Wet weather methods to keep legs dry?

Phil said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain, what about if you're commuting, and you
can't be
soaked at your destination? I need to get to class, but if it's raining
real hard, I only have a rain jacket.

What kind of leg rain protection do you guys use? I see that there's a lot
of golf products out there... I'm looking for water-resistant at the very
least. Waterproof isn't as big of a deal because I want to be able to
breath somewhat, even if I end up a little damp.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

dry pants in waterproof bag.

josh

"joshua" wrote: dry pants in waterproof bag.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And a towel.

Phil said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain, what about if you're commuting, and you
can't be
soaked at your destination? I need to get to class, but if i t's raining
real hard, I only have a rain jacket.

Quoted message said:

I want to be able to
breath somewhat, even if I end up a little damp.

If you are commuting to school:

1. Hot to cool weather: wear shorts, of the kind that doesn't absorb
too much water and dries quickly (polyester or nylon or wool).

2. Cold weather: pants or shorts are best again if soak-resistant. Test
before use. There are some lightweight polyester hiking pants, some
with bottom legs that zip on and off, that would be useful. Then, get
lightweight coated nylon waterproof rain paints with separating leg
zippers down the full length of the outsides. You can lower the top
zipper quite a bit for ventilation without letting much water in. Mine
are by Moonstone but must not be made any more, I'm sure you can get at
REI, LL Bean, Campmoor, EMS or other similar camping sources. Also
useful are a pair of polyester fleece pants, with or without the shell.

If you can't get plain coated nylon rain pants with separating zippers,
there are plenty of these in Gore-Tex with close to the same
functionality, just at an inflated price. I wouldn't want without the
zippers because there wouldn't be enough ventilation. Or, rain chaps as
they use in the UK would be even better. From hips down you don't sweat
all that much.

3. Of course, the best thing is to leave a little earlier and get
changed when you arrive. But if you're not going to some snooty place
with superficial values, i.e. the dress code of corporate or government
America, you can do pretty well as above. In the northeastern US I
commuted all seasons for years with cotton shorts in the summer till
fall, the rain pants as necessary; cotton pants and the rain pants in
the late fall; long underwear, cotton pants and the rain pants in the
winter. About 7 miles each way.

In Italy old women ride in the rain holding umbrellas.ˇ

Phil said:

What kind of leg rain protection do you guys use?

I wear swimming trunks (the "boarder shorts" style) if it's warm and
raining. Surprisingly comfortable, and they dry quickly. In cool/cold
weather, I use rain pants. I don't like wearing them, but they're
better than wet jeans.

-Vee

Squid-in-Training said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts
if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain

?

That depends a lot on temperature. I often wear shorts plus legwarmers
or shorts plus tights on my bike.

JT

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Phil said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain, what about if you're commuting, and you
can't be
soaked at your destination? I need to get to class, but if it's raining
real hard, I only have a rain jacket.

What kind of leg rain protection do you guys use? I see that there's a lot
of golf products out there... I'm looking for water-resistant at the very
least. Waterproof isn't as big of a deal because I want to be able to
breath somewhat, even if I end up a little damp.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Rain resistent trousers, of course but also a full coverage fender set,
a must.

Quoted message said:

Phil, Squid-in-Training-

woolmort gives away nylon weather pants in dayglo yellow
buy 3 in a may never see this again situation.
then change pants.

Phil said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain, what about if you're commuting, and you
can't be
soaked at your destination? I need to get to class, but if it's raining
real hard, I only have a rain jacket.

What kind of leg rain protection do you guys use? I see that there's a lot
of golf products out there... I'm looking for water-resistant at the very
least. Waterproof isn't as big of a deal because I want to be able to
breath somewhat, even if I end up a little damp.

I commute to school last year and will also this year here in Seattle,
where it rains fairly regularly. The weather is mostly temperate, although
we do get a few days when it hits freezing. I've always worn lycra pants
(the heavier 8-oz variety). It is very quick drying and it doesn't bind to
you even when wet. Any road grime can be easily brushed off once it's
dried. The cold is more of a problem for the upper body (especially the
nose & ears) than the legs, as once I get going, my circulation will give
enough warmth against windchill. It's only bad for the first 5 mins or so
until I warm up. Once I get to school, then I either wear it as-is to
class, or slip on some trousers when fashion code demands it.

Phil said:

Okay, so although pretty much all of us are wearing our shorts if we're
riding MTB or road in the rain, what about if you're commuting, and you
can't be soaked at your destination? I need to get to class, but if
it's raining real hard, I only have a rain jacket.

Here's what I use to motorbike in the lovely Seattle winter:

http://www.seamar.com/grundens_5.html
http://www.seamar.com/xtratuf.html

If you cycle in this gear, you'll get soaked, but only with sweat.
Delicious!

I'd offer advice on more cycling-appropriate raingear, but commercial
fishing garb is about all I can find in size 4XLT.

Chalo Colina

Call in sick.

Old fashioned cycle cape will keep rain off legs and bike surprisingly
well (in conjunction with mudguards, of course). Good air circulation
makes it less sweaty than waterproof trousers. Might be viewed as a
tad unfashionable in some circles.

Bill Sornson said:

Call in sick.

To class?

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Andrew W said:

Old fashioned cycle cape will keep rain off legs and bike
surprisingly well (in conjunction with mudguards, of course). Good
air circulation makes it less sweaty than waterproof trousers. Might
be viewed as a tad unfashionable in some circles.

Well, I've got one leg in that circle and one out...

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Phil said:

Bill Sornson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Call in sick.

Quoted message said:

To class?

Oops. Saw the word "commuting" and stopped reading.

Play hooky.

On 13.09.05 07:49 Bill Sornson said:

Call in sick.

Sure, if you live in Southern California. In coastal Nortern Europe,
your boss would soon start wondering why you show up only a couple of
days every third week.

For me, it's tights and a long-sleeved jersey with Windstopper shell
jacket and pants. And shoe covers. In the winter, I add a polypropylene
top plus a thin fleece jersey. And i always carry always a change of dry
clothes in the backpack. I am far too considerate towards my colleagues
to walk around in tights all day. It's not a pretty sight...
--
Størker Moe
'97 GT Avalanche, '01 Trek Fuel 90, '96 Trek 850

Email Storker(DOT)Moe(AT)c2i(DOT)net
WWW http://home.c2i.net/storker_moe/

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Leo Lichtman said:

"joshua" wrote: dry pants in waterproof bag.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And a towel.

It is vitally important to always know where your towel is.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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Bill Sornson said:

Phil said:

Bill Sornson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Call in sick.

Quoted message said:

To class?

Oops. Saw the word "commuting" and stopped reading.

Play hooky.

Unless it's Calculus, Physics, or something on that level of
difficulty. (Even there, missing a day is not always catastrophic; in
my case, missing a day was instrumental in my getting an A in Physics
one semester.)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Mmmmm shoe covers. Best wet-weather gear I've ever bought. The rain may
soak through the rest of me, or I'm causing a sweat-induced tropical storm
inside the shell anyway, but my feet stay toasty and dry.

The other bit I'm fussed about is closest to the saddle and at the front,
where the rain all goes when it runs down the front of the jacket. Not too
bothered about the legs so I'm thinking of getting some cheapy leggings and
cutting them off to make shorts.

"Størker Moe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For me, it's tights and a long-sleeved jersey with Windstopper shell
jacket and pants. And shoe covers. In the winter, I add a polypropylene
top plus a thin fleece jersey. And i always carry always a change of dry
clothes in the backpack. I am far too considerate towards my colleagues to
walk around in tights all day. It's not a pretty sight...

POHB said:

Mmmmm shoe covers. Best wet-weather gear I've ever bought. The rain may
soak through the rest of me, or I'm causing a sweat-induced tropical storm
inside the shell anyway, but my feet stay toasty and dry.

The other bit I'm fussed about is closest to the saddle and at the front,
where the rain all goes when it runs down the front of the jacket. Not too
bothered about the legs so I'm thinking of getting some cheapy leggings and
cutting them off to make shorts.

Cutting the legs off of rain pants to make "rain shorts" works well --
just be careful not to cut them too short. You need the coated fabric
type, not the pure plastic ones, as they tend to rip. In cold weather, I
use "rain knickers" -- simply shortened rain pants with velcro below the
knee -- and let my shins get wet.

For the feet, I think sandals work best. For cold wet, I use latex
overboots that I got from an industrial supply house, I just cut a small
hole for the SPD cleat. They're sort of fragile, being very thin, but
only cost $5 a pair. Because they're thin, they seal well at the leg if
you just put them under tights.