Help me stay dry and warm on my commute !!

bilabonic
bilabonic Posts: 299
edited September 2009 in Road beginners
Hi

After getting an absolute soaking earlier i think it's time to invest in some gear for my daily commute.
I currently just wear a jogging t-shirt with an old golf weatherproof long sleeve top and a pair of ron hill joggers with standard trainers, also a pair of fingerless gloves.

Today i got absolutely soaked to the skin even through my trainers, and with a slight wind with wet material touching me felt the cold a bit.

Obviously i need some better gear to stay dry and warm.

What shall i go for peeps which is breathable but dry/warm, if theres such a thing.

Cheers
Specialized Epic FSR Carbon Comp

Comments

  • your car
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    How far is your commute and what's your budget?
    More problems but still living....
  • sheffsimon
    sheffsimon Posts: 1,282
    bilabonic wrote:
    Hi

    After getting an absolute soaking earlier i think it's time to invest in some gear for my daily commute.
    I currently just wear a jogging t-shirt with an old golf weatherproof long sleeve top and a pair of ron hill joggers with standard trainers, also a pair of fingerless gloves.

    Today i got absolutely soaked to the skin even through my trainers, and with a slight wind with wet material touching me felt the cold a bit.

    Obviously i need some better gear to stay dry and warm.

    What shall i go for peeps which is breathable but dry/warm, if theres such a thing.

    Cheers

    There are any number of waterproof jackets which are alledgedly breathable, I bought one for last winters commuting (Endura night vision I think, plus some Endura trousers and overshoes) and it keeps me warm (sometimes too warm), dry but still a bit sweaty. I think most will make you a bit sweaty if you are putting any effort in. They all rely on a big temperature difference between inside and outside of jacket to make em breathe.

    I'm going to get something a bit more lightweight for this winter, start off cold and warm up through my efforts, and hopefully arrive at work not in too much of a lather! :)

    Trousers are good though, not keen on strolling thru office in me lycra thermal bib tights and neoprene overshoes that I train in during winter. :?

    Main things are good gloves and hat (I dont wear a helmet) and mudguards in winter (make a massive difference to how wet you get).
  • I discovered is better to be wet but warm than dry but cold.

    So I invested in tops that keep me warm even when wet, by not soaking up water. This way, I only really need lightweight waterrepellent or waterproof outer layers which only really shed the worse of it.

    Overshoes are a must. Windproof at a minimum, but waterproof are best.

    A merino or microfleece top with some wind proofing also helps in light rain, and an ultra lightweight waterproof jacket (the ones that pack up into the size of an apple) then helps to keep you drier.

    I am a strong believer in less-is-more, so if I can get away with one clothing item doing all of the above I am happier.

    I found a combination that satisfies me but I am also on a very limited budget and I certainly make the most of what I have.
  • SheffSimon wrote:

    Trousers are good though, not keen on strolling thru office in me lycra thermal bib tights and neoprene overshoes that I train in during winter. :?

    I personally find that my winter bib longs are the best winter gear: they keep me warm, don't soak up water, and don't have any issue in others seeing me in it.

    Mudguards not only stop your bum from getting wet and cold, but also stop your face from getting sprayed by the front tyre too.
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    Image is important too!!!

    If you are riding a hybrid then a good option is Endura Gridlock trousers and jacket at a combined £90. The jacket you have a choice of colours too.

    If you are riding a road bike then a set of rubaix biblongs is a must, with something like an Endura Windchill jacket (waterproofed lycra, highly recommended by me))

    If you are riding a MTB then something like Endura Techpants (they are good, trust me) along with a Flyte or Venturi II jacket (not cheap but worth every penny) is the order of the day.
  • On a hybrid guys, only got a 20 min commute. Deffo fance a hat ias i do not wear a helmet on commute.

    I have the endura windproof jacket.

    So need a hat, nice pair gloves and jacket for starters.

    Cheers
    Specialized Epic FSR Carbon Comp
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Wetsuit and balaclava ? :)
  • Dess1e
    Dess1e Posts: 239
    As mentioned above - full length mudguards are your best friend when its wet and cold.

    Else as also mentioned goretex type materials for th eshell layer, and wicking fabrics for the base to keep you warm and dryish. Nothing will stop you from getting at least partially wet in a dowpour, but then that is half the challenge of riding in the UK.