How to equip and dress to protect yourself from the rain while riding a bike?

Rain on bike can quickly become hell. Who did not end up soaked because it was raining during the journey? Who still in the face of more than the terrible weather did not throw a towel into the ring and did not drive by urban transport? However, the rain should not be so deterrent. With some equipment and modifications, it is completely possible to sit and dry. Plus another advantage of driving in the rain is fewer traffic jams on cycle paths.

Here is the basic information on how to protect yourself from the rain by bike while riding in the city. And end with the joke “So, what was the meeting at Aquabik? ”

Cyclists, what equipment to buy for cycling in the rain?

Cycling jacket in the rain, raincoat or poncho

The challenge is the balance between water resistance and breathability. Moisture will not always come from the outside. Who says effort, says heat, says sweat. If the clothes are perfectly waterproof, you risk sweating quickly.

It is therefore best to focus on technical clothing, with materials adapted to the exertion. Now, between raincoat, ponch or raincoat, it’s really subjective. I prefer a jacket that is more practical and offers less wind resistance than poncho or raincoat. On the other hand, a raincoat or poncho offers better leg protection and good ventilation thanks to its sufficient torque. But they may also be less ergonomic. It is a question of practice. In all cases, the top pants are necessary to remain really dry.

Make sure the jacket drops to the correct height for a comfortable cycling and keeping the lower back dry. Beware of the arms length. Technical bike clothing is actually specially designed for the position of cyclists: the lower back with larger cover, longer sleeves, more flexible joints, etc.

As already mentioned, you can still find what you are looking for, in the tourism department, trails or running..

PUSH French brand Tomo Clothing It offers cycling clothing for women (some models are unisex) that has a urban look. Translation: You don’t look like a cyclist. The brand’s clothing is characterized by elements for cycling. For example, their trench coat for Billie VO2, which has reflective strips, tightening tapes on the thighs to protect the inside of the legs from splashing water, the possibility of shortening it, etc. It is also quite good that it provides various performance indicators (breathability, waterproof, water repellent ).

Rapha offers its Commuter Cycling Jacket, a model of cycling jacket for commuting. Available in several colors, in women’s or men’s versions, it is perfect for the city. For a jacket worth € 135, we still regret missing ventilation in the armpits for better breathability.

Quick reminder: Not all waterproof clothing is sufficient. I mean Rains clothing that is not “technical”. We sweat quickly and the few evacuations – in the classic model – are not enough to suck up water vapor. It is an experience.

Hood or not hood?

Yes and no. If so, bet on a wide hood to plug the helmet inside and adjusting the cord. Be careful, it’s not always comfortable or practical when you want to check blind spots. Then it is more likely to retain the hood and catch the wind unless you put it. It seems to me more embarrassing than anything else. Thus, a compromise would remain a removable hood. Although those that plug into the collar do not generally apply much in the rain. Therefore, we say “it helps”.

Waterproof pants

Do you know the physical phenomenon? The liquid rises through the porous body. Do you have a picture? Or the uncomfortable feeling that wet jeans are sticking to your skin? When cycling, water is not only coming from above, but also from below. To avoid projections, invest in waterproof cycling pants or sleeves.

Vaude, known for its sustainable and responsible bikepacking equipment, offers Luminum Performance IIRain pants suitable for cycling available in women’s and men’s versions. Its strengths: lined sitting, pre -shaped knees for better flexibility, reflective elements placed around the perimeter of pants for visibility 360 °, its ecological protection Eco Finish, without harmful chemicals that improves water resistance of the fabric and membrane Ceplex Active developed. It is breathable, withstands a water column at least 10,000 millimeters. It is sold with a storage case. Practical.

There are models with integrated sleeves for better waterproofing. This is the case of the rain sleeves Decathlon 540 with integrated sleeves (women’s model). The model is also available for men.

Sleeves or kamase

Choose urban models and not sleeves designed for road cycling. They are designed for shoes with wedges. The Tucano Urbano brand offers Footerine shoes that they put as socks and also protect your entire sole. They are made of silicone and therefore waterproof and have a non -slip sole.

My favorite: Quoc brand offers shoes Chelsea, which are waterproof and equipped with SPD.

Helmet with look

It is a converter When it rains when it is cold or when it is sunny. A helmet with an integrated peak will protect you from wind, dust, dazzling, rain and insects. And honestly, we no longer have any excuses when we see the helmets design.

Waterproof gloves

Cycling gloves will prevent the hands from slipping in the rain. It will protect you from the wind.

How to equip a bike for a rain ride?

Waterproof bags

DECATHLON offers an ELOPS 900 27 L bike bag for less than 50 €. He’s doing the job well. We appreciate the welded seams and the scrolling system that guarantees good waterproofing. No bad surprise at the saddle bags from the Ortlieb reference brand, such as a waterproof Back-Roller Core with a capacity of 20 liters.

What is good to know: When purchasing, check that the mounting system is compatible with your luggage carrier. There are several (Klickfix, Mik, etc.).

Fenders

The ability to protect your buttocks to protect your seat is limited, especially for small removable systems. It helps, of course, but frankly, it’s not ultra effective. So it is better to invest in solid fenders if your bike no longer has them. The SKS brand offers fenders for all types of bikes.

Good lighting of bike

Rain = less visibility. So turn on the lights. On this topic we have created a complete file for you to help you choose the lights for your bike.

Go on

Our 6 tips for choosing clothes for cycling in the city

1. Materials suitable for cycling in the rain. As for tourism, choose waterproof but breathable materials like Gore-Tex (beware, some variants are not waterproof, don’t be fooled by marketing) or others to avoid the effect of the oven. The biggest nostalgists of us without much difficulty and without much regret will remember the tropical heat offered by the K-Way experience.
2. Technical properties. The water column test provides information on the resistance of clothing to water pressure. The indicator is expressed in mm water column or mm Schmerber. The higher the number, the more waterproof the clothing. We consider waterproof clothing when its indicator is at least 1,300 mm water column. Another interesting indicator to know is the coefficient of thermal evaporation resistance (lip), which expresses the breathability of clothing. It is a numeric index; The lower it, the more breathable the material. The material is considered very breathable when it has a lip less than 6; The average breathability is between 12 and 20 lips. The breathability index is also used by the moisture resistance (MVTR) expressed by VG/m²/24h. The higher the value, the more breathable the garment. The value of 30,000 g/m²/24 hours is considered to be very breathable clothing.
3. Make sure seams and closures Clothing is waterproof (sealed at the seams) to prevent water from penetrating. For saddle bags, prefer those with a scrolling system or a large flap.
4. Prefer clothing with ventilation holes (as zippers in armpit) for better breathability.
5. Check the presence of reflective elements To get visibility on the road. Or choose a loud color.
6. Small details. ZIP for download, Velcro for adjusting legs, elastic waist, lining, accessible and closable pockets, these are small items that allow you to choose between different models.