Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => The Dark Side => Topic started by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 05:41:07 pm

Title: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 05:41:07 pm
Can I ask what folk are doing about leg covering in the rain on a 'bent, please?
It's been so long since I last rode one that I can't remember what I wore.
I'd ask cycleman but whatever he uses is bound to have extra holes, rips and tears to let water run out  :)
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: LMT on 25 April, 2019, 05:52:22 pm
No waterproof trousers for myself.  I make sure that my feet and torso remain dry in the rain but trousers just adds to the boil in a bag experience. 
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 06:12:44 pm
Thanks LMT.
What about a dry crutch? I do like a dry crutch. Waterproof shorts, perhaps?
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: cycleman on 25 April, 2019, 06:33:16 pm
Just use a umbrella   ;D!. Or a fairing   :)
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 25 April, 2019, 07:22:31 pm
More or less the same thing I do on an upwrong:  Which is to say that my waterproof trousers are in the back of a drawer somewhere because they're too boil-in-a-bag to use.

Depending on temperature, I'll either rely on the quick-drying properties of SkinTex™ and thin lycra, the slightly less quick-drying properties of cycling-specific longs (I prefer tights to looser-fitting ones on a 'bent as they behave better at the ankle and tend to have less knobbly waistbands), and the now legendary RainLegs with their comedy knee-flap aero braking system.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Spooner on 25 April, 2019, 07:52:09 pm
In warm weather I just get wet on the grounds I’ll dry again. In cooler weather I use one of two things depending on conditions:

I have some seriously water resistant Pearl Izumi tights which are good for cold and a bit wet. They’re warm tights, so really only useful late autumn to early Spring.

I also have some very stretchy and light OMM Kamleika fell running waterproof over-trousers that I picked up from Pete Bland sports (online) a few years ago that do the trick for me in seriously wet conditions. The last time they were used to good effect was an all morning downpour in Holland last October. The  combination of cool temperature, heavy rain and modest touring speeds meant I didn’t suffer ANY boil in the bag effect.


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Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: McWheels on 25 April, 2019, 08:23:08 pm
If it's cold and wet, I have these on standby. They're not waterproof, but they are thick enough to maintain warmth and let the wet out the back.

https://www.amazon.com/Sobike-Cycling-Winter-Tights-Promise/dp/B07C1GMP58 (https://www.amazon.com/Sobike-Cycling-Winter-Tights-Promise/dp/B07C1GMP58) Sadly no longer available on Amazon UK.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 09:45:00 pm
More or less the same thing I do on an upwrong:  Which is to say that my waterproof trousers are in the back of a drawer somewhere because they're too boil-in-a-bag to use.
Depending on temperature, I'll either rely on the quick-drying properties of SkinTex™ and thin lycra, the slightly less quick-drying properties of cycling-specific longs (I prefer tights to looser-fitting ones on a 'bent as they behave better at the ankle and tend to have less knobbly waistbands), and the now legendary RainLegs with their comedy knee-flap aero braking system.

Thanks for the help.
I have the rain legs but thought that they wouldn't keep the crutch and backside dry in a recumbent riding position, but I can live with wet lower legs.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 09:46:52 pm
Just use a umbrella   ;D!. Or a fairing   :)

If I did enough streams I'd try a wetsuit  :P
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 25 April, 2019, 10:37:16 pm
Thanks everyone.
I have rainlegs so I will try them - I like them on an upright - I will also check out the fell running over trousers.
Thanks again. very helpful as usual - excluding Cycleman, of course  ;D
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: cycleman on 26 April, 2019, 07:18:24 am
Anytime  :)
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 26 April, 2019, 11:53:26 am
If it's cold and wet, I have these on standby. They're not waterproof, but they are thick enough to maintain warmth and let the wet out the back.

https://www.amazon.com/Sobike-Cycling-Winter-Tights-Promise/dp/B07C1GMP58 (https://www.amazon.com/Sobike-Cycling-Winter-Tights-Promise/dp/B07C1GMP58) Sadly no longer available on Amazon UK.

They are back on at £26 which compares favourably with some other cycling trousers I have.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: climo on 26 May, 2019, 07:47:56 am
OMM stretchy jobs as above. Wish the zips were longer as taking off shoes just to change into them is a bugger.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 26 May, 2019, 11:44:59 am
OMM stretchy jobs as above. Wish the zips were longer as taking off shoes just to change into them is a bugger.
Thanks for the input, Climo
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Nightmare-1 on 14 June, 2019, 12:32:19 am
Only ride in DRY weather & forget about waterproofs. :P
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 14 June, 2019, 12:49:18 am
Only ride in DRY weather & forget about waterproofs. :P

An excellent suggestion sir, with only two minor drawbacks:
We don't have any dry weather.
There's no such thing as dry weather.
</kryten>
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 14 June, 2019, 06:18:56 am
The last dry weather that I have certain memory of was the Summer of '76.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Nightmare-1 on 24 June, 2019, 09:13:50 pm
OK. :facepalm:
Ride when there is no reverse osmosis in the atmosphere in the area in which you currently find yourself. ;D

To put it simply "When it's not raining" commonly known as "DRY!" :thumbsup:


Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 27 June, 2019, 08:45:48 pm
 ;D😀
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: mzjo on 07 July, 2019, 08:16:17 pm
Only ride in DRY weather & forget about waterproofs. :P

An excellent suggestion sir, with only two minor drawbacks:
We don't have any dry weather.
There's no such thing as dry weather.
</kryten>

I live in a place where we have unwet weather. It is very unwet, apart from thunderstorms when no sensible person would want to stretch out on a bent, and usually accompanied by temperatures sufficiently high to be unsuitable for any activity other than sitting in a cool place drinking an even colder beer (non-alcoholic for the teetotallers). This situation has been known to persist for several months at a time.
On the whole there are times of the year when I would willingly put up with getting a bit wet ;D
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Tigerbiten on 08 July, 2019, 05:13:30 pm
I like canoeing gear.

A lot of the tops have half length sleeves
The trouble I find with long sleeves on a recumbent is water puddles at the elbow.
That's fine until you put your arm out to indicate a turn.
Then the cold puddle ends up passing your armpit on it's way to your crotch ......  :o

YMMV ...........  ;D
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 10 July, 2019, 02:57:04 pm
I like canoeing gear.

A lot of the tops have half length sleeves
The trouble I find with long sleeves on a recumbent is water puddles at the elbow.
That's fine until you put your arm out to indicate a turn.
Then the cold puddle ends up passing your armpit on it's way to your crotch ......  :o

YMMV ...........  ;D

I'm having trouble working the implied angles out.
I know I've met you and I don't remember your arms being joined to your waist  ;D
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 10 July, 2019, 03:01:04 pm
I get that too:  Elbow is below shoulder height, hand is close to or above elbow height (if only when reaching to change gear, rub your nose, whatever) so water entering the sleeve at the cuff doesn't get further than the elbow.  Then you indicate...

Different steering arrangements are likely to exacerbate the effect.  The Red Baron isn't a wet weather bike, but on the odd occasion I've had to wear a waterproof jacket, it's collected water in all sorts of odd places.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: nobby on 10 July, 2019, 04:01:24 pm
Ah, we are talking inside the sleeve!
I've not had that happen but I don't go out in rain very much or at all at the moment. ; :)
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Nightmare-1 on 10 July, 2019, 11:47:51 pm
When I indicate I have my hand below shoulder height.
I ride ICE  Q, Vortex fs & Trice XL with the seat fully reclined.
Not had any water up the sleeves.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: fd3 on 11 July, 2019, 12:13:14 am
I think it's a feature of hamster bars.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Tigerbiten on 11 July, 2019, 09:01:30 am
I tend to keep my hand below shoulder height if I'm only indicating a lane change.
But I also tend to lift it higher if I'm indicating an actual turn.
My main problem is I need to lift my right elbow above head height to point left with my right hand.
It's fine if you're around town and indicating all the time as the puddle doesn't get very big.
It's more if you've gone a while and you've forgotten about it.
Then you get a sudden unexpected rush of cold water down you're side ........  :o
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: cycleman on 13 July, 2019, 08:16:07 pm
Take soap and enjoy  :D
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: fd3 on 25 September, 2019, 06:27:26 pm
After some wet weather riding I have found no real difference in trousers/jacket from my df. 
I did notice that my face gets soaked, as I ride head-up into the rain as opposed to looking down at the road in the shelter of my cap.
Suggestions?
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 25 September, 2019, 07:16:58 pm
After some wet weather riding I have found no real difference in trousers/jacket from my df. 
I did notice that my face gets soaked, as I ride head-up into the rain as opposed to looking down at the road in the shelter of my cap.
Suggestions?

Consider it a trade off for dry feet.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Phil W on 25 September, 2019, 07:39:20 pm
I wear a running cap on the recumbent with a much longer peak than a cycling cap.  Sunshade, rain guard, protecting against car lights at night.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Tigerbiten on 25 September, 2019, 08:08:38 pm
Same idea here.
I use a very lightweight and very cheap (~£10) baseball type cap from Go-Outdoors.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 25 September, 2019, 08:11:27 pm
Don't you find they get blown off at speed?
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: ElyDave on 25 September, 2019, 09:59:23 pm
I bought my latest helmet without a peak because it kept getting caught in the wind and blowing backwards on my head
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 25 September, 2019, 10:21:52 pm
I bought my latest helmet without a peak because it kept getting caught in the wind and blowing backwards on my head

That happened to me at the BHPC Leicester crosswind challenge: It was the first time I'd worn my helmet since the unfortunate pedal car vs hair incident, and it turned out the strap had become loosened.  As soon as I turned into the wind it tried to escape.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Phil W on 25 September, 2019, 10:50:10 pm
Don't you find they get blown off at speed?

Nope but you do need them snug on the head .
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Kim on 25 September, 2019, 10:55:27 pm
Don't you find they get blown off at speed?

Nope but you do need them snug on the head .

The best I've found are the small/medium Walz cycling caps, which fit my head properly, and have peaks that will fold rather than act as a sail in strong air currents.  I still lost one to the A38 underpass in a freak gust of wind.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Phil W on 26 September, 2019, 05:23:21 pm
I must admit I'm very aware the long peak is catching a lot of wind when flying along.
Title: Re: Recumbents & waterproof trousers
Post by: Tigerbiten on 26 September, 2019, 06:55:41 pm
The hat I use has a sliding catch at the back so it's easy to set it for the ideal size/snugness.
I've never lost a hat due to pure speed yet, they even stay on at +50 mph.
But I do tend to make sure it's well down on my head if I think I'm going to do a silly speed.
It tends to be a sudden very strong cross draft that lifts the hat off my head.

I've also made the mistake once of getting a hat where the inside edge of the brim wasn't hard against my forehead.
It did make it very comfortable to ride in as it felt very soft.
That was until I got up to a silly speed.
At which point the slight cloth filled gap let the brim flutter badly.
This caused my glasses to vibrate and I suddenly couldn't see where I was going ...... :o