There was a strange moment during RTE News’ report on the flooding of the N3 last night. In between shots of the road in question, the camera focused on a teenager, wearing no waterproof gear to speak of, perched on a bike and watching the attempts to get the flooding under control.
I could easily imagine the chorus of “You’d be mad to go out on a bike in that weather!” from living rooms across the country. And I probably would have agreed, had I not been a cycling commuter in the midst of recovering from the thorough soaking I was treated to on my half-hour journey home.
My experience yesterday, and the tropical rain we’ve had (and will, apparently, continue to have for the next while) got me thinking about cycling in the rain. The truth is that, regardless of the state of their mental health, the vast majority of regular cyclists will frequently have to pedal on through heavy rain – be it for fifteen minutes or, in the case of those who earn their living on their bikes, a full working day.
The wet weather requirements of a city messenger are clearly quite different to those of the morning and evening commuter, who can afford to carry the bulky raingear and spare clothing that would slow down a courier. However, the basic concerns remain the same: how to stay as dry as possible – and cycle safely – when it’s bucketing down, you’ve only just started your journey, and every motorist you see appears to have a particularly smug look on their face.
Naturally, the main consideration for any cyclist anticipating rainy weather should be the acquisition of some decent waterproof gear. I purchased an Aldi cycling jacket for about €15 in May, which has stood up to the heavy rain of the past few days successfully. As for the lower half of my person, I currently practice the spare bottoms method – wearing old tracksuit bottoms and runners to and from work, and changing into less dingy apparel for the working day.
13 Comments
August 14, 2008 at 10:55 am
I’ve found that I can deal with the rain on the upper half — with waterproof trousers, raincoat, hat etc. — but avoiding soaked socks has so far eluded me.
I was just planning to go out to Lidl to see if I can buy some really cheap work boots, or similar rainproof boots with high uppers, for the really serious showers.
Bad-weather gear is definitely an essential for Irish cyclists…
August 14, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Ah, the wet feet conundrum. I was talking to a colleague about this yesterday and he recommended shoe covers – not the fancy specialist cycling shoe covers, mind you, but odd things made of the same fabric as waterproof trousers which sit over the shoe and go up to about the knee. Another cycling colleague recommends SealSkin socks (as mentioned by the couriers on DublinMessengers.org) as a great way to avoid that lovely damp feet feeling.
August 15, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My view? Simplify: an old pair of trainers (In my case, old Converse), no socks and a pair of shorts. And a change of clothes (with a pair of socks) and a spare pair of shoes in a backpack.
August 15, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Yeah — I’d considered that and I’ve seen a good few people taking that approach. but it makes for a chilly cycle. I quite like being relatively warm and dry while I’m cycling, if possible…
August 18, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I’ve found a decent solution for upper and bottom sections in Patagonia’s excellent waterproofs.
But, alas have often arrived with water literally sloshing around in my cycling shoes : (
August 18, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Ah, if only galoshes were as common as they used to be (apparently). They’d be the ideal solution, at least for those who cycle in ordinary shoes.
August 18, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I currently wear Docks, previously when commuting to work and collage I just made sure I wore shoes which are reasonably water tight.
August 18, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Yeah, Galoshes would be ideal ; )
August 18, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Nobody’s yet mentioned the good, old fashioned, low-budget solution: wrapping each foot (including the shoe) in a Dunnes plastic shopping bag, tied at the ankle. Stylish and cheap. The new fangled version, cycling overshoes, look the best bet though.
August 18, 2008 at 6:11 pm
The Dunnes plastic bag option also offers the cyclist that satisfying flappy noise as the wind ripples along the fine plastic sheeting they have lovingly applied to each foot.
August 20, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I’ve just got back from a week in Leitrim and my 7 year old pair of overshoes (Altura) came in very handy. No satisflapping though.
http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/index.php?cPath=264
August 28, 2008 at 4:13 pm
[...] 3.5%. Compare that with what’s happened in Dublin this month — I’d estimate that’s meant that at least half of my rides have involved some degree of rainfall, occasioning many cries of woe. [...]
September 7, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I would like to update this discussion by announcing the purchase of my brand-new wind- and waterproof trousers, fresh from Lidl. Yes, they are bright yellow and yes, they are not entirely flattering to the physical form but after the horrors of last Friday (and I wasn’t even on a bike!) proper rain trousers had to be purchased. And these ones were €9.99. Result.