Ideal wet gear for commute to work

Dave Van Ronk

I cycle 6km to work every day but my wet gear feels really inadequate on windy & wet days as it flaps around, and my runners soak up the water.

Can cyclists post photos of their chosen gear & suggestions for the wet & windy days?
Thanks in advance.

Alanstrainor

Wet gear, no matter how good, never seems to keep me completely dry. I would rather have a decent jacket, and a complete change of clothes/shoes for work. Whether in my bag or left in the office.

Dave Van Ronk

Ive seen overshoes in Aldi & ive seen people cycling in Diving boots on wet days. Good ideas?

Raam

Forget wet gear. Wear lycra, change when you get to your office. Hope that your kit is dry by home time. Overshoes and a light raincoat for the really damp days, otherwise just something a bit water resistant. 6km is a short commute.

aFlabbyPanda

I've an altura night vision jacket which always keeps my dry, the overshoes do a goodish job depending on how heavy the rain is but I've switched to sealskinz socks instead so that my feet are dry even if the shoes aren't. I don't really care about my legs as I just wear the bib shorts and keep a spare pair in work in case I get soaked on the way in. I've an altura roll top pannier bag which I put everything else in which has proven waterproof so far.

Darkglasses

I always wore non-breathable, waterproof wet gear and found it grand for my 7km work commute. I think I don't sweat very much though.

I wore this jacket, these overtrousers, these overshoes, and these gloves.

Was pretty much completely waterproof wearing that, typically just wore shorts and a soccer jersey underneath. It was pretty much perfect for me, but if you work hard at all on your commute you'd probably over-heat wearing that.

nak

I wear a rain jacket (Rapha) and waterproof trousers from Millets over shorts and a baselayer as can hang them up to dry on the coat stand at work. Endura Equipe neoprene overshoes, normal gloves and a water resistant cycling cap, bag is waterproof. Shower and change at work.

Wishbone Ash

Dave Van Ronk wrote: »

I cycle 6km to work every day but my wet gear feels really inadequate on windy & wet days as it flaps around, and my runners soak up the water.

I'm not trying to be smart but why bother with wet gear on a 6km commute. It's not worth it for what would probably be no more than 15 minutes on the bike - not enough time for coldness to set in. If you don't wear lycra, just bring a change of clothes - a lot easier than messing with wet gear.

diomed

If you want to spend some money.
http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/showers-pass-elite-2-1-jacket-1827.html

nak

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I'm not trying to be smart but why bother with wet gear on a 6km commute. It's not worth it for what would probably be no more than 15 minutes on the bike - not enough time for coldness to set in. If you don't wear lycra, just bring a change of clothes - a lot easier than messing with wet gear.

The reason I do is so that I don't have a pile of wet lycra sitting in my bag all day at work.

Wishbone Ash

nak wrote: »

The reason I do is so that I don't have a pile of wet lycra sitting in my bag all day at work.

.....as opposed to wet jackets, leggings, overshoes, sitting in your bag all day?

Lycra is much easier to dry and/or much more compact than wet gear for bringing a second set for the trip home.

Jawgap

This is my cycling gear for a wet commute

On a more serious note, I generally forget about trying to keep dry because its a battle that cannot be won.

concentrate on keeping warm - something that is windproof and has some water repellence, is better, imo, than something that is waterproof but not wind resistant.

I also try to keep my hands and feet as warm as possible - I can put up with just about anything as long as my feet are warm! I use neo-prene shoe / boot covers for that.

On the hands - BBB Aquashields.

nak

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

.....as opposed to wet jackets, leggings, overshoes, sitting in your bag all day?

Lycra is much easier to dry and/or much more compact than wet gear for bringing a second set for the trip home.

Nope, dry lycra in the bag, jacket, trousers and overshoes on the coat rack beside my desk - dry in about an hour. I have a space in the back of my bag for waterproofs - which take up a lot less space than spare bibshorts, baselayer, arm/leg warmers, jersey, gilet that I would require if my stuff was wet.

PLUG71

diomed wrote: »

If you want to spend some money.
http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/showers-pass-elite-2-1-jacket-1827.html

Good site that I didn't know of, thanks:D

BadCharlie

I do 9km each way. But i have a shower room at work.
So i end up just leaving some cloths and shoes at work all the time and change & have a shower when i get into work. Also i just wear warm clothes and not worry about the rain.

Of course this will not work if you don't have a shower or changing room.

Paddigol

Is it fair to say that, despite the number of overshoes labelled as 'waterproof', very very few are actually properly waterproof in the case of heavy rain over a period of an hour or two?

What I'm keen to do is protect my shoes. I want to try and give them a long life as befits the amount I paid for them!

As for the rest of my gear - I'm not really bothered about getting wet as I've a shower in work and the clothes are dry by the time I cycle home. I would like to get a decent, BREATHABLE, waterproof jacket for weekend spins though.

petethedrummer

Paddigol wrote: »

Is it fair to say that, despite the number of overshoes labelled as 'waterproof', very very few are actually properly waterproof in the case of heavy rain over a period of an hour or two?

The material is waterproof. The big hole where you put your leg in, is not.

Paddigol

petethedrummer wrote: »

The material is waterproof. The big hole where you put your leg in, is not.

Eloquently put

So are all the people whose complaints you read in product reviews - in very definite terms - that x/y/z neoprone 'waterproof' overshoe is not waterproof as their feet get wet in heavy rain, in fact numpties?

I've no experience of these overshoes so I'm not being smart! If it's the case that the water seeps in around your ankle then, barring super product design, there's little anyone can do!

I actually hope you're correct. It's just annoying that almost every overshoe I've checked reviews of has reviews saying the same thing. Few of the bad reviews hint at the cause of the problem, leading a reader to assume that the overshoe is somehow leaving water everywhere in heavy rain.

Surely a bit of DIY would solve the big hole where you put your leg in problem! But then that would be beyond someone who can't pin point the problem.

Raam

It's really simple, if you don't want to get wet from the rain, don't cycle in it. Any other effort at staying dry is doomed to failure. Some more quicker than others.

Wishbone Ash

Paddigol wrote: »

Is it fair to say that, despite the number of overshoes labelled as 'waterproof', very very few are actually properly waterproof in the case of heavy rain over a period of an hour or two?

I use them in very cold weather try to keep my feet a bit warmer. I've never had a pair which were anywhere near waterproof (but then again I don't use a front mudguard which doesn't help). I've been tempted to use the wellies on the commute a few times when there was heavy flooding.

petethedrummer

Paddigol wrote: »

Surely a bit of DIY would solve the big hole where you put your leg in problem! But then that would be beyond someone who can't pin point the problem.

You could try putting vaseline around the join between your leg and the overshoe. Though I doubt it would work. Or you could put very tight elastic bands around the top but you might lose circulation to your feet.

Tights and good thick socks will slow the encroachment of water and keep you warm when your feet ultimately get wet.

Paddigol wrote: »

Eloquently put

So are all .... people ...... in fact numpties?

yes

Paddigol

Cheers. Think I have it sussed now.

I don't really give two hoots about getting wet, in the same way that being greeted by a biting cold outside the front door doesn't bother me if I'm heading out for a run or cycle. I know that in 5 mins I'll be generating my own heat. I find it quite invigorating, especially commuting to/from work. Better than the heat in many ways.

The only reason I'm looking for waterproof overshoes is that - based on my years of seeing expensive football boots fall apart after a season of Irish weather - I quite like my expensive shoes and don't want to have to replace them anytime soon!

I think my solution will be to buy a cheap pair of shoes, wear them in crap weather, and embrace the seepage!

Wishbone Ash

petethedrummer wrote: »

.... and good thick socks will slow the encroachment of water and keep you warm when your feet ultimately get wet...

Thick socks soak up more water and take longer to dry out again in my experience whereas thinner socks soak less water and, if it stops raining, will eventually dry out on a long spin.

petethedrummer

Paddigol wrote: »

I think my solution will be to buy a cheap pair of shoes, wear them in crap weather, and embrace the seepage!

That's the best solution.

Overshoes are a good idea though. When your feet get wet in winter the wind can seriously chill them. It's not like running or football where they will eventually heat up. They won't heat up when you are cycling. Your feet don't actually move much while pedaling. So any means to block cold air is a good idea.

I do have particularly cold feet though and often have to get off to walk to heat them up in winter. might not be the same for everyone.

petethedrummer

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Thick socks soak up more water and take longer to dry out again in my experience whereas thinner socks soak less water and, if it stops raining, will eventually dry out on a long spin.

True in the summer. In the winter when the temperature is low I prefer very very thick ski socks.

Darkglasses

I just wore waterproof overtrousers that covered the top of the overshoes. Never once had wet feet!

the.red.baron

Darkglasses wrote: »

I just wore waterproof overtrousers that covered the top of the overshoes. Never once had wet feet!

curse your logic

topcat77

Use gaiters along with the waterproof trousers and good leather boots. have a good jacket and use a full head helmet rather than a bird nest. Gaiters have been the best buy, they keep the trousers from snagging the cranks or chainring.

Iwannahurl

These are a good idea, imo:



I got mine in the Netherlands. Of course I've never seen them in a shop here, where it's not the cultural norm to dress appropriately for the weather.

NeedMoreGears

My spin usually takes about 45-55 minutes and there are decent showers at work

I wear overshoes in the winter more for warmth that to keep out water ; they generally do unless its bucketing down for the whole trip. I also wear decent altura waterproof jacket, again worn for warmth and its bright yellow colour. It gets a bit sweaty but not too much.

On a longer spin I don't bother with a waterproof jacket as it gets too sweaty

beauf

I just change. 45~60 mins commute.

Overshoes I do use, keeps the feet dry and warm.

Dave Van Ronk

Darkglasses wrote: »

I always wore non-breathable, waterproof wet gear and found it grand for my 7km work commute. I think I don't sweat very much though.

I wore this jacket, these overtrousers, these overshoes, and these gloves.

Was pretty much completely waterproof wearing that, typically just wore shorts and a soccer jersey underneath. It was pretty much perfect for me, but if you work hard at all on your commute you'd probably over-heat wearing that.

Cheers for the advice. Just out of curiosity, how much time does it take you to cycle the 7km?

Darkglasses

Dave Van Ronk wrote: »

Cheers for the advice. Just out of curiosity, how much time does it take you to cycle the 7km?

There's no big hills, just a slight downslope on the way into work (and obviously a slight upslope on the way back).

My fastest time on the way in is 10:32, average time about 12:50

On the way back, fastest time 16:17, average 21:30.

I was a waiter and later a chef, so would be a bit tired on the way home.