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How waterfproof are cycle waterproofs meant to be?

Started by Richard Corfield · · Last activity · 22 posts · 1,005 views

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UK and Europe
Published
10 August 2004
Last activity
12 August 2004
Original author
Richard Corfield
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22
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  1. I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com
    _/ _/ _/ _/
    _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street,
    _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twilight Zone.

  2. Quoted message said:

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet,


    as

    Quoted message said:

    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    Lucky I have a wee electric radiator in work to solve those little problems
    for me. 🙂

  3. "Richard Corfield" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its


    outer

    Quoted message said:

    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet,


    as

    Quoted message said:

    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    Yesterday was very humid. Are you sure the water came in from outside -- or
    were you suffering from 'boil in the bag' syndrome?

    This time of year the rain is reasonably warm so 100% waterproofness is not,
    IMO, necessary.

    T

  4. Richard Corfield said:


    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its
    outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still
    wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of
    year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    - Richard

    The best waterproofs I have ever had are only waterproof to a point.
    Believe me, you don't want to be riding a bike in something that is
    totally waterproof in August.
    If it is less waterproof than it used to be, you can always wash it in
    Nikwax - this stuff is absolutely superb.
    Ignore what it says on the bottle - you can treat loads of clothes in a
    sinkful of the solution.
    It costs about £5 a bottle in outdoorsy type shops.
    Hope this helps.

    Chris
    --
    |C|H|R|I|S|@|T|R|I|N|I|T|Y|W|I|L|L|S|.|C|O|M|
    Remove the bars to contact me

  5. Richard Corfield said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if
    its behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even
    through the coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry
    my clothes out. Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath
    very well when its outer surface is completely drenched.

    Which is your problem... Breathable fabrics (of the Goretex and relatives
    variety) only work if the surface water runs off.

    So, you need to re-establish the water run-off. If you can get it, the
    last issue (not current) of TGO magazine, it has an excellent article on the
    subject. In summary, you need to wash your jacket in soap flakes (NOT
    detergents, be careful to get pure soap flakes), then rinse several times,
    then apply a surface treatment to re-establish the water run-off. Try a
    good outdoor shop for suitable treatment; probably something from the
    Graingers or Nik-wax ranges. With some fabrics (including Goretex) a period
    in a warm tumble drier also assists/reactivates the surface treatment.

    Then it might work again.

    - Nigel

    --
    NC - Webmaster for http://www.2mm.org.uk/
    Replies to newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

  6. Chris Davies vaguely muttered something like ...

    Quoted message said:

    If it is less waterproof than it used to be, you can always wash it in
    Nikwax - this stuff is absolutely superb.
    Ignore what it says on the bottle - you can treat loads of clothes in a
    sinkful of the solution.

    Totally agree .. awesome stuff, Nikwax. Also good for tents, awnings, shed
    roofs (I kid you not), Landrover canvas soft-tops and all amnner of stuff ..
    😉

    --
    Paul ...

    (8(|) ... Homer Rocks

    "A [censored] is a [censored], no matter what mode of transport they're using."

  7. On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 06:12:54 +0100, Richard Corfield wrote
    (in article <[email hidden]>😉:

    Quoted message said:


    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, [...]

    I'm using a Carradice cape around town on a Brompton.
    What happened to capes? Are they desperately uncool?
    I have no worries about rain.

    Quoted message said:


    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles[...]

    Having rediscovered mudguards, I love a good puddle :-)

    Gerry

  8. Quoted message said:

    This time of year the rain is reasonably warm so 100% waterproofness
    is not, IMO, necessary.

    Mmmmm, it was lovely when it last rained on me - nice and cool :-) Just go
    with a t-shirt, shorts and cap to keep the stuff out of your eyes.

  9. Sounds as if it needs to be re-proofed.

    Firstly, wash it in some Nikwax Tec Wash (I think that's the name of the
    washing stuff Nikwax do... and then you leave the item in the washing machine &
    re-run the wash cycle, but this time with the Nikwax re-proofer for breathable
    waterproofs. It works quite brilliantly. If that doesn't give your waterproof a
    new lease of life then you do need a new one.

    I've used the Nikwax stuff for years and swear by it.

    Cheers, helen s

    --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
    to get correct one remove fame & fortune
    h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$

    --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--

  10. GrumpyOldFart said:

    I'm using a Carradice cape around town on a Brompton.
    What happened to capes? Are they desperately uncool?

    They're still available. But they're also a bit dodgy in wind and
    completely hopeless off the bike. Since I use my Bropmton as a hack for
    local errands I'll be on and off it a bit on a typical journey.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  11. in message <[email hidden]>,

    GrumpyOldFart (') said:

    On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 06:12:54 +0100, Richard Corfield wrote
    (in article <[email hidden]>😉:

    Quoted message said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, [...]

    I'm using a Carradice cape around town on a Brompton.
    What happened to capes? Are they desperately uncool?

    I've been wondering about that. A cycle cape and overboots used to be
    the perfect solution to rain on a bicycle unless it was very windy. But
    they seem to have vanished.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    "The result is a language that... not even its mother could
    love. Like the camel, Common Lisp is a horse designed by
    committee. Camels do have their uses."
    ;; Scott Fahlman, 7 March 1995

  12. Simon Brooke said:

    I've been wondering about that. A cycle cape and overboots used to be
    the perfect solution to rain on a bicycle unless it was very windy. But
    they seem to have vanished.

    Carradice still make a cycle cape. The CTC shop sell it, I doubt
    they're the only ones.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  13. In article said:
    Simon Brooke said:

    I've been wondering about that. A cycle cape and overboots used to be
    the perfect solution to rain on a bicycle unless it was very windy. But
    they seem to have vanished.

    Carradice still make a cycle cape. The CTC shop sell it, I doubt
    they're the only ones.

    EBC stock one as well, made by 'Hock'.

    http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/
    under Clothing / Rainwear / Capes

    --
    Mike Quin

  14. Paul Rudin <[email hidden]>typed

    Quoted message said:

    Richard Corfield <[email hidden]> writes:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when
    its outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still
    wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    Quoted message said:

    You can buy stuff that is completely waterproof - but you don't want
    to cycle in that because it's too hot and your sweat can't
    escape.

    Quoted message said:

    Stuff like Goretex is pretty good when new, but performace degrades
    over time. Washing and re-proofing every so often helps.

    Even then, you van easily out-sweat most 'breathable' waterproofs,
    especially in this weather. The tech spec is given in litres/square
    metres/24 hours on some labels. Given most jackets are less than 2 m^2
    and most sweat will be thrown in their direction, you might reckon on
    getting wet...

    --
    Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
    Edgware.

  15. Paul Rudin said:

    Stuff like Goretex is pretty good when new, but performace degrades
    over time. Washing and re-proofing every so often helps.

    Goretex stays about the same, but the face fabric it's laminated too
    will affect overall garment performance. The Goretex membrane itself is
    waterproof and will remain so bar being physically punctured because the
    holes that let the vapour out are too small to let liquid water pass.

    The face fabric, usually some sort of nylon but sometimes polyester, is
    not intrinsically waterproof like the membrane. It's this layer that
    you re-proof with some goop that causes water to bead up on the surface
    rather than soak into the weave. If water does soak into the weave then
    it forms a layer of liquid water up against the membrane that it's very
    difficult to push water vapour through, so the fabric will stop
    "breathing" where the face layer has "wet out". But it still shouldn't
    leak. To test if it's leaking, put a suspect area as a bowl liner and
    fill it with water, and see if any seeps through over time.

    Pete.
    --
    Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
    Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
    Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
    net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

  16. Richard Corfield said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    You can buy stuff that is completely waterproof - but you don't want
    to cycle in that because it's too hot and your sweat can't
    escape.

    Stuff like Goretex is pretty good when new, but performace degrades
    over time. Washing and re-proofing every so often helps.

  17. in message <[email hidden]>, Peter Clinch

    (') said:
    Paul Rudin said:

    Stuff like Goretex is pretty good when new, but performace degrades
    over time. Washing and re-proofing every so often helps.

    Goretex stays about the same, but the face fabric it's laminated too
    will affect overall garment performance. The Goretex membrane itself
    is waterproof and will remain so bar being physically punctured
    because the holes that let the vapour out are too small to let liquid
    water pass.

    Not if you allow salt water to dry on it, because the salt crystals
    stretch the holes.

    --
    [email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
    Ye hypocrites! are these your pranks? To murder men and give God thanks?
    Desist, for shame! Proceed no further: God won't accept your thanks for
    murther
    -- Roburt Burns, 'Thanksgiving For a National Victory'

  18. "Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    in message <[email hidden]>,

    GrumpyOldFart (') said:

    On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 06:12:54 +0100, Richard Corfield wrote
    (in article <[email hidden]>😉:

    Quoted message said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, [...]

    I'm using a Carradice cape around town on a Brompton.
    What happened to capes? Are they desperately uncool?

    I've been wondering about that. A cycle cape and overboots used to be
    the perfect solution to rain on a bicycle unless it was very windy. But
    they seem to have vanished.

    People will start buying them again as soon as Gortex capes become available.
    --
    "As for the hexamine stove. OW! Burnt fingers again!..... and the
    bloody thing's gone out.....OW! no it hasn't." - Judith in uk.rec.walking

  19. Tip for drying wet shoes: Stuff them with crumpled-up newspaper ... will
    wick-out water ... change paper after an hour or two for more wicking. Your
    shoes will dry *much* faster, probably ready for the ride home after work!

    Rob.

    Richard Corfield said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com
    _/ _/ _/ _/
    _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street,
    _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twilight Zone.

  20. Richard Corfield said:

    I'm wondering if I need to replace my now ageing lightweight, or if its
    behaviour is forgivable. I got quite soggy yesterday, even through the
    coat, and even a day in the company cloak room didn't dry my clothes out.
    Its breathable though, and I expect it can't breath very well when its outer
    surface is completely drenched.

    It was fun riding in, and playing in the puddles (my shoes are still wet, as
    we have no heating on in the house to dry things out at this time of year)
    but not so practical for getting home at the end of the day when your
    clothes are still wet from the morning.

    - Richard

    --
    _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com
    _/ _/ _/ _/
    _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street,
    _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twilight Zone.

    how long is a piece of string ?
    I´ve seen watch that are said to be safe for 50 mts depth that I wouldn´t take in the shower - same goes for waterproofs .
    Used to work out in the open and the choice was always dry and really sweaty or damp from the rain . Goretex is great but expensive and you´ll get sweaty , windstopper will stop you drowning in your own sweat but yuo will get wet . Dry feet ? maybe , dry hands ? forget it .

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