Wet gear

macadam

What do you guy's wear in this current weather and where to buy same.

Trying to keep warm and dry is next to impossible.

Lumen

Short sleeved jersey and gilet sorts out the top. Don't really notice water around the legs and arse.

The biggest problem I have is water getting in through the soles of my shoes. I'm using thin, stretchy Specialized overshoes.

Maybe I should attack around the cleat holes with silicone sealant?

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

Maybe I should attack around the cleat holes with silicone sealant?

I think you should. Proper woolly socks rock too.

ROK ON

Hi.

This is a difficult one for many cyclists, and I think that it comes down to (1) the type of cycling that you do and (2) Whether you value wartmth or dryness.

On my commute a wear a very good rain jacket (Altura Nevis) - very good for keeping rain out that is. However the downside of this is the jacket is not breathable, and thus I dont think that it is suitable for a long training spin, as its like cycling in a steam room - not very pleasant. However it would be fine for cycling in very cold rain.

Out on training spins I take one of 2 options (1) avoid cycling too much in the rain (yes I am a wimp) or two, wear a few tight fitting layers of lycra.
Accept that you will get wet, and thus try to stay warm. Hence tight fitting lycra over a warm base layer, all topped off by a breathable (water resisitant) gillet. Lycra doesnt absorb water. It is clothes that absorb water that can really make you cold and uncomfortable.
I find that it is important to keep knees covered (Leg warmers or ful length cycling tights), then keep your feet and hands warm and dry (as possible).
I wear waterproof Sealskinz socks under my cycling shoes, and wear Pro Racing Overshoes (H2O version). Finally wear a hat.
Base layer & cap keeps your torse and head wrm. Socks and overshoes will protect your feet from much of the rain.

I know that some folk have breathable rain jackets, but they are very expensive, and I am not sure do they work. I am sure people will comment here if they find them useful.

Hope that helps.
On my hands I wear Campag Windproof winter gloves. They are not waterproof, but they dont absorb water, thus hands stay warm..

crazydingo

macadam wrote: »

Trying to keep warm and dry is next to impossible.

I don't bother wearing wet-weather gear any more because when it's dry I sweat, when it's wet I sweat, it's futile putting on wet-weather gear because while it will keep the rain off it will heat me up more on the inside and so I will sweat more and get soaked anyway!

ROK ON

Lumen wrote: »

Don't really notice water around the legs and arse.

Lucky man. I absolutely hate it when the chamois in the cycling shorts become very wet. Makes it very uncomfy IMO.

Raam

Umbrellas

paddy's hill

use layers, get wet and then ride hard enough to stay warm. rain proof clothing is a disaster, you sweat so much you are wetter on the inside than you would be in the rain.

Raam

if you are in the hills and it's wet, it's always useful to have a windproof jacket or gilet so that you don't freeze on the descents. A baselayer made of wool is reputed to be very effective although I have not yet used one.

zzzzzzzz

Rain capes are good to put on to warm up after riding in the rain for a while.

If you cycle in the rain, you're gonna get wet - no two ways about it.

Raam

aidan.offbeat wrote: »

If you cycle in the rain, you're gonna get wet - no two ways about it.

Totally. I got soaked this morning within about 10 minutes of leaving the house. When the rain stopped a half hour later I was dry in about 20 as the sun was out. Lycra really does dry quickly given the chance.

petethedrummer

I wear a dhb eVent jacket, sealskinz socks and just bought these SKS race blades to combat wet ar5e. I'm toying with the idea of getting water proof shorts or 3/4 lengths but I'll see how the race blades work out first.

Thats for commuting. As for training in the wet, maybe the warm but wet option is better.

Ryaner

I've a gore-tex pack-lite rain jacket for the rain. Biggest problem is that it causes me to sweat too much but it is about as thin and light as you can get. Prob do for most people who aren't as fat as me since I wear http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9344 and will be warm down to around 5C.

macadam

The legs an rear seem to be the worst when its wet , along the east coast this week no matter what direction you went you were riding into the wind and it was cold.

Was thinking of getting a pair of bib tights any one recommendsome that keep you warm and dry ish.

Where is the summer , longest day only 4 weeks away.

The tax man

Only got a set of those race blades on Thursday. Stuck one on the rear and hit the mountains. Roads ranged from light wet to soaked and I came home with a nice dry backside. Never fitted the front guard so can't comment on that.

One of these kept the wind and rain out. Great top that came highly recommended from a few other Boardies.

TinyExplosions

For me, it's mostly layering. I wear a merino baselayer (my preference is Rapha), a short sleeved jersey, and my Boards training jacket. If it's very cold or windy (like today) I'll wear arm warmers too.

Down bottom it's bib shorts in pretty much all weathers (possibly using embrocation if it's chilly), and footwear is an interesting one. I've found that in the rain, no matter what happens, your feet will get wet, so I wear merino socks, possibly sealskinz, and then overshoes.

Full finger gloves, a hat, and a buff are also useful!

short circuit

Reading everyone's response it looks like wet shoes are not just my problem ...

But mine always dry out leaving behind a stink ... does anyone else face this problem ... if so, how do you get rid of the odour.

I dry mine over the room heater ... I've also taken to spraying Febreeze inside the shoes before drying them as this seems to minimize odour damage.

Any tips on how to avoid this in the first place

t0mm

Does anyone have any experience with one of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34736 any good for a short commute or just cycling around town to the shops, etc?

Lumen

t0mm wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience with one of these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34736 any good for a short commute or just cycling around town to the shops, etc?

It's a winter jacket. Since it's now May, I'd get a thinner showerproof shell instead.

The only problem with thin shells (like this one that I have) is that they rustle loudly on fast descents.

scottreynolds

You ned to keep you feet and hands warm. Seal Skinz socks are awesome I bought some a few weeks ago and rode two longs rides with them no problem. They aren't the most comfortable but they work.

Get some warm gloves, descente seem to make some good wool liners

I also bought a gore-tex cycling jacket http://www.tgstore.net/oxygen-jacket-p-1647.html and it was awesome. I find that people wear too much under the jacket which is why people sweat so much. You need to remember that any rain coat will be less breathable so if your going to wear it all the time make sure that you compensate underneath. I wore my jacket for about 12 hours last week in the rain hail etc with no problems .. I was bone dry on the inside. I did however cool down when I stopped s I was only wearing a heavy base layer and ss jersey on top. When cycling I was warm and toasty but when I stopped I got cold -- thankfully I don't stop to much.

Raam

short circuit wrote: »

Reading everyone's response it looks like wet shoes are not just my problem ...

But mine always dry out leaving behind a stink ... does anyone else face this problem ... if so, how do you get rid of the odour.

I dry mine over the room heater ... I've also taken to spraying Febreeze inside the shoes before drying them as this seems to minimize odour damage.

Any tips on how to avoid this in the first place

I stuff a load of newspaper in and change it after 30 minutes with fresh paper. This draws all the water out. As for the smell? I never smell my shoes.

Raam

scottreynolds wrote: »

You ned to keep you feet and hands warm. Seal Skinz socks are awesome I bought some a few weeks ago and rode two longs rides with them no problem. They aren't the most comfortable but they work.

Get some warm gloves, descente seem to make some good wool liners

I also bought a gore-tex cycling jacket http://www.tgstore.net/oxygen-jacket-p-1647.html and it was awesome. I find that people wear too much under the jacket which is why people sweat so much. You need to remember that any rain coat will be less breathable so if your going to wear it all the time make sure that you compensate underneath. I wore my jacket for about 12 hours last week in the rain hail etc with no problems .. I was bone dry on the inside. I did however cool down when I stopped s I was only wearing a heavy base layer and ss jersey on top. When cycling I was warm and toasty but when I stopped I got cold -- thankfully I don't stop to much.

Where did you get your jacket? Have toyed with the idea of getting one of those goretex jackets a few times.

scottreynolds

Raam wrote: »

Where did you get your jacket? Have toyed with the idea of getting one of those goretex jackets a few times.

Dave Kane in Belfast. Have a look in cycleways they have them as well. Sizing it a bit small as they are classified as race cut. I bought in belfast only cause they didn't have my size any where else and needed it before the tour.

Húrin

If I'm commuting on a rainy day I just wear an ordinary rain coat and rain trousers that go on over my jeans. Nothing specialised at all. I would wear some hat like a cycling cap on my head, or a woolly hat if it's cold. This doesn't make me perfecty dry but it's a lot better than nothing.

I don't go out on leisure/training spins on rainy days.

Home:Ballyhoura

Got any recommendations for some good winter gloves? I had my standard summer gloves with a BBB full finger liner and I froze my fingers off for the whole 3.5hr training spin today! Willing to spend around €30+/- a bit if necessary to get a really good one, as I hate wet hands (and feet, another problem of mine but we'll leave that for another day. Actually, I use BBB waterfex atm any recommendations?). I was looking at the PRO (by Shimano) on CRC, X-Pert and Gel Team, as well as maybe the Endura Deluge, Northwave Arctic and a bit more expensive Santini ones. (NOTE: I heard SealSkinz gloves get crap reviews everywhere due to poor breathability so probably won't be going for those!)

Warmth is my main need, I don't mind being wet as long as I'm warm. So that probably means windproof followed by waterproof. Temperature range will probably be between 0-8 degrees if that helps! Good grip is a bonus, but my main concern is them being too bulky! Something neat as not to compromise functionality and handling! All recomendations welcome, so thanks in advance. I genuinely really appreciate it.

Lumen

Home:Ballyhoura, I have been using the Endura Deluge gloves for the last couple of weeks.

They're nicely made, comfortable and warm, but they are not completely waterproof.

However, the best way to keep your extremities warm is to wrap up your torso.

The occasional bit of windmilling with the arms helps the blood flow, but can be tricky in a group. :pac:

lescol

As a Reynauds sufferer, I like my gloves, am using Pearl Izumi Cyclone in current conditions, but for the biting cold days I use BBB Winterstop. As long as the wind doesn't penetrate then I don't mind being wet.

Deisetrek

petethedrummer wrote: »

I wear a dhb eVent jacket, sealskinz socks and just bought these SKS race blades to combat wet ar5e. I'm toying with the idea of getting water proof shorts or 3/4 lengths but I'll see how the race blades work out first.

Thats for commuting. As for training in the wet, maybe the warm but wet option is better.

I was out this morning in heavy rain with my brand new Sealskinz "waterproof" socks ..........yeah right soaking wet when I got home , very disappointed in 'em after paying good money to CRC for them last week . First real test and they were a failure

Nietzschean

Deisetrek wrote: »

I was out this morning in heavy rain with my brand new Sealskinz "waterproof" socks ..........yeah right soaking wet when I got home , very disappointed in 'em after paying good money to CRC for them last week . First real test and they were a failure

i have those, used em alot now, they work, but water tends to run down your leg into the top of the sock, so eventually they do get filled with water, i wear normal socks inside them, between the 2 i end up with warm slightly wet feet.... find them pretty good

Harrybelafonte

Trying to keep shoes warm is my only prob. Wear skate shoes and they fill with water in 5mins of heavy rain. Water coming from wheels, crank, down legs etc. Have ordered leggings from CRC. I wear shorts all the time and generally don't feel the cold and wet too much, nut have noticed my knees and legs burning bright red by the time I get to work so figured I should play it safe with the leggings. I'm sure the water will still run down into my shoes though

macadam

I recently bought the santini ones and they are top class, worth the extra €€€

72hundred

Anyone got a suggestion for waterproof tights? Usually I just make sure I'm warm on the bike but recently my workplace moves around a lot and I've usually not got the facilities to dry the tights at work after getting drenched on the way in... so hence crappy, wet and cold tights at the end of the day ain't nice!

EDIT: These could do the job - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=37382 ??