Rode today and got absolutely soaked through to the skin – again! I need to spend some serious money on a jacket that’s gonna keep my body dry. I’d prefer it to be packable and not need re-proofing very often. Can anyone tell me (from their experience) wot’s the best please?

I would also love a pair of shorts that wont leave me sitting in ball soup after half and hour if anyone has any recommendations. /hijack

Goretex army trousers are quite good and cheap from ebay. I have cut mine into shorts.

endura stealth kit is fantastic I love the waterproof cycle tights and the jackets are tops as well.

^^^^^^ +1 for the AS Goretex cut into shorts

Only problem with the AS shorts is that mine have no pockets so if I want to get into my pocket in my normal shorts that I wear underneath I have to put my hand down the front.

bin bag for a jacket and incontanace pants. bone dry.and kinky

What’s the point? I wet from the inside, as long as the wind is kept out…

Only problem with the AS shorts is that mine have no pockets so if I want to get into my pocket in my normal shorts that I wear underneath I have to put my hand down the front.

Just make sure you don’t do it in front of any woman, you could get arrested 😯

I wet from the inside…..

You probably want to read the post above yours.

Put mudguards on our bike,wear waterproofs. I have never found anything that is breathable enough for a bike and still waterproof so when its really wet and I have to ride I have used builders oilskins – not too much on underneath so you don’t sweat and ankles, wrists and neck all open for ventilation. coupled with a broad brimmed hat.

pmsl 😯

I got one of those gore bike wear fusion jackets, hands down the best cycling jacket I have ever had.

For me it’s about letting the parts I don’t care about- arms, lower legs- get wet, so that they can be radiators for the parts I want to keep dry. So, Altura Attack waterproof shorts, and a waterproof gillet, waterproof gloves and socks. Far more comfortable riding like this than in full waterproofs sweating like a pig.

Altura attack +1

Gore Jacket and waterproof short over long tights.
Someone recommended wearing gaiters not long ago, having ridden in them yesterday in snow, hail and rain, they really work. Only bit that was wet was my face, oh and knees.

Gaiters kept my feet warm and almost dry, also stopped water dripping down into waterproof socks.

Oh and a hat or buff under your helmet helps.

Keeping dry is a losing game on a bike. Wear nice wicking clothing that at least keeps you warm and wet. This is why merino is so popular. In pouring rain a breathable waterproof helps a bit, but you’ll get wet from the outside or the inside eventually. Your backside will get soaking whatever, so toughen up. Feet keep warm if you wear seal skinz with a liner, although they go squelchy quickly. I’d go with what Northwind says. Although a ‘gilet’ sounds way too southern for Edinburgh 🙂
mudguards! For commuting, sure.

Altura Attack 3/4 shorts (keep the receipt if you get some) and an eVent jacket works good for me.

@tandemjeremy. I see what your getting at, but the picture you paint sounds like a ‘specialist taste’.

🙂

Northwind: That sounds sensible. The more I think about your idea the more I like it. But doesn’t the garment under the w/proof gillet get wet from the water wicking up from the exposed sleeves?

prettygreenparrot – Member

Although a ‘gilet’ sounds way too southern for Edinburgh

Ah, hang on- Fucccckiii*iiiiiiiinnnnnnn wan a thae, fuccccckiiiiiii*innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, vest hingmies.

Gore is all you need. 🙂

Bunnyhop – what length gaitors, ie knee or ankle? Did they stay in place? Does the strap under the heel affect pedalling? Thanks. 🙂

TJ said “Put mudguards on our bike” it is amazing on how wet (and cold) you can get just by spray from the tyres.

Mudguards, cape, sorted.

Hey epicyclo, don’t forget to top it all off with a sou’wester.

c_g.
The gaiters I tried were cheap knee high. Because I wear flats they fitted perfectly, clipped into the first lace of my 5.10s. then
just tied them underneath and tucked the loose laces in.

I properly tried them out over all sorts of terrain and found myself warm and dry at the end 🙂

Just ordered some berghaus glacier gaitors off amazon, looking forward to warm dry feet. 😀

Endura stealth works great, but is way too warm unless we’re talking minus temps or I wear nowt underneath

epicyclo – Member
Mudguards, cape, sorted.

I wear summer shoes (they let water out), wool socks, bib tights, short sleeve top and gore tex jacket. Legs and feet get wet (I’ve always found this the best way to keep warm) and trunk stays dry and toasty. (gore tex jacket has pit zips)

Waste of time and money trying to keep dry, just try and keep warm, have spare base layers if you commute for the end journey.

I’m in the waterproof camp. I have been on long 4 hour rides in lashing rain and got pretty humid under the covers, but that’s hugely preferable in my view to being continually drenched in freezing cold rain. And when a lorry ploughs through a puddle dumping a hundred litres of water over you and you still stay warm – well that’s a nice feeling 🙂

I also have found that there’s not much point in being partially waterproof for a long ride because water will wick along the exposed bits and soak you anyway. Consequently for shorter rides or light rain I don’t bother with any waterproofs, I just do the windproof thing. But in proper persistent downpours and most importantly when you have to set off in the rain, I get suited up.

Oh and definitely mudguards – spray from wheels puts your fabrics under much more stress.

I really like my Berghaus cycling trousers, but I can’t remember their name. My jacket’s not that good so I won’t recommend it 🙂

I used to use stretchy waterproof fabric overshoes (not neoprene) they were pretty good, but then I picked up some waterproof winter cycling shoes in the sale, which are better.

I’m also a big fan of the AS DPM cutoffs they really do work (but look a bit “special”), personally I Don’t want pockets in my riding shorts falling on keys/multitools doesn’t appeal…

I need to re-proof my Endura phantom which is only really intended for spring/autumn but has served all year round. Its starting to let moisture through on the forearms but has been OK for about a year and keeps the wet and wind off with various layers underneath… But I could seriously do with a more wintery water proof jacket really might be a christmas pressie to myself, tempted by a stealth but don’t want to boil in the bag either…

Endura stealth works great, but is way too warm unless we’re talking minus temps or I wear nowt underneath

The trick with the Stealth is to use the pit zips then it’s pretty much perfect. It’s amazing the difference it makes opening up a couple of zips by an inch or so.

What prettygreenparrot said really. If you’re not wearing a hood it’ll come down the neck anyway, so these days I tend to go for keeping the wind off and staying warm and damp inside.

endura stealth kit is fantastic I love the waterproof cycle tights and the jackets are tops as well.

Where do you ride tazzy? Maybe the Stealth is a lot more breathable than I think it is, but I’ve got a couple of Gore Windstopper bits and can’t imagine MTBing in them in anything above 0 degrees.

If you’re not wearing a hood it’ll come down the neck anyway

I don’t find that an issue. My jacket has no hood but a nice snug collar that fits very neatly all the way round, and when I’m in a riding position it’s enough to keep the rain out.

Is Gore Windstopper not windblocking fleece? And hence far warmer than a waterproof..?

Waste of time and money trying to keep dry, just try and keep warm

Agreed. Goretex on a bike in really wet weather is a waste of time ime. Being wet doesn’t do you any harm, it’s getting cold from windchill that’s the problem. Sweat from the inside or rain from the outside, it has the same effect in chilling you.

On top, I prefer something windproof, insulating and fast-drying, wicking and properly breatahble – ie mostly things that Goretex isnt – with a merino base layer. Waterproof shorts or trousers can be helpful though as your legs don’t tend to overheat or chill as fast.

Goretex is great for walking the dog in the rain, or as an outer layer if you’re out in a mountain storm, but for cycling it’s hopeless imo, simply a clever fabric that’s applied to too many uses due to having a strong brand name.
I have a goretex paclite jacket that I carry if I think there’s a chance of being static in the rain for a long period (ie hardly ever take it cycling but it’d be in my rucsack full-time), but I’d rather be wearing a pile-lined Pertex top and a thin Merino layer as I’d stay warmer, dry out faster and still be warm when I stopped.

I need to spend some serious money on a jacket that’s gonna keep my body dry

That’s what they’d like you to believe – £200+ on a Goretex or similar jacket.. for riding a bike for a few hours in normal British rain? I know experimenting with clothing is expensive, but look at what most MRT guys use for reassurance and try just using a couple of Merino tops (one thin next to skin, one thicker and a little looser as a mid layer) and a close-fitting windproof (£30 job, water-resistant and much more breathable than a ‘proof) to get the basic effect – it works well. You’ll get wet whatever you do, feeling wet and warm is a strange kind of outdoors snug though )

worst thing I find is wheel spray, difficult keeping warm when you are constantly getting sprayed with cold water. soooo
Rear crudguard, front neoprene guard.
Overshoes
Stealth-lite tights (over the top of overshoes, prevent water running into your shoes)
Currently erring towards wind rather than water proof jackets, nice and warm but still breathable, in torrential rain I’d probably go waterproof.

Someone has already mentioned the gore fusion jacket and I have to agree it’s the best fully waterproof cycling jacket I’ve ever tried. Very waterproof, very breathable, warm but just comfortably warm. Expensive but i’ve been using mine for three winters commuting at least 100 miles a week and its still in perfect condition.

Also use gore waterproof shorts.

That combo and a full set of guards means I stay pretty dry.