Comments on: My rain gear http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Don McCubbin http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-420146 Don McCubbin Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:45:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-420146 Hi, Thanks for your thoughts on raingear! I have been riding in the rain with an LL Bean jacket that has a hood. I am going to start wearing a helmet, so the hooded jacket won't work. What do folks do to keep rain from going down their neck, without a hooded jacket? Best, Don Hi,

Thanks for your thoughts on raingear!

I have been riding in the rain with an LL Bean jacket that has a hood. I am going to start wearing a helmet, so the hooded jacket won’t work.

What do folks do to keep rain from going down their neck, without a hooded jacket?

Best,
Don

]]> By: Daniel James http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-81025 Daniel James Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:56:46 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-81025 The best advice I've read for shoes in the rain is cycling sandals. Keen has a pair out that I'm considering getting eventually, just wear waterproof socks and your good... They would dry out by the time your done with work. If your really gutsy wear some warmer socks underneath and it would probably work just as well in the winter. The best advice I’ve read for shoes in the rain is cycling sandals. Keen has a pair out that I’m considering getting eventually, just wear waterproof socks and your good… They would dry out by the time your done with work. If your really gutsy wear some warmer socks underneath and it would probably work just as well in the winter.

]]> By: Daniel Ruitman http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-80706 Daniel Ruitman Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:43:29 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-80706 I live in Portland Oregon, and I commute all winter long. I picked up some cheap nylon jackets and pants from a Goodwill thrift store. I happened to find a nice SOU Cross country Nylon jacket with 2 layers of Nylon on the sleeves and a tail on the back, along with a Velcro vent on the back (for some reason the front of my arms and tops of my thighs get the most moisture) For extremely wet and cold conditions: I put on a pair of thermals, top and bottom, then my nylon pants with a liner and a pair without a liner over that. After I put on my thermal top I put on a thin wool sweater and my nylon jacket. For my feet I put on wool socks (or some wool blend) and when I had regular pedals I put on my waterproof boots. Or regular like basketball shoes with neoprene booties. Now I use crank bros egg beater clip in pedals with mountain shoes and neoprene booties. I also wear a balaclava under my helmet. And well get this ... for my hands I use 2 pairs of miracle gloves. Ya know the kind you see everywhere .. one size fits all .. made out of some synthetic material or poly-cotton blend. They cost like $1.50 a pair and they truly are miracle gloves! they work absolutely perfectly all winter long. Even if I had a pair of $50 gloves I wouldn't wear them. The miracle gloves were the most unexpected but perfect match for the extremely wet and cold winters in Portland. I also enjoy the remarks and stairs from co workers ... "Nice Costume" or what have you. I work at a call center and here everyone is either fat or naturally a twig and I cant help but laugh back at fat people for giving me grief when I have to wear all this equipment to get to work in the winters. Your fat and I wear nylon and bike 50+ miles a week to and from work. I live in Portland Oregon, and I commute all winter long.
I picked up some cheap nylon jackets and pants from a Goodwill thrift store.
I happened to find a nice SOU Cross country Nylon jacket with 2 layers of Nylon on the sleeves and a tail on the back, along with a Velcro vent on the back (for some reason the front of my arms and tops of my thighs get the most moisture)

For extremely wet and cold conditions:
I put on a pair of thermals, top and bottom, then my nylon pants with a liner and a pair without a liner over that.

After I put on my thermal top I put on a thin wool sweater and my nylon jacket.

For my feet I put on wool socks (or some wool blend) and when I had regular pedals I put on my waterproof boots. Or regular like basketball shoes with neoprene booties. Now I use crank bros egg beater clip in pedals with mountain shoes and neoprene booties.

I also wear a balaclava under my helmet.

And well get this … for my hands I use 2 pairs of miracle gloves. Ya know the kind you see everywhere .. one size fits all .. made out of some synthetic material or poly-cotton blend. They cost like $1.50 a pair and they truly are miracle gloves! they work absolutely perfectly all winter long. Even if I had a pair of $50 gloves I wouldn’t wear them. The miracle gloves were the most unexpected but perfect match for the extremely wet and cold winters in Portland.

I also enjoy the remarks and stairs from co workers … “Nice Costume” or what have you. I work at a call center and here everyone is either fat or naturally a twig and I cant help but laugh back at fat people for giving me grief when I have to wear all this equipment to get to work in the winters. Your fat and I wear nylon and bike 50+ miles a week to and from work.

]]> By: RainCityCyclist http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-74063 RainCityCyclist Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:45:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-74063 My biggest annoyance is soaking wet shoes. After riding in, and changing in my office, I try to get my shoes dry. Even after a full day at work, I have to slide my feeet back into soaked, cold, wet shoes for my ride home. Not a huge deal, but its the one piece of gear that suffers the most in the rain. Not that we get rain in Seattle, but... My biggest annoyance is soaking wet shoes. After riding in, and changing in my office, I try to get my shoes dry. Even after a full day at work, I have to slide my feeet back into soaked, cold, wet shoes for my ride home. Not a huge deal, but its the one piece of gear that suffers the most in the rain. Not that we get rain in Seattle, but…

]]> By: Spencer (Portland, Left Coast) http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-67347 Spencer (Portland, Left Coast) Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:40:59 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-67347 I don't think any rain gear is going to keep you dry from the rain and breath enough to get you from sweating. Just remember that skin is water proof. I think your best bet given the temperature is a riding vest with a mesh back and maybe a pair of knee length riding chaps. This will do more to keep down the wind chill and the brunt of the rain. Both are made of fabrics that don't absorb water so you won't get water logged. I would also get a good visored cycling cap to keep the rain out of your eyes or off your glasses. I don’t think any rain gear is going to keep you dry from the rain and breath enough to get you from sweating. Just remember that skin is water proof.

I think your best bet given the temperature is a riding vest with a mesh back and maybe a pair of knee length riding chaps. This will do more to keep down the wind chill and the brunt of the rain. Both are made of fabrics that don’t absorb water so you won’t get water logged. I would also get a good visored cycling cap to keep the rain out of your eyes or off your glasses.

]]> By: Richard http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-67330 Richard Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:50:30 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-67330 Can someone recommend a place to find good rain gear for very hot conditions? I commute in Miami, FL and during the summers it is nothing but heavy tropical storms that we get sometimes non stop for 3 weeks in a row. I needed heavy rain/wind gear, but something wouldn't make me suffocate in 100 degree weather. Can someone recommend a place to find good rain gear for very hot conditions? I commute in Miami, FL and during the summers it is nothing but heavy tropical storms that we get sometimes non stop for 3 weeks in a row. I needed heavy rain/wind gear, but something wouldn’t make me suffocate in 100 degree weather.

]]> By: JiMCi http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-56978 JiMCi Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:46:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-56978 I like riding in the rain. The sounds are different, the road feels smoother and there are a lot fewer obstacles (read: joggers, strollers, roller bladders) on the bike lane! On hot summer days, I don't use any rain gear, only my regular cycling jersey and shorts. When it's colder, the "Whoosh" cycling jacket and pants from www.mec.ca are just great. Add a polartech beanie, a good pair of gloves and neoprene booties and you're all set! What I wear under this gear is dictated by the ambient temperature. JiMCi P.S. I must admit that I do enjoy the "you biked to work in THAT rain?" co-workers remarks and feel good when politely declining their offers for a ride back home in their cage. ;-) I like riding in the rain. The sounds are different, the road feels smoother and there are a lot fewer obstacles (read: joggers, strollers, roller bladders) on the bike lane!

On hot summer days, I don’t use any rain gear, only my regular cycling jersey and shorts. When it’s colder, the “Whoosh” cycling jacket and pants from http://www.mec.ca are just great. Add a polartech beanie, a good pair of gloves and neoprene booties and you’re all set! What I wear under this gear is dictated by the ambient temperature.

JiMCi

P.S. I must admit that I do enjoy the “you biked to work in THAT rain?” co-workers remarks and feel good when politely declining their offers for a ride back home in their cage. ;-)

]]> By: John http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-56127 John Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:13:54 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-56127 Hiya, I use a standard Novara biking jacket for the upper body, but some old Gore-tex bright blue rainpants. As for the feet, I wear some Gore-tex socks and old running shoes. This is an awesome combination. Basically, it's impossible to keep water out of shoes in my experience, at least in the rainforest where I live (North Vancouver, BC). So I don't even try -- I wear old running shoes that leak like a sieve. However, the Goretex socks keep my feet dry and comfortable. When it is really cold and very wet my feet get a little cool, but never wet. John Hiya,

I use a standard Novara biking jacket for the upper body, but some old Gore-tex bright blue rainpants.

As for the feet, I wear some Gore-tex socks and old running shoes. This is an awesome combination. Basically, it’s impossible to keep water out of shoes in my experience, at least in the rainforest where I live (North Vancouver, BC). So I don’t even try — I wear old running shoes that leak like a sieve. However, the Goretex socks keep my feet dry and comfortable. When it is really cold and very wet my feet get a little cool, but never wet.

John

]]> By: Warren T http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-56122 Warren T Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:30:15 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-56122 Okay, we'll try a biku: Hail pings his helmet Finding its way through the vents Ice? Not a problem Okay, we’ll try a biku:

Hail pings his helmet
Finding its way through the vents
Ice? Not a problem

]]> By: Fritz http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-56120 Fritz Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:23:19 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/10/16/my-rain-gear/#comment-56120 I've pedaled through ice storms, actually ;-) Hail pinging off of my bike sounds cool but it hurts -- hail even finds its way through helmet vents and hits my head. Freezing rain results in bike, body, clothing and eyeglasses covered in ice. I’ve pedaled through ice storms, actually ;-) Hail pinging off of my bike sounds cool but it hurts — hail even finds its way through helmet vents and hits my head. Freezing rain results in bike, body, clothing and eyeglasses covered in ice.

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