Wet Weather Gear

[Dibles]

I currently use a First Ascent L'Alpe D'Huez jacket as my rain jacket but it is only water-resistant and not waterproof. 

I'm doing a long cycle tour next month and need proper wet weather gear. Any suggestions as to what I can buy to keep me dry?

[Thug]

Mandibles, have a look at this.....

 

http://www.capestorm.co.za/products/product_details.jsp?category_id=2823&prodCat=2826&prodDisplay_id=3166

 

or this........

 

http://www.capestorm.co.za/products/product_details.jsp?category_id=2823&prodCat=2826&prodDisplay_id=4068

 

[Dibles]

Thanks Thuggie.

 

Is a jacket enough to keep me warm and dry or should I also look for something to cover my legs?

[Thug]

Depends how much you want to spend !

 

FA make a very good Powerstretch Tights. Not waterproof at all, but keep your legs very toasty if they should get wet. Retail for approx R 500.

 

The cheaper alternative, is black plastic bin bags

 

[Dibles]

I have a pair of those tights.  

[TheLegend]

 

The best you can get on the market is gore bike wear! The paclite products from the cycle line is awesome!

don't know if it's available in SA though.

TheLegend2007-10-19 00:12:03

[pbp2007]

Apologies in advance for the long post.

 

On Paris-Brest I used an Indola bike shell

 

http://www.mybike.co.za/retailcatalogue/indolacatalogue/bikeshell

 

It's waterproof, so you'll stay dry. I can confirm that, because we had rain for most of the first two days on PBP. By the way, underneath it I wore a Capestorm polypropylene undershirt and regular wicking cycling shirt.

 

The downside about the Indola shell is that the moment you slow down appreciably (like I typically do on an uphill) or stop moving the airflow stops and it can become a sauna. It's well vented, including on the back of the arms. The arms zip off; I this seemed like a dubious benefit and I would have preferred pit zips.

 

I occasionally use the Cape Storm jacket, which seems to have become the standard cyclist's rain gear. It's OK in a light shower, but not much use in real rain in my experience. You'll also need to wash it appropriately using a product such as Techwash to ensure that it retains its water-repellent property. You can tell when this happens because water droplets stop beading on the fabric and cause a wet patch instead. My old Karrimor water-repellent shell is fine as an emergency top - I think it's called the Vail - and although rudimentary it vents well and packs into a tiny bag that velcroes to my seatpost.

 

Having ridden for a couple of days in rain and on wet roads I came to the realisation that I was being wet more by spray from the wheels than by rain. From others that I observed in the same conditions I believe that fenders, preferably with mudflaps, are the answer. At least get yourself one of these seatpost clamp-on jobs - I think Topeak makes something called a D-fender.

 

Legs: some of the randonneur guys have become quite keen on Rainlegs

www.rainlegs.co.uk

 

Cape Storm and Cape Union mart sell rain pants for, if I remember correctly, about R600.

 

My neoprene booties were a waste of time eventually because they were (a) unable to keep my feet from being wet by spray (b) heavy and © unhappy about being walked on a lot. Sealskinz socks are an option - I saw them at a couple of local shops. (My Sealskinz gloves worked OK in the rain.)

 

One other thing you might try out is a helment with a peak, or even a cap under your helmet (OK, I know this looks incredibly silly) to keep the rain out of your eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dibles]

Thanks for the good advice pbp2007.