Best bike gear to invest in after the WW200

pprendeville

Anyone got these? BBB Water Flex Overshoes BWS03
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45050
Want to get a pair that are super warm, keep the rain out for as long as possible and also don't get ruined from walking in (when punctured and have to walk a bit - not planning on wearing when going out doing the shopping and stuff obviously:D).

Also definitely getting these socks on a recommendation form Manwithaplan:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=51316

Need to invest in a new lightweight wind/waterproof jacket. Any recommendations?

TinyExplosions

I have the overshoes, and they aren't bad, but what I tend to use is a nice pair of merino socks (Rapha in my case) under a pair of Sealskinz which keps me toasty warm and dry, and then any old overshoes to keep mud off.

Ryaner

I have http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9275 and have never gotten wet through them except perhaps from sweating feet. The front does then to get a hole near the bottom pretty quick, but they stay together surprisingly well with it.
They did require the sealskinz during the winter however but then I've cold feet normally.

ROK ON

IMHO, nothing would have helped on a day like yday.

Anyday where you are out for more than 3 hours in the rain you will get wet - very wet.
The key is to stay warm and accept the damp.
I use selaskinz socks. Once the got wet, my feet satyed warm.

Big mistake I made yday was I used a light baselayer, armwarmers and a raincape. I should have taken winter baselayer and winter training jersey.

Now the upshot was that I was so cold for part that I simply had to work hard to stay warm. Thats no bad thing in itself.
Forget dry. Warm in more important.

I have used 4 different types of overshoe with sealskinz sock. In torrential rain, they all eventually leave water in and become heavy on your feet.

kennyb3

Ryaner wrote: »

I have http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9275 and have never gotten wet through them except perhaps from sweating feet. The front does then to get a hole near the bottom pretty quick, but they stay together surprisingly well with it.
They did require the sealskinz during the winter however but then I've cold feet normally.

+1 have the same ones and never had wet feet.

If you are ever that worried, wrap clingfilm onto your shoes under the overshoes

bcmf

ROK ON is spot on. Staying dry in prolonged heavy rain and remaining comfy is near on impossible. They key is warmth.
Thing wet suit-neoprene. Wont keep you dry but will keep you warm.
I had the Endura overshoes and couldnt fault them.I moved to gore tex and only really used them in the snow but couldnt fault them either.

manwithaplan

I have these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-tarmac-npu-road-overshoes/

They keep the feet really warm and are very good at keeping the rain out but reached their limits on the latter score yesterday. I used them a fair bit over the winter and they're still in good nick.

cdaly_

bcmf wrote: »

ROK ON is spot on. Staying dry in prolonged heavy rain and remaining comfy is near on impossible. They key is warmth.
Thing wet suit-neoprene. Wont keep you dry but will keep you warm.

+1 on the neoprene. I had a pair over my well vented shoes on my epic 2hr30* snow-bound commute last December. Toes were toasty throughout...

*Normally about 35mins.

100Suns

For light rain jackets, you won't go far wrong with the dhb Event from wiggle. Great value. If you want to invest a little more the Showers Pass soft-shell is superb-event material as well. Showers Pass also do a racing jacket. It's very light, well vented and will keep you dry to a point.

seamus

Another vote for the Endura overshoes here. I've been wearing them over MTB shoes so mine get shredded pretty quick, but they always do the job. Likewise I had them on through the epicness of snow last December and I was dry enough but definitely warm all the way.

easygoing39

Ryaner wrote: »

I have http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9275 and have never gotten wet through them except perhaps from sweating feet. The front does then to get a hole near the bottom pretty quick, but they stay together surprisingly well with it.
They did require the sealskinz during the winter however but then I've cold feet normally.

I wore these with Sealskin socks on the ww200,but after 4 hours of non stop rain my feet eventually got soaked wet.However,my feet stayed warm and in my opinion,no cycle wear would keep your feet dry in the weather we all had to ride in on Sunday.

smacl

seamus wrote: »

Another vote for the Endura overshoes here. I've been wearing them over MTB shoes so mine get shredded pretty quick, but they always do the job. Likewise I had them on through the epicness of snow last December and I was dry enough but definitely warm all the way.

Also have the Endura overshoes over MTB shoes, but since buying them in January they're already in bits. Zip gone in one, and worn badly in places in the other. Also wearing sealskinz socks, but the whole lot was sodden after about three hours. Feet still warm though, which is the important bit, so the above are more niggles than complaints. Are other overshoes more robust, or are they just one of those items that don't last that long?

Very glad to have worn the sealskinz skull cap as well as thin gloves under fingerless gloves, though I could squeeze a steady flow of water from my hands in Donard by making a fist.

moby2101

Hi

I got this is a birthday present in January...


I wept when I saw the price of it...BUT next to my bike its my favourite piece of kit in the world!!

It is AWESOME....

trad

I once used a black plastic bag. Make a hole for the head and arms and climb in. Works a bit like a wet suit, you're warm but wet.

Kav0777

manwithaplan wrote: »

I have these:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-tarmac-npu-road-overshoes/

They keep the feet really warm and are very good at keeping the rain out but reached their limits on the latter score yesterday. I used them a fair bit over the winter and they're still in good nick.

+1 on these. I wore them yesterday, my feet eventually got wet, but i don't remember thinking, "I can't feel my toes", My hands however......

smacl

I had a DHB jacket, but no idea if it keeps the water out as I was already drenched by the time I put it on. Did keep the wind off and improve the temperature, warmer as opposed to actually warm. Also DHB arm and leg warmers, which helped a good bit, though one of the arm warmers kept slipping off towards the end of the day. I find the DHB stuff to be good quality for the price and pretty durable, no complaints so far.

Mr Velo

+1 on the Endura Neoprene Overshoe.
Have had mine for 2 years now - no holes etc....

Was out for a 55K cycle on Sunday morning in torrential rain - they eventually let water in probably at the bottom - but at no point did my toes feel cold as they keep the feet warm.

ryan_sherlock

Ryaner wrote: »

I have http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=9275 and have never gotten wet through them except perhaps from sweating feet. The front does then to get a hole near the bottom pretty quick, but they stay together surprisingly well with it.
They did require the sealskinz during the winter however but then I've cold feet normally.

I use those ones too (and the MTB version for off-road). I like them, cheap and cheerful.

I have a set of Assos ones I picked up cheap I like too. But the Endura ones should be more than enough.

petethedrummer

This is my favorite bit of rain proof kit at the moment.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-wickham-event-waterproof-gilet

Wouldn't have been much use on sunday but it fits in a jersey pocket and will keep normal summer showers at bay. Sizing is on the large size though.

I'm size 4 in Nalini and had to get a small to get a close fit. I have the jacket version of it in a medium. me = 5'11, chest 39", 12st7lbs.

pprendeville

Ignored all yer advice re Endura overshoes/Tarmac and went with the BBB Hardwear Overshoes BBB Hard Wear Overshoes BWS04



http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45051

Also got 2 pairs of Endura BaaBaa Meriono socks which Manwithaplan swears by.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=51316

Oldlegs

OK - so we now have the shoes and socks sorted.

What about the leg wear ? Saw a lot of people in bib shorts and while I reckoned they were freezing, my leg warmers were soaked so I was losing a hugh amount of heat (and energy) that way. (My Gore winter gloves were a lot of B*&6x also, and these were the dry pair I put on in Rathdrum)

{We will move to issue of merino base layers and winter tops later in the series
But I refuse to do another event like that in weather like that in the crap "winter/rain" gear that I have - also a great reason to justify a load of new gear}

manwithaplan

Only in Ireland (and maybe Patagonia) would you get a thread like this in June.

I can't claim credit for the merino socks - cdaly put me on to them.

Inquitus

Oldlegs wrote: »

What about the leg wear ? Saw a lot of people in bib shorts and while I reckoned they were freezing, my leg warmers were soaked so I was losing a huge amount of heat (and energy) that way.

I was in bib shorts, and to be honest I don't think I ever noticed my legs being excessively cold, the big freeze was all occurring above the waist!

kennyb3

Inquitus wrote: »

I was in bib shorts, and to be honest I don't think I ever noticed my legs being excessively cold, the big freeze was all occurring above the waist!

They say to keep your knees covered at below 15c to avoid injury

Inquitus

kennyb3 wrote: »

They say to keep your knees covered at below 15c to avoid injury

The only part of me that ached after the WW200 was my knees, my right knee was actually giving me alot of gyp from about 100km, I put this down to not having gone this far before and having a poor bike/cleat/pedal fit. I guess it could also be an impact of the cold then....

I am trying to get an appointment with Michelle@bikefittingireland.com, but she only has availability when I am on holidays and is due a baby thereafter, so am at the mercy of a cancellation. She generally gets very good reports on boards, anyone else out there who is equally as good?

Inq

smacl

Very difficult to know what to wear on a cold and miserable June day. I was surprised at how few covered legs there were, and found my arm and leg warmers beneficial. They get wet, which adds to your weight, but even wet they add warmth, and they also dry very very quickly. Being Ireland, having gear that you can add and remove quickly also makes sense, as overheating also quickly becomes an issue on a warmer day. They're also way cheaper than buying a specific new garment for specific conditions, but can develop the annoying habit of working loose when under a jacket and wont score any points with the fashion police.

smacl

Inquitus wrote: »

The only part of me that ached after the WW200 was my knees, my right knee was actually giving me alot of gyp from about 100km, I put this down to not having gone this far before and having a poor bike/cleat/pedal fit. I guess it could also be an impact of the cold then....

Slightly OT, but this happened to me a fair bit after my first 100-120k rides, and disappeared of its own accord shortly afterwards (3rd 100k+ ride). Came back in the cold weather earlier this year, was helped a lot by leg warmers, and again disappeared over time. Also helped hugely by changing my riding style to spin faster in lower gears, and avoiding pushing hard up hills in the middle ring. Still have to find a good middle ground here, as I found myself spinning faster and moving slower than pretty much everyone else going up SM. I don't stand up in the pedals at all. Minor niggles on Sunday at the ~150k mark, but nothing serious, and grand by the finish.

ROK ON

On cold wet days apply some good winter embrocation to your knees, thighs calves etc.

The stuff is waterproof and will help keep legs warm on a wet cold day.

pprendeville

Inquitus wrote: »

The only part of me that ached after the WW200 was my knees, my right knee was actually giving me alot of gyp from about 100km, I put this down to not having gone this far before and having a poor bike/cleat/pedal fit. I guess it could also be an impact of the cold then....

I am trying to get an appointment with Michelle@bikefittingireland.com, but she only has availability when I am on holidays and is due a baby thereafter, so am at the mercy of a cancellation. She generally gets very good reports on boards, anyone else out there who is equally as good?

Inq

Got a bike fit with Michelle and Aidan about a month ago and I highly recommend them. Go for the stunning house alone. They have the coolest bathroom you'll ever walk into to change.