Waterproof Stuff
Discussion
Can anyone offer some advice?
I am about to start commuting to work and college on my bike. It's a lot further than I used to commute (about 8 miles each way) so I think it's probably wise to get some waterproof stuff so I don't arrive in a total state. Warmth is not an issue. I need something lightweight, properly waterproof and preferably breathable.
What do you guys use? Any good experiences?
Thanks!
I am about to start commuting to work and college on my bike. It's a lot further than I used to commute (about 8 miles each way) so I think it's probably wise to get some waterproof stuff so I don't arrive in a total state. Warmth is not an issue. I need something lightweight, properly waterproof and preferably breathable.
What do you guys use? Any good experiences?
Thanks!
The Gore Bikewear range is good but pricey. There are cheaper options available from most decent bike shops, I've got an Endura hi-viz waterproof shell and a thicker Gore jacket. I commute 15 miles each way (when I ride it rather than take the train 
) and find that neither of my jackets breathe well enough to keep me entirely sweat-free. I could slow down a bit so generate less heat but I shower at work anyway.
) and find that neither of my jackets breathe well enough to keep me entirely sweat-free. I could slow down a bit so generate less heat but I shower at work anyway.ewenm said:
The Gore Bikewear range is good but pricey. There are cheaper options available from most decent bike shops, I've got an Endura hi-viz waterproof shell and a thicker Gore jacket. I commute 15 miles each way (when I ride it rather than take the train ) and find that neither of my jackets breathe well enough to keep me entirely sweat-free. I could slow down a bit so generate less heat but I shower at work anyway.
Will check it out. To be fair, my commute into both work and college is pretty much all downhill, so it's not tht strenuous. So long as I'm not totally humming!) and find that neither of my jackets breathe well enough to keep me entirely sweat-free. I could slow down a bit so generate less heat but I shower at work anyway.
Rocksteadyeddie said:
There's an old cycling adage... "you can get wet from the outside, or wet from the inside". It's not as true as it used to be, but still broadly holds. I don't wear "waterproof" kit as a result of many years of finding this to be true, yet ride in all weathers.
Agreed, I have some thin cr4p waterproof trousers and a really thin cr4p kind of waterproof jacket rolled up in my bag for times when you get caught in an absolute monsoon. Otherwise I try to avoid using them and it seems to rarely actually rain enough to need them anyway. I do however have showers at the work end and there's a cupboard that has the magical ability to have dried everything put inside it by 5pm so I'm lucky to not need to be that waterproof.
I'd rather funnel the funds from decent but rarely used rain kit towards decent year round everyday kit and components.
I still love my Endura MT500 jacket. It a bit of an old donkey jacket nowadays but its got loads of pockets and vents and I swear you could go swimming in it and not get wet. The cuffs grip securely around my Sealskinz Winter Technical gloves and I've never had wet hands even in the worst weather.
If you wear a thin base layer and a light jersey then its just right down to about 0°C. Any lower and I put on a thermal mid layer. For trousers I tried Endura over trousers but they're horrible. I stick with Endura Singletrack full length trousers (or 3/4 in spring or shorts in summer). If if chucks it down you will get wet knees but in winter you may again find that a pair of leg warmers are needed in sub zero temps.
For your feet I tried overshoes but they weren't effective and for my second season of winter riding I got some Shimano MW02 boots but they only really work if you wear Sealskinz waterproof socks, otherwise the water wicks down the sock into the insole and then its game over!
If you wear a thin base layer and a light jersey then its just right down to about 0°C. Any lower and I put on a thermal mid layer. For trousers I tried Endura over trousers but they're horrible. I stick with Endura Singletrack full length trousers (or 3/4 in spring or shorts in summer). If if chucks it down you will get wet knees but in winter you may again find that a pair of leg warmers are needed in sub zero temps.
For your feet I tried overshoes but they weren't effective and for my second season of winter riding I got some Shimano MW02 boots but they only really work if you wear Sealskinz waterproof socks, otherwise the water wicks down the sock into the insole and then its game over!
I use an Endura Stealth (warm, waterproof soft shell) over a base layer, Endura MT500 Spray (semi waterproof where it matters; fully waterproof aren't comfortable) 3/4 shorts and I seal the tops of my Sealskinz socks with off cuts of an old wetsuit (about 3" off the bottoms of the legs to form a sealing "ring" to slip over the GPS of the socks). I can completely immerse a foot and stay dry. I use non waterproof, good training SPD shoes (Spesh Expert MTB). Always comfy.
I’ve got an Altura High-Viz Jacket (can’t remember which model, but was about £90) and I’m not convinced about it.
Had it about 3 years and it is waterproof, but after my 8 mile commute, I seem to generate quite a bit of heat, especially as I wear a backpack with my clean clothes for the office, so it struggles to be breathable enough, even with the side vents fully open.
It’s fine in the depths of winter when I don’t always manage to get really hot, but gets too steamy inside during a Spring monsoon to be comfortable. Normally just wear the jacket directly over a short-sleeved base-layer. Only wear a long-sleeved base-layer when it gets to about -4ish. It just makes me push harder to warm up which helps keep the engine in-shape!
It doesn’t deal with being washed very well. I use the special gore-tex wash (from an outdoor supplies shop) and not regular washing powder, and re-treat it with a waterproofing treatment after being washed.
It gets rid of the smells from hard commuting every day, but ingrained dirt from the commute and weekends of mountain-biking don’t come out very well and looks grubby in the daylight.
The fit isn’t great for me either. I wear a large to get the sleeve length, but I find that the Large assumes you to be carrying a fair amount of padding. Without the backpack straps around my shoulders and chest, the jacket catches the wind and flaps about a fair bit.
Will be trying out a Gore-Wear jacket this Autumn but I don’t think there will be a magic jacket that will keep you dry in the rain, plus allow all of the sweat to escape from hard riding.
Had it about 3 years and it is waterproof, but after my 8 mile commute, I seem to generate quite a bit of heat, especially as I wear a backpack with my clean clothes for the office, so it struggles to be breathable enough, even with the side vents fully open.
It’s fine in the depths of winter when I don’t always manage to get really hot, but gets too steamy inside during a Spring monsoon to be comfortable. Normally just wear the jacket directly over a short-sleeved base-layer. Only wear a long-sleeved base-layer when it gets to about -4ish. It just makes me push harder to warm up which helps keep the engine in-shape!
It doesn’t deal with being washed very well. I use the special gore-tex wash (from an outdoor supplies shop) and not regular washing powder, and re-treat it with a waterproofing treatment after being washed.
It gets rid of the smells from hard commuting every day, but ingrained dirt from the commute and weekends of mountain-biking don’t come out very well and looks grubby in the daylight.
The fit isn’t great for me either. I wear a large to get the sleeve length, but I find that the Large assumes you to be carrying a fair amount of padding. Without the backpack straps around my shoulders and chest, the jacket catches the wind and flaps about a fair bit.
Will be trying out a Gore-Wear jacket this Autumn but I don’t think there will be a magic jacket that will keep you dry in the rain, plus allow all of the sweat to escape from hard riding.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff