Best way to stay dry when commuting

hoathy

I was thinking of purchasing some Endura Stealth bib tights and was wondering if anyone has used/knows if these are any good. I hate getting wet. I really really annoys me an unreasonable amount. The Stealths are really expensive, but i am sick of the ride up/ride down situation with my Altura waterproof overtrousers + I can never figure out what to wear underneath them as shorts mean my skin is against the overtrouser, and trousers just seem to make everything so difficult.

Anyone got any ideas? What do you wear to keep dry?

Kieran_Burns

I may have to start a poll:

The number of times people use the terms "skin is waterproof" and "MTFU"

I may have to start at 100 and go up from there.




However, being serious - I bought the overtrousers and never used them... I have no issue with my legs getting wet.. to be honest I'm more concerned about the heat loss effect from the rain, so keep my torso dry and let the rest get wet. Then again, I am one of those nutters who laughs more the harder the rain gets.

clanton

Possibly stupid question but - have you got mudguards? They help enormously. Other than that I just wear regular, non waterproof longs.

cjcp

+1 for not concerned about the legs getting wet, and more concerned about keeping them warm.

I wear bib shorts over fleece-lined running tights. The legs stay nice and toasty.

pastryboy

If your shoes and your top half are waterproof then the rain will just run off your legs and you'll never really be that wet. It's only damp clothing that's unpleasant.

FeynmanC

If you want to stay dry, take the car. Other than that concentrate on your top half and let the legs get soggy.

I've just got some sealskinz waterproof merino socks though, as wet cold feet are not much fun after the first 10 miles.

Wooliferkins

Showerproof/windproof longs from Campag, Lusso and my fast unravelling old Adidas have been brilliant. The heat generated when riding keeps all but the torrential out and at that stage I'm too busy giggling at the ridiculousness of the weather to worry.

rhext

+1 for get used to getting wet. Important to keep warm, and mudguards will help a lot. Otherwise it's choose between sweat and rain. For me, spring/summer/autumn it's rain, winter it's goretex paclight to keep out the worst of the sleet from my top. Legs can fend for themselves, but make sure youve got leggings which will retain warmth even when soaked.

I used to hate it too. Now I'm with the 'if it gets really heavy then have a giggle' brigade.

hoathy

replys:

i have no mudgaurds because they get damaged when i take the wheels out.
i don't take the car beacuse i don't have one.

also: from what your saying i'm best off with some regular/windproof tights.

Barteos

Wooliferkins wrote:

I'm too busy giggling at the ridiculousness of the weather to worry.

I always thought it's just me doing this

highwaymunky

A colleague asked me this question the other day.

The standard response is "Well i'm not made of sugar..... so i don't worry about it"
For those who know me better they get a "MTFU you great jessy!"

But in a serious response Endura over trousers were very comfy last year and kept me dry..... until my fat ass ripped em! if you really don't like getting wet then full water proof jacket, over trousers, over shoes, seal skin extremities.

Of maybe:


But I couldn't do it to myself :shock:

rhext

Hoathy wrote:

replys:

i have no mudgaurds because they get damaged when i take the wheels out.
i don't take the car beacuse i don't have one.

also: from what your saying i'm best off with some regular/windproof tights.

You need better mudguards...... Doesn't matter what you wear, you won't keep dry with two wheels spraying water upwards while the rain is falling downwards.....

On reflection, you perhaps need to be a bit careful about some of this advice: I commute 12 miles each way, tend to work hard at it and shower when I get in. Over that distance there's no point trying to keep dry because it's impossible so you might as well just resign yourself to getting soaked. If I were only doing 5 miles and didn't work so hard, I might try to keep dry - in which case I'd be looking for waterproof leggings and a jacket. And equally, if I were out all day in it touring, I'd take at least a waterproof jacket because at the end of the day being damp and a little overheated is perhaps a bit better than being wringing wet for the whole day.

will3

Use an umbrella

kurako

Don't mind getting wet so much but soggy socks and shoes are horrible. Overshoes are the only thing which I'm really glad to have on rainy days.

The Rookie

I use Mountian bike shoes, feet stay almost totally dry however hard its raining over my 7.5m commute, top half I have a howies water'proof' bottom half I wear semi longs which are water resisytant enough to allow my heat to boil off what gets through.

Downtube crud catcher (Hybrid style bike) and a deflector on the fork crown cut very close to the tyre (less than 3mm clearance) to stop the tyre spraying waterforward and up, rear small mudguard and a cover on my rack stop 95% of spray on all but my lower legs.

Simon

itboffin

Kieran_Burns wrote:

I may have to start a poll:

The number of times people use the terms "skin is waterproof" and "MTFU"

I may have to start at 100 and go up from there.




However, being serious - I bought the overtrousers and never used them... I have no issue with my legs getting wet.. to be honest I'm more concerned about the heat loss effect from the rain, so keep my torso dry and let the rest get wet. Then again, I am one of those nutters who laughs more the harder the rain gets.

Move so far the rain doesn't touch you, eh eh! bet you weren't expecting that answer now were you?