P
Peter Cole
Guest
"Erik Brooks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Peter Cole" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<XwHwb.298157$HS4.2683929@attbi_s01>...
> > "Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Waterproof and breathable fabrics work great, but you have to know their limits. It amazes me
> > > when people complain about sweating when it's
cold.
> > > If you hate sweating either unzip and cool off or give up riding!
> ><snip!> Why complain if it works so well you have too much heat!! Adjust!!
> >
> > Perhaps you haven't ridden in the rain. If you unzip your jacket, you'll
get
> > soaked.
>
> I'm a multi-year, year around Seattle bike commuter. I've ridden the rain lots, and I thought that
> Bruce's comments were the most sensible of the lot.
>
> Peter, maybe you have the wrong jacket? I'm happy with my Burley, and I've heard lots of other
> positives about the brand. I'm zipping up and down often, raining or not. The jacket should make
> it easy to make adjustments, and it's important to do the adjustments 'before you need them'. I
> view it like the excellent advice about eating and drinking during physical efforts - if you wait
> til you are hungry or thirsty, you've put off the eating or drinking too long for optimim
> performance.
>
> In the case of rainwear, I think it's important to have good pit zips, 2 way zippers, and also to
> have good fenders.
I've used jackets of all materials and features, and I've never found one that could keep up with my
sweating. I find membrane fabrics to be particularly worthless (given the high price). I also hate
anything loose or flapping when I ride. If it's below 40F and raining, I just wear a DWR treated
jacket (with vents) and plan to get wet from sweat. Synthetic fleece absorbs less than anything else
(including wool), I cover myself from head to toe in stretch fleece (jersey, tights, socks).
Smartwool is great (I have a dozen pair of socks in all lengths & weights), until it gets wet. I
know several people with Burley and PI jackets, they're OK, not miraculous.
Cold rain is about the toughest thing to ride in, with the possible exception of sub-freezing,
heavily salted, snowy roads, where you get splashed with icy brine. Of all things, I hate cold, wet
feet, butt and hands. Fenders make a world of difference. I use full neoprene foam (industrial)
gloves and latex shoe covers, neoprene booties never seemed waterproof enough.
Around here (Boston), it seems the only winter riders are the commuters and the "fitness" types (I'm
in the latter category). Sweat is much less of a problem when you're cycling at a moderate
intensity. If I was commuting, I'd just use a cape and pace myself.
news:[email protected]...
> "Peter Cole" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<XwHwb.298157$HS4.2683929@attbi_s01>...
> > "Bruce" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Waterproof and breathable fabrics work great, but you have to know their limits. It amazes me
> > > when people complain about sweating when it's
cold.
> > > If you hate sweating either unzip and cool off or give up riding!
> ><snip!> Why complain if it works so well you have too much heat!! Adjust!!
> >
> > Perhaps you haven't ridden in the rain. If you unzip your jacket, you'll
get
> > soaked.
>
> I'm a multi-year, year around Seattle bike commuter. I've ridden the rain lots, and I thought that
> Bruce's comments were the most sensible of the lot.
>
> Peter, maybe you have the wrong jacket? I'm happy with my Burley, and I've heard lots of other
> positives about the brand. I'm zipping up and down often, raining or not. The jacket should make
> it easy to make adjustments, and it's important to do the adjustments 'before you need them'. I
> view it like the excellent advice about eating and drinking during physical efforts - if you wait
> til you are hungry or thirsty, you've put off the eating or drinking too long for optimim
> performance.
>
> In the case of rainwear, I think it's important to have good pit zips, 2 way zippers, and also to
> have good fenders.
I've used jackets of all materials and features, and I've never found one that could keep up with my
sweating. I find membrane fabrics to be particularly worthless (given the high price). I also hate
anything loose or flapping when I ride. If it's below 40F and raining, I just wear a DWR treated
jacket (with vents) and plan to get wet from sweat. Synthetic fleece absorbs less than anything else
(including wool), I cover myself from head to toe in stretch fleece (jersey, tights, socks).
Smartwool is great (I have a dozen pair of socks in all lengths & weights), until it gets wet. I
know several people with Burley and PI jackets, they're OK, not miraculous.
Cold rain is about the toughest thing to ride in, with the possible exception of sub-freezing,
heavily salted, snowy roads, where you get splashed with icy brine. Of all things, I hate cold, wet
feet, butt and hands. Fenders make a world of difference. I use full neoprene foam (industrial)
gloves and latex shoe covers, neoprene booties never seemed waterproof enough.
Around here (Boston), it seems the only winter riders are the commuters and the "fitness" types (I'm
in the latter category). Sweat is much less of a problem when you're cycling at a moderate
intensity. If I was commuting, I'd just use a cape and pace myself.
