Comments on: Just Ask Jack — Rain in the Forecast?

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:30:46 +0000

Plastic bread sacks between your socks and your shoes works great for keeping your feet dry…it’s sort of “hobo chic”, but it works, especially in colder weather.

By: LoneRider

LoneRider — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:27:33 +0000

Rain used to suck. It kind of still does, but not so much. You see, I have used my old Red Ledge rain jacket from like ’97 for years. I even accidentally put in in the hot water to wash it, and although some of the seam taping came off it still works in the rain.

The downside is it’s dark green.

The Pearl Izumi rain jackets work great, and that has been my new solution; it’s bright red and has a “hood” that covers your helmet. With a cycling cap under the helmet the brim keeps some rain outa yer eyes and the rest keeps you dry.

I’m still trying to find a solution to wet feet however.

By: Abhishek

Abhishek — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:20:40 +0000

I bought the O2 jacket and am quite pleased with it. My commutes in rain have never been longer than 3 miles, so can not really say how they stack up to longer rides.

I have a pair of sierra rain pants that do a good job at protecting my legs. (http://lonelyplanet.altrec.com/shop/detail/33492/)

By: eric zady

eric zady — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:02:18 +0000

You get what you pay for in rain jackets. the brand I have recently found and would now only buy is showers pass. Their stuff is the best and not only during rain. I wear it on cool day as well.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:59:31 +0000

Garry,

according to Carradice’s website, there is a raincape stockist in Canberra:

http://www.flyingfurniture.com.au/

By: Garry

Garry — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:28:09 +0000

Thanks for the info on raincapes….these are not available in Australia and I’ve been trying to find where to get one (or more).

By: Smudgemo

Smudgemo — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:43:57 +0000

Rain cape. But you need to move lights below the handlebars. I’m planning to move mine to a front rack or a fork mount. The only thing that gets wet is from the knee down and mostly in front. Change your shoes and socks and you’re good to go.

By: Mike Myers

Mike Myers — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:57:23 +0000

When I have to ride in the rain in the summer, I rock a pretty weird outfit. As I told Jack, wearing a rain jacket in Florida in the summer simply means deciding to get wet from sweat rather than rain. So in the summer I don’t wear a rain jacket. I do wear a helmet cover( the snap on one for my Bell Metro), Rainlegs(best thing EVER), and waterproof booties. I hate riding in wet shoes and soaked socks. The booties leak from the top a bit, so I wrap velcro straps around the tops of them.

I’d considered a cape, but it would interfere with my light—and a light in the rain is essential.

By: 2whls3spds

2whls3spds — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:57:37 +0000

Both my Carradice and Campmor capes have a set of loops/ties in the back and the front. On the Campmor the back loop is supposed to go around the waist, but I usually just sit on it Then there are a couple of thumb loops on the front to help hold it down on the handlebars.

Aaron

By: Val

Val — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:33:17 +0000

A proper cycling cape will have an internal strap or cord that secures around your waist and keeps the back end down. There should be some sort of loops in front for your hands or thumbs, as well. Jackson & Gibbens ( http://www.bicycleclothing.com/ ) make a nice, inexpensive one, and they make very durable and well designed jackets, too. They now do some breathable items, too, which thye did not in the past. One thing I realized recently about breathable fabrics, is that, while they have their advantages, no fabric will breathe at all if it is covered with a layer of water. You can avoid the sauna syndrome as long as teh fabric is dry, but once it gets truly wet, it behaves no differently than coated nylon.