Keeping dry during rain

Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

 

"justdo" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
> first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
> semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

I'm all in favor of the inventive spirit. However(I love that word!), the combination of a light
weight single track vehicle and large surface area is likely to provide some dramatic moments when
wind gusts are applied. Such wind gusts can be provided by passing cars.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

 

"justdo" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day.
1.fenders w/ mudflaps
2. Burley Rapid Rider jacket and helmet cover.
3. Gaiters and water proof shoes or SPD sandals and water proof socks.

Regards, Larry

 

justdo <[email protected]> wrote:
>Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
>first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
>semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

This sounds like a complicated way to reinvent the cycling cape.
--
David Damerell <[email protected]> Distortion Field!

 

In article <[email protected]>,
"Lawrence Fieman" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "justdo" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day.
> 1.fenders w/ mudflaps
> 2. Burley Rapid Rider jacket and helmet cover.
> 3. Gaiters and water proof shoes or SPD sandals and water proof socks.
>
> Regards, Larry

Just to elaborate, if you don't already have good, full-coverage fenders, this will make a
surprising difference in how dry you stay. You still need to get some decent rain clothing to stay
dry, but when your tires aren't churning every piece of road crap and water onto your back and front
sides, you and your bike stay much drier and more comfy.

20 mm tires, Esge fenders,
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email protected] http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

 

A rain coat will be may vote for the simplest gadget!

--
- Zilla (Remove XSPAM)

"justdo" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
> first thought was to have two horizontal
extension
> bar in front and the back connected by two semi-circular frame and cover
it
> over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

 

Fenders and mud flap on the front. Otherwise I dress down and just get wet, or in the cold wear my
Gortex windbreaker.

Water just cools you, saving you sweat. It's stuff off the road that's unpleasant.

The other unpleasant situation is a very light mist, where the visor under your helmet can't keep
it off your glasses even though nothing else is getting wet (a decent rain takes out mist and
fixes it).
--
Ron Hardin [email protected]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

 

"justdo" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
> first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
> semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

Issues of stability in crosswinds aside, one basic problem with staying dry while riding in the
rain is that even if you shield yourself from falling rain, the relative humidity is high when it's
raining and you are going to sweat. So your clothes will get damp while riding in the rain.
Fenders, a good quality rain suit and booties are what I use to remain relatively unsoaked while
riding in the rain.

Bill Putnam, who hasn't melted yet from riding in the rain

 

Ron Hardin <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

<cut>

> The other unpleasant situation is a very light mist, where the visor under your helmet can't keep
> it off your glasses even though nothing else is getting wet (a decent rain takes out mist and
> fixes it).

My glasses (prescription rather than sun) become useless in just about any wet weather, rain or
mist. I use skiing goggles to keep rain and mist off my glasses.

The original poster could try this device (raingo canopy):

http://www.alternatives.com/ultimate/jpg_gallery.html

I've never tried it so I don't know how loud other road users will laugh when you pass by.

 

Put fenders on your bike, if it doesn't already have them. Buy a Carradice rain cape and shoe
covers, and you're all set.

 

"Tim McNamara" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Put fenders on your bike, if it doesn't already have them. Buy a Carradice rain cape and shoe
> covers, and you're all set.

Man, nix the cape. The less flapping the better.

I have ridden in the rain almost everyday for the last month (we're setting records). It sucks, and
there is nothing that will keep you dry for very long. I use a Burley jacket, booties (Sidetrack),
medium-weight tights pulled over the top cuff of my booties, poly-pro t-shirt, synthetic jersey,
synthetic shortie socks. On fast rides, I would prefer a closer fitting water resistant/breathable
jacket like some of the offerings from Santini or Exteondo coupled with a wind resistant vest or
jacket that I could put on for down hills. The Burley is a good all around jacket, athough it is a
bit flappy. Fenders are a must, and booties are the single most important piece of clothing to me
because shoes and socks take so long to dry at work. I have a shoe dryer at home. -- Jay Beattie.

 

[email protected] (Andrew Webster) wrote:

> http://www.alternatives.com/ultimate/jpg_gallery.html

I betcha it's awesome with a good tailwind! I'd sure hate to have something like that with anything
but a tailwind, though.

RFM
--
To reply, translate domain from l33+ 2p33|< to alpha. 4=a 0=o 3=e +=t

 

Tim McNamara writes:

> Put fenders on your bike, if it doesn't already have them. Buy a Carradice rain cape and shoe
> covers, and you're all set

A rain cape!

Now I've heard it all.

 

In article <[email protected]>,
"Jay Beattie" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Tim McNamara" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Put fenders on your bike, if it doesn't already have them. Buy a Carradice rain cape and shoe
> > covers, and you're all set.
>
> Man, nix the cape. The less flapping the better.
>
> I have ridden in the rain almost everyday for the last month (we're setting records). It sucks,
> and there is nothing that will keep you dry for very long.

The Carradice cape does, because it's hugely better ventilated than a jacket. Keps most of the bike
dry as well. Of course, you don't want to be trying to time trial in a rain cape (or riding into a
strong headwind).

 

I got the idea when I was in Thailand where they have tricycle taxi (toto as they are call).
Passengers are keep dry in a small compartment by lowering transparent sheets and still able to
enjoy the view. Its very close to the picture shown in the link. It seem like a very practical kind
of urban travelling although I have not thought of the factors like crosswind, sweat, mist, etc.

"Andrew Webster" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Ron Hardin <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
>
> <cut>
>
> > The other unpleasant situation is a very light mist, where the visor under your helmet can't
> > keep it off your glasses even though nothing else is getting wet (a decent rain takes out mist
> > and fixes it).
>
> My glasses (prescription rather than sun) become useless in just about any wet weather, rain or
> mist. I use skiing goggles to keep rain and mist off my glasses.
>
> The original poster could try this device (raingo canopy):
>
> http://www.alternatives.com/ultimate/jpg_gallery.html
>
> I've never tried it so I don't know how loud other road users will laugh when you pass by.

 

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
>
>
>Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
>first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
>semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

Fenders help alot in that they keep the water kicked up by the tires from gettin you wet.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

 

In article <[email protected]>, Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
>>
>>
>>Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
>>first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
>>semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.
>
> Fenders help alot in that they keep the water kicked up by the tires from gettin you wet.
> -----------------
> Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)
>
>

The only way I know to keep dry on the bike is to stay at home when it's raining.

AC

--
<<|
| http://www.acampbell.org.uk/cycling/
_________ ,___o / \ __________ _\ <;_ / \ OCD Cycloclimbing ___________ (_)/ (_) / \
http://www.ocd.org.uk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Lawrence Flemen wrote:

"3. Gaiters and water proof shoes or SPD sandals and water proof socks. Regards, Larry"

In my commuting experience, there is no way to keep your shoes dry in the rain, unless you ride
plain pedals with no toe clips, or clipless mechanism's of any kind.

The clipless type need a hole for the cleat to engage the pedal, and that lets in water, and toe
clips eventually wear off the waterproof coating (or your shoes do from the inside).

The BEST way is to get some waterproof sock covers, or make some with some plastic bags (make sure
they don't leak), and forget about keeping the shoes dry. Just change into a dry pair at work.

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

 

"justdo" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Anyone has any good ideal how to modify a commuter bike to keep the rider dry during rainy day. My
> first thought was to have two horizontal extension bar in front and the back connected by two
> semi-circular frame and cover it over with transparent sheet much like those scooters.

Your feet are the most important part of your body to keep dry especially in cold weather. You will
be able to deal with other parts of your body wet and cold, but with frozen, wet feet you cannot
ride. Your head should stick out of the top for better wind turbulence stability.It is difficult to
see thru transparent material if it is wet. Use a helmet with a large baseball cap style visor.
Maybe you could just cover your lower body with your tent thing and wear a gore-tex rain coat on
top. Lots of water comes from your front wheel. A good fender keeps that water and dirt away from
your chain as well. To prototype your idea you should try corrugated cardboard tied together with
sliced innertube strips. This is cheap and recyclable. Make the final product out of coroplast and
polycarbonate. Wind turbulence is only a problem at either high wind or bike speeds. The speed to
avoid is over 35mph. If you go slow when you suspect a wind gust you may survive. Watch the weather
forecast for windy days. I notice that trucks have a bow wave that pushes my vehicle out of its way
first then there is turbulence behind the truck that will cause you to wreck if there is a stiff
crosswind. You can make your vehicle more stable in a crosswind by placing a vertical stabilizing
fin on the frame not forks in front of the front wheel and low. This will cause your bike to lean
into crosswinds. When you test your thing on the road make sure you are wearing as much protective
clothing as possible.

 

On Wed, 30 Apr 2003 18:34:59 -0400, Richard Ney wrote:

> Tim McNamara writes:
>
>> Put fenders on your bike, if it doesn't already have them. Buy a Carradice rain cape and shoe
>> covers, and you're all set
>
> A rain cape!
>
> Now I've heard it all.

Why do you say that? It's a very practical garment with a long history.