Winter Riding
One of those days when all the car drivers were sitting smugly in their dry metal boxes, peering out at me sitting at the traffic lights while the rain sheeted in. My shoes already soaked through and rapidly filling with water, water running down my face and blood slowly withdrawing from my finger tips. A day at work spent squelching around in wet socks and my office looking like a laundry with rain jacket, pack cover and cycling clothes hanging out to dry. Just a few months ago I was looking for every bit of shade I could on the commute to work! Its time to unpack the shoe covers, waterproof pants and maybe invest in one of those high-vis vests.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on -
To finish this crappy day on a positive note, my usual Tue night group was small, but we had a dry ride up Cement Hill and back to town via Hallett Cove. It was a tad windy, which is why we didn't go /down/ Cement Hill :-)
The rain radar, which showed that we'd probably have a few dry hours after those showers around 6pm, is a marvellous thing.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Warner on
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I rode home from work this morning at 7am, and was lucky to make it dry.
Just remember that getting soaked on a ride builds character, and it's harder on the bike than it is on you :-)
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Permalink Reply by Gus K on -
It's funny you mention hi-viz vests. I have this fantasitc Gore-Tex jacket. Light, windproof, breathable, warm, fits really well - it's a light ski jacket by Salomon actually and I love wearing it but it's black. I've been researching new 'cycling' jackets and I can't move on from the fact I have a good one already but it renders me near invisible!
So after today I am going to go all out and find a good 'visibility add on'
As for wet stuff. I leave extra shoes, sock & jocks etc at work for these sorts of days. Might take a bit of time to warm up but it's easier when you get to change into nice dry clothes.
.. or as someone said the other day.. supermarket fruit and vege bags over your socks!
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on -
Ive got a nice Netti bright yellow rain jacket, but I have seen a few people in those high vis vests and I reckon on days when the light is poor (like from now till September) and/or its raining they really do stand out. Its just finding something that you can wear with/without a backpack.
Ive got some great shoe covers which work really well....but only when I remember to put them on before leaving home. Ive used placcy bags in the past but its not a entirely "neat" solution and you feel a bit of a dill riding around with two shopping bags whirring around!
And I dont mind getting wet on the bike, its being wet when I get to work thats the un-fun, un-character building part :)
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Permalink Reply by Gus K on
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You'll have to get some of that new DNA you discovered into you to withstand the cold!
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Permalink Reply by Derek Hasel on -
Jim You are a more committed man than I. Looked out the window this morning and said to myself. NUP, tomorrow.
The joy of retirement. I too recall getting drenched when riding to work and then having to put on wet gear to ride home. The delights of it all. I am committed to get out in the morning come Hell or High Water.
Did you get home OK on Sunday. I wondered where you had gone and then Carla said that you had gone to source some 'special' pasta. (at least I think that is what she said)
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Permalink Reply by Vujos Ostojic on -
HI jeremy im a builder and we must wear hi vis on site so i suggest you go to places like rays outdoors and buy a t shirt and wear it over yre jersey pro solved. There arnt very expensive and their very light even when they are wet GD LUCK
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
Some years ago I looked for a high visibility mesh vest in a work safety store. Told that updated laws meant that workers had to use solid materials not mesh, and manufacturers do not bother making especially for cyclists. I bought some basketball mesh and made my own. Took some searching for the reflective tape. Cannot recall the business name, but it was in Mile End South and on the old bikedirect street, on eastern side of street (Rosslyn or William St?) before the changes to James Congdon Drive. The business offered to make me a mesh vest but I already had material so I made my own. If you do get a mesh vest, an advantage is that it does not get as wet as a shirt.
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Permalink Reply by Shane Sody on -
My tip for riding in the rain is a spare set of clothes in Ortlieb panniers. Those panniers really are waterproof! When there's rain on the radar (as there was today) I ride to work with not only my usual change of clothes for work, but also a spare pair of dry knicks, top and socks for the ride home.
I also have a high-visibility item of clothing that I always wear when riding after dark. It's something less substantial than a vest - just a red X across my chest and back, decorated with about 40 reflective strips. Very visible. It ties on over my top, with strings/laces. I haven't seen anyone else wearing this sort of thing, I bought it about 25 years ago at Clarence St Cyclery in Sydney.
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Permalink Reply by Joe on -
Gotta get myself some shoe covers, mostly don't mind a bit of getting wet although rather it be on the way rather than coming into work as nothing dries by hometime and putting wet close on is terrible
Did bail on riding yesterday, last winter think I rode most work days and only got wet maybe 3 times, showers in Adelaide rarely happen all day, unless is heavyish when I get up I ride
got myself one of those battery powered exelite x things for my back pack, they seem to work well
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
I saw a guy riding up Nth East road the other day with a hi vis bright orange sleeveless jacket that was worn and appeared to have been designed to be worn over the back pack. So they are available, maybe somewhere like Rays Outdoors.
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Permalink Reply by CMorgan on -
Hats (or helmets) off to all of you who cycled in yesterday's weather (especially the morning). I consider myself an all-weather cyclist (thunderstorms, blizzards, gale force winds, black ice - you name it i've cycled in it in Scotland/Ireland!) but a combination of 2 nasty viral infections over the last 3 weeks and the fact that my wife drives past my office en route to hers made me take the offer of a lift without a second thought! I know excuses, excuses ;-)
As for appropriate winter clothing i think layering is the most important thing - i'd go for 3 lightweight breathable layers rather than 2 medium ones. I also keep a full change of clothes in work (though i have done the squelchy sock dance a few times in the past - not nice!).
I prefer full-on hi-vis jacket to hi-vis vest/strips - i recently bought a hi-vis Craft Active lightweight rain jacket which has been great so far. Though i know it won't keep me dry in a prolonged heavy downpour, but then nothing will really! I also ride with a Topeak rack/pannier which means no backpack obscuring any hi-vis clothing i'm wearing (and also keeps my back dry from sweat in the summer months too)
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