How to stop getting wet

Anonymous
Anonymous Posts: 79,667
edited June 2008 in Road beginners
Well I've had a few answer on this which leads me to believe there is no way to stopping you from getting wet when its raining, but I would like to know is there anyway to minimize the discomfort that is associated with getting wet, well at least for me anyway.

other day riding back from the TT I could slowely feel my shoes getting heavier and heavier, is there a way to prevent this if I am going to be doing 30+ miles in heavy rain or is it just something cyclists have to get used to? I though about putting a plastic bag around my socks but that apparently would just lead to lots of sweat and maybe then lead to infection?

Also, bib shorts, do they all act like a sponge? Today mine got really soaked and the padding got totally filled with water, is this something that happens with all bib shorts of could it just be the fact mine are cheap?

Its going to be very wet day tomorrow and I want to cycle like 40 miles to watch this race but I'm obviously going to get soaked.
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Comments

  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    mudguards and covers for your shoes ( i got some from aldi with an under helmet cap last year for £5) waterproof over trousers i think montane produce a good range.

    here's a linkto some oversoes
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    feel wrote:
    mudguards and covers for your shoes ( i got some from aldi with an under helmet cap last year for £5) waterproof over trousers i think montane produce a good range.

    I find waterproof overtrousers just slow me down, at least the ones I have, I just really want to keep my feet dry and I wont get to a shop tomorrow, so do you think plastic bag might be ok for that day?

    Also is it true getting shoes wet destroys them and just letting them dry is not good?

    Do overshoes go on like socks? As wont they block the cleats if they are on the outside?
  • Alibran
    Alibran Posts: 370
    Overshoes have cutout sections in the bottoms where the cleat goes through. (The ones I have also have a cutout at the heel, but I'm not sure if that's the same on all of them.)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    What can I do for a short term measure to stop water getting in? I cant get some overshoes for tomorrow.
  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    willhub wrote:
    feel wrote:

    I find waterproof overtrousers just slow me down, at least the ones I have, I just really want to keep my feet dry and I wont get to a shop tomorrow, so do you think plastic bag might be ok for that day?

    Also is it true getting shoes wet destroys them and just letting them dry is not good?

    Do overshoes go on like socks? As wont they block the cleats if they are on the outside?

    Quality over trousers are breathable , tighter fitting and have a cut and fit designed for cycling in - not like cheap baggy general purpose waterproofs.

    Overshoes are open at the sole so do not get in the way of your cleats.

    Getting shoes soaked probs doesn't do them any good but as long as you let them dry naturally in a warm (not hot) airy place i doubt they will come to much harm. If mine get soaked i take the laces out, open the tongue out and stuff them with kitchen roll for half an hour then take it out and let them dry naturally.
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    willhub wrote:
    What can I do for a short term measure to stop water getting in? I cant get some overshoes for tomorrow.

    you might be lucky - the forecast for yorkshire isn't totally diabolical. AOL have just one raindrop for most of the day in Yorkshire :wink:
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ ... st_uv.html

    :(

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/24hr.shtml?id=3954

    :(

    Thinking of getting an anorak and tieing it round my waste and then tucking it under my bum to stop my shorts from getting wet. Fits good, but is pretty big when folded up, would need to wrap it round my frame which might slow me down.
  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    Just go for a bin liner and swimming trunks, you might start a new fashion :wink:
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I'd rather get wet lol.

    If only I had an Anorak that was big enoough to go down to my knees and could fold up really small.
  • mr_hippo
    mr_hippo Posts: 1,051
    Once you get wet, you can't get any wetter!
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,715
    All I'll say is that skin dries quicker than clothes. You know what to do.
  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    Did you get a soaking?
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I would have if I went out, decided I'd give it a miss, allthough I am aware I cant keep on going like this giving wet days a miss, so tommorow I'm going to have a ride up to where I was going to go yesterday, climb some hills, but before I get there going to go into some bike shops in town and see what overshoes they have got in. I have a great big anorak aswell, could keep me dry but its far too big to fold up.
  • feel
    feel Posts: 800
    willhub wrote:
    I would have if I went out, decided I'd give it a miss, .

    Wus :wink: I was out !


    Miind it didn't rain in leicestershire :lol:
    We are born with the dead:
    See, they return, and bring us with them.
  • CrookedCucumber
    CrookedCucumber Posts: 324
    willhub wrote:
    I would have if I went out, decided I'd give it a miss, allthough I am aware I cant keep on going like this giving wet days a miss...

    Why not? You cycle for fun don't you? What part of cycling in torrential rain is fun?

    Mind you, I went out in the rain last week, because it looked like it was going to rain forever. Turned out dry the next day. Hmph!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I do cycle for fun but also I want to improve and all that and sometimes its not always fun, when I'm doing a TT sure its fun but sometimes its just agony and just pushing as hard as I can, I know its only a race against the clock but I still dont like been overtaken! :P

    I use my bike to get to college, heavy thundery showers tommorow, think I'm going to test this giant anorak I have thats pretty long and should protect my back side from getting wet but not my legs, will just have to see how it goes.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    woops double post.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Don't ride in the rain???

    Dennis Noward
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    dennisn wrote:
    Don't ride in the rain???

    Dennis Noward

    I use my bicycle to get to college... And some days that club rides are on it will be raining so I could miss alot of cycling time if I dont go out in the rain.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    willhub wrote:
    dennisn wrote:
    Don't ride in the rain???

    Dennis Noward

    I use my bicycle to get to college... And some days that club rides are on it will be raining so I could miss alot of cycling time if I dont go out in the rain.

    I was only kidding.

    Dennis Noward
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    When it gets heavy I think I'll just stop and stand in it, much better than riding in it getting even worse.
  • CrookedCucumber
    CrookedCucumber Posts: 324
    I don't believe there's any easy solution to the problem. If you cycle in the rain you either

    A. Wear waterproof gear, or
    B. Get wet

    Luckily, this time of year wet bike gear dries out quite quickly if you go for (B). But if was cycling to a place where there were no changing facilities or showers, I would wear waterproofs and put up with the encumbrance.
  • iga
    iga Posts: 155
    You could always go for the traditional option of the cycle cape. Wouldn't do your TT times any favours but if you're resorting to wearing an anorak tied round your waist it could be just the job for the commute!
    FCN 7
    Aravis Audax, Moulton TSR
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    This anorak I have is pretty good I think, it goes right down to my knees so covers my back side and my legs up to my knees so I think its should be fine, but dont know how it would be in heavy rain, reallyh heavy thundery rain.
  • lugster77
    lugster77 Posts: 50
    ever tried a mountain bike style seatpost mudguard ? looks a bit daft but stops ur backside getting wet!
  • Mog Uk
    Mog Uk Posts: 964
    You'll sweat like a bugger in an anorak, get yourself a lightweight waterproof jacket ( £10 from Decathlon ) does the job it was designed todo......

    Overshoes are a must, wet feet really get you down. A decent set of mudguards ( SKS ) can make a huge difference, my daily commuter has a set on 24/7. I also find a summer cap helps, keeps the rain out of your eyes....
    Manchester Wheelers' Club
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Mog Uk wrote:
    You'll sweat like a bugger in an anorak, get yourself a lightweight waterproof jacket ( £10 from Decathlon ) does the job it was designed todo......

    Overshoes are a must, wet feet really get you down. A decent set of mudguards ( SKS ) can make a huge difference, my daily commuter has a set on 24/7. I also find a summer cap helps, keeps the rain out of your eyes....

    Mud guards cost alot though, I will have a look around later for some around 20-30 quid though.
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    willhub wrote:
    Mog Uk wrote:
    You'll sweat like a bugger in an anorak, get yourself a lightweight waterproof jacket ( £10 from Decathlon ) does the job it was designed todo......

    Overshoes are a must, wet feet really get you down. A decent set of mudguards ( SKS ) can make a huge difference, my daily commuter has a set on 24/7. I also find a summer cap helps, keeps the rain out of your eyes....

    Mud guards cost alot though, I will have a look around later for some around 20-30 quid though.

    someone else suggested a mtb style mudguard that attaches to the seatpost.....

    these are about a tenner........
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    cee wrote:
    willhub wrote:
    Mog Uk wrote:
    You'll sweat like a bugger in an anorak, get yourself a lightweight waterproof jacket ( £10 from Decathlon ) does the job it was designed todo......

    Overshoes are a must, wet feet really get you down. A decent set of mudguards ( SKS ) can make a huge difference, my daily commuter has a set on 24/7. I also find a summer cap helps, keeps the rain out of your eyes....

    Mud guards cost alot though, I will have a look around later for some around 20-30 quid though.

    someone else suggested a mtb style mudguard that attaches to the seatpost.....

    these are about a tenner........

    I would prefer a prpor set of mudguards due to the fact its not just my backside that gets wet, its also the back of my legs as the water is flicked up so need a mudguard to protect it, should not be a priority though as the weather for the rest of the week up to saturday is dry and hot, no doubt sunday it will get bad again though :roll:
  • Swannie
    Swannie Posts: 107
    Hi Will,

    Really enjoying reading about your cycling improvements :-)

    I'd 100% go with the "get a waterproof for £10" sentiment. You'll still get a bit sweaty under it, but no where near as much as a full anorak.

    And £10 for a seat post mudguard. This is something I would ideally try to get off of FreeCycle or ask mates if they have a bike with one, which they don't ride. And ask your cycling club :-)

    If you are heading to college, getting there with wet feet, a coat that won't dry by the time you need to go home, which is also covered in mud... will not be a productive day at college!

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