Recumbent rain gear?
Jeff Caldwell
Jon Meinecke
<jeffrey.d...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> What do the list's recumbent riders use for rain gear?
Inexpensive waterproof breathable rain paints (Red Ledge).
These double as my wind pants, warm pants, and long pants.
>
> It seems like the lower body is more exposed to the elements than on an upright bike.
Front fairing on my Tour Easy keeps much of rain off my legs when rolling.
Unless it is cold, I generally don't bother to put on rain pants. Have to be
careful when stopping since damp/wet legs can chill off quickly.
>
> Do capes work on recumbents?
That's dependent on geometry of bike (and cape), but I can't imagine
a cape would be a good choice on any of my recumbents.
Jon
David Cousins
Thanks for that picture. I'm wondering why more of us don't post pictures? Although this particular photo looks cold and miserable. :)
Dave
On Sep 27, 2011, at 2:33 PM, Jeff Caldwell wrote:
What do the list's recumbent riders use for rain gear? It seems like the lower body is more exposed to the elements than on an upright bike. Do capes work on recumbents?
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David Whitmon
That was taken about 10 miles shy of a 50 +/- mile ride. It was
rather nice within the shell with the occasional wiping of my glasses
from wind blown spray.
I was holding the camera up above eye level which is below the edge
of that windshield.
David
Jeff Caldwell
David Whitmon
There is something neat about riding in the rain and stay dry as you
tool along.
But then again, there is a friend of mine who rides an upright 2
wheeler who is out there all year round. I was out riding one night
last winter in a heavy rainstorm thinking I was hot sh*t when coming
down the bike path was my friend Norton. I was comfortable, I was dry
and Norton was wearing rain gear but I sure didn't feel so hot after
we passed each other.
Norton rode Paris Brest Paris this year. He is "Da Man!"
Below is part way through a fairly light rain ride.
David
Clifford Allo
1. Use a small plastic grocery bag to keep the spongey RANS seat from absorbing copious amounts of water. Very important because sitting in a puddle is bad for the skin and drains heat. Pre-emptive wink: this is the only context in which I see an advantage to a hard leather Brooks saddle.
2. I use a poncho to reduce the amount of fresh water reaching my core. I figure I'm not going to stay dry but if I can warm up what does get to me without having to warm up more water all the time, then I won't get chilled. Or as cold. As soon. The poncho is good enough to do that and breathes much better than a rain suit.
3. I let my legs take care of themselves. Long pants would soak up rain, chafe, and stay wet and cold. Bare skin sheds the rain pretty well and the working muscles keep the legs warm. Works for me but no guarantees for everyone else.
4. If it's going to be cooler, I wear the inexpensive Polartec knockoff jacket from Target. Keeps me warm even when it gets wet. In a light rain, it can be enough without the poncho. The newer ones with a zip front are easier to fine tune for warmth and breathing than the older pullovers. (In this context breathing is venting sweat rather than inflating lungs)
5. Always avoid cotton.
6. Never forget #5.
7. On a post-Thanksgiving tour well into the Oregon-Washington rainy season, I found it convenient to change into dry clothes before having lunch at Subway. Sitting in wet stuff was unappealing and suddenly becoming warm and dry made the sandwich so much better and set up the rest of the afternoon.
8. Trimming the length of the day can be justified as recognition that rain diminishes motorists' ability to see us. Safety is paramount and that stopping early enhances comfort is an unavoidable side effect that could not possibly be a motivation.
Jeff Caldwell
On my upright bikes, I only wear pants when it gets cold enough that I
need to keep out wind. I, too, let my legs get wet most of the time.
Mark made the point that the function served by a bicycle jacket's
tail, in the rear, needs to be served in the front on a recumbent. A
poncho, as Clifford suggests, probably is long enough to do that. I
have lots to think about and to try.
Jeff
Jon Meinecke
> 1. Use a small plastic grocery bag to keep the spongey RANS seat from absorbing copious amounts of water.
LIkewise for Easy Racer 'koolback' seats as well.
I find sitting on the seat enough to keep it reasonable dry for
a resonable time in reasonable, if wet conditions.
The solution for the seat getting wet is the same as for keeping it dry.
Cover seat with plastic bag. Then you can avoid sitting in a 'puddle'.
Motel towels do a reasonable job of blotting soaked seat pads.
> 5. Always avoid cotton.
> 6. Never forget #5.
True, generally, but depends on conditions.
Cotton doesn't kill.
Inappropriate use thereof may.
I carried but one article of cotton on my last tour. A bandanna.
> 7. [...] I found it convenient to change into dry clothes before having
> lunch at Subway.
I know from personal experience that the people in McDonald's tend
to stare at you more if you are dripping all over the floor! %^P Been
there done that several times. I sat in McD's for an hour waiting for
my wife to come pick me up when I bailed on a local ride. It wasn't
so much the rain, but the rain with 40 mph winds that, ahem, damped
my urge to finish my ride.
Jon