in an ebike with assistance cranked up.

My message would be this isn't somewhere to skimp. Buy cheap and buy thrice.

I used regatta stuff in early days. I found hopeless

Also , I live on the coast. The cape I have from decathlon is like wearing a bloody kite on a windy day. Terrifying.

Best gear I have actually used till dead rather than binned are. Planet x 360 hydrosphere jacket (a round 100 but I got on discount for 40). Gore bike pathfinder jacket (160 but I price matched Evans for 83). Altura attack jacket and trousers. I wouldn't buy jacket again at 90 quid but trousers are the best I've bought by a mile. Also 90 ish.

And finally , there is rain and there is torrential monsoon. I have a spare Planet x jacket that only gets used in monsoon.

Why ? The other I use all the time as it protects from wind and dirt. But I find the allimportant water repellent chemical that makes the rain bead up and roll off simply deteruotes through use. In a true monsoon you need this really a lot! And despite claims all products and processes to rejuvenate this never achieve the same as the factory finish. I've tried everything over the years.

So get two planet x jackets (100 for two on a deal) and altura attack trousers 90

Not cheapest but this WIll keep you dry

I don't bother with shoes. I just keep my workshoes at work and a few spare socks in my locker

Also bald so wet head is fine

Thanks for all the info mate, really appreciate you taking the time to share you experiences. I have looked at the Planet X stuff now and they do indeed seem to have some deals.

With regards to having to wear work clothes well no I don't have to but it does save a lot of time not having to fully change at work (we have two showers and hundred of cyclists) and although we have dryers they are all pretty packed out most of the time so reducing my reliance on them is preferable.

 

[Richard Brown]

Thanks again everyone... I am still looking at all the options for an upgrade and your suggestions and advice have been really helpful .. I dont think the poncho idea will work for two reasons.. Firstly I think the wind catching it would be really worrying when navigating buses and busy trafficed streets. Secondly, I have noticed that despite my bike having really good mud guards when it rains there is a lot of standing water around (especially in the cycle lanes) and this always gets half way up my legs which ofcourse a poncho wouldn't help with. Plus I would look like even more of a wally than i already do

Finding approriate cycle gear is trickier than i thought because I am a big guy and most of the cycling gear that looks good just doesn't do my size (50 inch chest and 42 inch waist)... That is why i just went with over trousers and a large rain mack as i could easily get them in the right size... I think i will get a thicker and more substantial rain coat and see how i get on with that as I can ofcourse easily keep that for general use (non cycling) regardless so wont really be wasted money

 

[D C]

I use Trek Mates Cairngorm Gore-Tex Gaitors which with waterproof shoes/boots keep me dry below the knee.
https://www.tiso.com/tiso-trma-1132635/trek-mates-cairngorm-gtx-black-tiso-trma-1132635
Although fiddly to put on and maybe a bit overkill for the city they deal with spray coming up off the road and front tyre, also they stop your trousers being caught in the chainwheel.
Just make sure they are a generous fit, best to buy from a shop where you can try them on. There are lots of alternatives but best to get gore-tex.
Dave.