commute raingear recommendations?

Steven Estergreen said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble winter commuting
on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a 10-mile,
semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32 watt) headlamp
and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for recommendations for
raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat.

YMMV, but I've found that the typical pants-and-jacket rain suit leaves me
soaked with sweat unless I ride so slowly that I belong on the sidewalk
rather than the street. Even with all sorts of vents open, etc.

What works for me is fenders on the bike and a poncho on me. My lower legs
still get a bit wet, but overall, it's better than the rain suits. Ponchos
are inexpensive, come in extremely visible colors, and can be customized
with reflective tape as desired. If it rained more around here, then I
might try to do something to keep my lower legs drier, perhaps a mud flap
on the front fender, or waterproof leg/shoe covers.
--
Darin McGrew, [email hidden], http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/
Web Design Group, [email hidden], http://www.HTMLHelp.com/

"Entering Yosemite National Park: laws of gravity strictly enforced"

In article <[email hidden]>,

Steven Estergreen said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble winter commuting
on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a 10-mile,
semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32 watt) headlamp
and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for recommendations for
raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it also come
with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have you actually
used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its effectiveness,
durability, etc.?

Thank you,

Steven Estergreen
Mulino, OR

Portland is a great place for biking (used to live there). However it's
not entirely clear what "moderate intensity" might mean. If it's high
enough that 50F temperature and a thin uncoated nylon jacket would lead
to "saturation" (in dry weather), then you probably aren't going to find a
solution in any garment, at least on some days. Perhaps you could plan on
cleanup and clothes change when you arrive at your destination?

Whether or not that is an option for you...
I have two suggestions for a jacket: one, MEC's bike jacket -- has large
pit zips, good striping, reasonable price for GoreTex. Two (don't know
if they still sell it) Burley's rain jacket -- coated nylon, but good
attention to ventilation. Neither are perfect.

Rather than use pants, I like rain chaps, which leave the lower abdomen
clear. Don't know anyone that sells these any more, but they are extremely
simple to make yourself if you have access to a sewing machine. These
rely on the rain jacket to cover your backside (and front, too).

Personally I don't like rain capes -- too much of a sail for my tastes.
YMMV.

HTH...

-frank
--

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble winter commuting
on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a 10-mile,
semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32 watt) headlamp
and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for recommendations for
raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it also come
with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have you actually
used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its effectiveness,
durability, etc.?

A set of full coverage fenders will help keep you clean and dry. If you are
cycling pretty fast, you will sweat quite a bit. No waterproof jacket will
allow that much water vapor to pass through. So you will either get wet from
your sweat of from the rain water. If you are expecting it to get cold, I
would get a waterproof jacket and put up with the sweat.
-----------------
Alex

"Alex Rodriguez" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble winter

commuting

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a 10-mile,
semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32 watt)

headlamp

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for recommendations

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride

so

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me

reasonably

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it also come
with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have you

actually

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its

effectiveness,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

durability, etc.?

A set of full coverage fenders will help keep you clean and dry. If you

are

Quoted message said:

cycling pretty fast, you will sweat quite a bit. No waterproof jacket

will

Quoted message said:

allow that much water vapor to pass through. So you will either get wet

from

Quoted message said:

your sweat of from the rain water. If you are expecting it to get cold, I
would get a waterproof jacket and put up with the sweat.
-----------------
Alex

i commute where the weather is similar. i wear a performance gore tex jacket
that ive had for over ten years. it's thin and if i wear something wicking
underneath stay fairly dry. also wear cheap nylon pants from fred meyers.
they get sweaty but dry very quickly so they dont stink.
i also have a thing called the "forward deflector shield" that works well to
keep water off my feet. it's just a piece of plastic that velcroes onto the
frame. currently use waterproof socks for the feet but i found that the
shoes never really dry out that way. i would like to try some shoe covers to
see if they work better but they are $$. if you are short on dough for the
jacket try thrift stores. sometimes you can get lucky and find some gore tex
cheap- i found a marmot jacket for $7 the other day!
-alan

"Darin McGrew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What works for me is fenders on the bike and a poncho on me.

I tried the poncho thing, and I felt like I was windsailing. I'll stick to
the Sugoi jacket and tights.

You also might be interested in this thread on our local (Seattle-area)
commuter board on this topic:

http://www.cascade.org/Community/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=6&threadid=1632

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

I said:

Quoted message said:

What works for me is fenders on the bike and a poncho on me.

Claire Petersky said:

I tried the poncho thing, and I felt like I was windsailing.

Yeah, you do catch the wind more with a poncho. In the back, I tuck the
corners under my fannypack belt, with the back edge under the fannypack. In
the front, I hold the corners tight so the poncho follows my arms rather
than billowing out too much. It isn't the greatest, but it beats roasting
in the rain suits that I've tried. But maybe we have warmer rain than y'all
have up there.
--
Darin McGrew, [email hidden], http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/

"Girls are like onions: lots of layers.
Guys are like oranges: one thick skin, then a drippy mess." - Greg Evans

"Steven Estergreen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to

commute by bike

Quoted message said:

into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble

winter commuting

Quoted message said:

on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a

10-mile,

Quoted message said:

semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32

watt) headlamp

Quoted message said:

and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for

recommendations for

Quoted message said:

raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or

patience to ride so

Quoted message said:

slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep

me reasonably

Quoted message said:

dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be

saturated from the

Quoted message said:

inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it

also come

Quoted message said:

with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have

you actually

Quoted message said:

used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its

effectiveness,

Quoted message said:

durability, etc.?

I commute in Portland. When it rains, I wear a Burley jacket,
Peformance neoprene booties, PI long-finger gloves and heavy
weight tights. No rain pants, although I will probably buy some
panel-front tights for winter. I might also go with an ExteOndo
or Assos or similar wind/water resistant jersey in lieu of a
jacket (I hate the flapping). I ride a full fendered bike and
have essentially the same light set-up you do. I have a changing
room at work and a place for my clothes to dry, which is a huge
plus. Except for the Burley jacket (which has great reflective
strips, BTW) and booties, I do not attempt to stay dry. I try to
stay comfortably wet in clothes that will dry quickly.

Here are the big tips. (1) do not wear cotton anything,
including socks, (2) good booties are a must because if your
shoes get soaked, they will not dry before it is time to ride
home (and remember to put you tights over your booties to avoid
wicking), (3) get fenders, (4) get some Kool Stop salmon colored
brake pads, (5) beware of the nasty locals on some of your rural
routes. If you hear banjo music, ride the other way. -- Jay
Beattie.

P.S. -- It ain't the Rockies, but there is some pretty
spectacular riding out your back door, up the Clackamas river to
Mt. Hood.

"Steven Estergreen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter for the first time (here, it was no trouble winter commuting
on a bike in Denver except when below 20F or icy). I have a 10-mile,
semi-rural commute. I already have a NiteRider Classic (12/32 watt) headlamp
and one or more blinkie LED taillights. I'm looking for recommendations for
raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it also come
with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have you actually
used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its effectiveness,
durability, etc.?

Thank you,

Steven Estergreen
Mulino, OR

Steven:

I use a rain cape from Campmor. It's light, and open at the sides.
It has thumb loops which I usually hook over my brake levers. Because
it's open on the sides, you get massive ventilation, which helps keep
the sweat down. Worn with shorts, the only things that will get wet
are your shoes, if--and it's a BIG if--you're willing to ride with
fenders. Without 'em, a raincape is worse than useless. But if you
have fenders, it's wonderful.

The Campmor unit has a strip of reflective material on the back, and
hood which is oddly useless (you CAN wear it under a helmet, but it'll
just give you a sweat head). When it's really pouring and on the cool
side, I add rain pants (cheap Nashbar pair). My trunk is still cool
with that setup.

Steven Estergreen said:

... I'm looking for recommendations for
raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling? Does it also come
with reflective fabric, strips, etc. for nighttime riding? Have you actually
used it and can you provide me with your impressions of its effectiveness,
durability, etc.?

First, one person's "moderate intensity" may be another's "how can you
balance going that slow?" - and vice versa.

In dry 40 deg. F weather, wearing dress shirt, dress slacks and a
windbreaker, I'll be sweating by the time I'm at work (7 miles away).
In fact, I'm _always_ sweating by the time I'm at work. So there's no
way I'll be dry in any raingear that doesn't include a heater/defroster.

Having said that, fenders and a rain cape work better than anything else
I've tried. I add a mud flap to the bottom of the front fender, and I
have nylon covers that velcro onto my toe clips. Ventilation is far
better than my Gore-Tex jacket with all vents open. I hook the two
front elastics (described as "thumb loops"😉 over the drop-bar brake
levers, and it's got an elastic waistband that buttons closed to reduce
billowing. Still, I usually sit on the back part of it, to keep it more
tightly in place.

It's not perfect. I still sometimes get a bit of splatter on my cuffs
(or sox, if I'm in shorts), and nothing will totally protect me from a
passing car splashing through a puddle. But I like it better than
anything else I've tried.

Regarding night riding with the cape: I've actually got two. One has a
reflective triangle, one doesn't. But no matter. My bike has all the
lights and reflectors necessary. It's very visible - it's been checked
several times, by me and others.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

In article <[email hidden]>,
Frank Krygowski <[email hidden]> write in part:

Quoted message said:

Steven Estergreen wrote:

Quoted message said:

It's not perfect. I still sometimes get a bit of splatter on my cuffs
(or sox, if I'm in shorts), and nothing will totally protect me from a
passing car splashing through a puddle. But I like it better than
anything else I've tried.

During cooler seasons and in more wind-driven rain,
a cheap pair of gaiters does the trick nicely.

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Jay Beattie said:

P.S. -- It ain't the Rockies, but there is some pretty
spectacular riding out your back door, up the Clackamas river to
Mt. Hood.

I'll second that! We wimped out on the Mt Hood Challange two weekends
ago (it was _pouring!), but rode the route last weekend, Estacada to
Ripplebrook Ranger Station, and up FS 57 to about 6 miles shy of
Timothy Lake. Tying threads together, I've done this route a bunch of
times by motorcycle, but this is my first time by bicycle!

I'm hoping to do _some_ commuting this winter, from NE PDX over the
I-205 bridge (my nemisis at times) to around eh Orchards area. My
Litespeed doesn't have fenders - and I don't think they will fit - and
I'm not exactally fired up about riding it for the whole winter, so
I'm thinking of picking up a 'commuter' bike.

Ken

Steven Estergreen said:

raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling?

No.

You're riding in 100% humidity; you'd be soaked even if you had a big
umbrella magically suspended over you keeping off every single drop of
rain.

That said, I find mudguards, waterproof booties, and a cycling cape is the
best combination in wet weather.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!

Call in sick on rainy days.

David Damerell <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Steven Estergreen said:

raingear. With my commute distance, I don't have time or patience to ride so
slow that I won't sweat. Is there any clothing that will keep me reasonably
dry in a downpour or riding through puddles, but won't be saturated from the
inside after a half-hour of moderate intensity cycling?

No.

You're riding in 100% humidity; you'd be soaked even if you had a big
umbrella magically suspended over you keeping off every single drop of
rain.

That said, I find mudguards, waterproof booties, and a cycling cape is the
best combination in wet weather.

A windscreen also helps - see www.webstersabingdon.plus.com/windscreen for mine.

Andrew Webster

On 8/30/04 2:45 PM, in article [email hidden], "Steven
Estergreen" <[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

I live in the Portland, OR, area and want to continue to commute by bike
into the winter ... looking for recommendations for
raingear.

Why the Burley Rapid Rider, of course. I've heard that Portland looks like
an add for Burley during the rain season. The excellent ventilation system
really works. Lots of zips.

After looking on the Burley site, I guess it's now the Rain Rider.

http://www.burley.com/products/raingear/default.aspx?p=Rain+Rider+Jacket&i=1

Regards,
Larry "when in Rome ..." Fieman
Marblehead, MA

Last winter was my first all-winter commute in Seattle (I also lived
in CO for a while). The single best solution is full fenders. The
rain from above only occasionally out here gets heavy enough to be an
issue. If you haven't ridden full fenders before you'll be amazed at
the amount of rain that used to come from your tires that no longer
does.

Only when it's torrential will I wear rain paints (and then with
shorts/knickers underneath -- otherwise they're just too hot). The
rest of the winter knickers or tights and waterpoof booties. It's the
feet that get wettest and coldest. Pack dry socks for the ride home.
The rain jacket is a constant. Pit zips critical for the sweat
factor. Mine is from REI and there are alot of REI rain jackets on
the road around here.

You're gonna love it.

look up an outfit called WYEAST.
WYEAST sells fabric-read 'gore tex'mailorder over the internet.
wyeast is a mountain in oregon or washington the owner see pout their
breakfast tab;le window.
gore tex or less expensive equivalent home sewn into rain gear is the
way to go! check the prices and patterns.

(g.daniels) said:

look up an outfit called WYEAST.
WYEAST sells fabric-read 'gore tex'mailorder over the internet.
wyeast is a mountain in oregon or washington the owner see pout their
breakfast tab;le window.
gore tex or less expensive equivalent home sewn into rain gear is the
way to go! check the prices and patterns.

Took me a while to find it....I think this is the place.

http://www.wyeastfabrics.com/

-B

I too live in Seattle area. I agree with Peter in most points.
I wear yellow GoreTex bike jacket from Gore BikeWear. It workd well for me.
My problem is hands and feet. I wear ski gloves to keep fingers warm, but
gets wet.
Feet get very wet as well. Water seems to come from bottom at clip holes.
I covered them with duct tape, but still not perfect. Any suggestions ?

"Peter Rowe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Last winter was my first all-winter commute in Seattle (I also lived
in CO for a while). The single best solution is full fenders. The
rain from above only occasionally out here gets heavy enough to be an
issue. If you haven't ridden full fenders before you'll be amazed at
the amount of rain that used to come from your tires that no longer
does.

Only when it's torrential will I wear rain paints (and then with
shorts/knickers underneath -- otherwise they're just too hot). The
rest of the winter knickers or tights and waterpoof booties. It's the
feet that get wettest and coldest. Pack dry socks for the ride home.
The rain jacket is a constant. Pit zips critical for the sweat
factor. Mine is from REI and there are alot of REI rain jackets on
the road around here.

You're gonna love it.