1st time Tourer, advice on waterproofs

[Elflick]

Wow guys thanks for all the advice! This seems like a pretty good forum! Really helpful.

Colin J I think you're totally right - I do need to be prepared - if I breakdown I don't want to get frozen. Something to stick on if I breakdown would be good - but a poncho would be ok? I don't think I'd wear a jacket cycling - as Rugbyluke says 'skin is waterproof' and I've always preferred getting wet to being hot.

You might have guessed I'm just a little skeptical about buying loads of expensive cycling gear that I don't really need. I know I should listen to much more experienced cyclists like yourselves (I did ask for you're advice ), and I'm really sorry if I come across as a moody arrogant teenager, but I'm pretty stubborn (and thrifty)! In October I did a short 5 day trek in the Himalayas in sandals (£3 from bangkok), jeans and tshirt while everyone else was in hiking boots and walking trousers etc and I think I was infinitely more comfortable than anyone else, mainly because of the heat, and the leeches. I got advice before I went and everyone insisted that I should buy the expensive gear... I also boulght a 'high wicking' tshirt for my trip and felt it was no different to my normal tshirts. I guess I thought someone on this forum might say 'Yeah I cycle in jeans and tshirt all the time!'. I'm reading Anne Mustoe and Josie Dew at the minute and they wear normal clothing.

The problem is I guess you don't know how good specialist clothing is until you try it. Do cycling jerseys actally cool you down more than not wearing a shirt at all? If not, why do people were them?

I think the best thing for me to do is go on a 3 day cycle trip (in March) come rain or shine. I'll get myself some quick drying trousers to ride in, and a poncho, and I'll be carring a tent and provisions so I'll get the feel of the weight - and see how it goes... - so I hope to find out the hard way!

If I'm wrong you're excellent advice will come in very handy! Much appreciated x

 

[Intelligenthamster]

I also don't like wearing skin-tight Lycra as I have eaten too many pies. I get round it by wearing the MTB-type baggies with the Lycra inserts. They are absolutely brilliant as you can get off the bike and wander about without looking like an obvious cyclist, and have the added advantage that you can use the outers as normal shorts by unclipping the liner.

I've done some caving in my time and cannot agree more about getting too cold and wet- it's not good at all. Wet and warm is OK, but it is very easy to get cold when wet, even if the ambient temp is otherwise quite high. The wind is not your friend when you are soaked

 

[billflat12]

Don,t really understand why you ask, you will just hope for the best then ? I myself don't usually feel cold but from reading your comments maybe you will find out very soon enough what can happen ? " That's the way most of us learn i guess " just hope your lesson will not be too harsh . Also i think you may be missing a valuable point here, proper cycle clothing is highly breathable not just , " high wicking " all my cycling shirts incl winter base layers are all antibacterial polyester type materials which dries quickly in humid or damp conditions , i also ride freeride MTB round Scottish and welsh mountain trail centres throughout a typical english winter , " Then i use zip off leg, ballistic nylon motocross trousers. " not padded lycra shorts as your out of the saddle" climbing etc. during winter when stopping to repair punctures etc. or to wait for colleagues, cold usually very quickly sets in , even with proper waterproof clothing rain/hail will cause a serious chill, especially when you get sweaty or damp. A lot does depend on temperature and humidity of course , I once stupidly wore " high wicking " jeans with a poncho as a spectator to a world championship event at fort william when the weather quickly changed to drizzle , by the time i got back down to the finish on the downhill course i could not stop shivering for a good hour. had i been stranded in the middle of nowhere things would have been very different. (our skins maybe waterproof just not well insulated "unless you have a large amounts of body hair and a good layer of fat") , I also cycle camp during the summer but always pack some casual clothes to change into for wherever i stop as on a long hot day even breathable cycle clothing gets a bit minging .

 

[andym]

No reason not to go with a poncho (in the old days cyclists wore capes) - although personally I'd keep it for emergencies rather than for daily riding. A poncho can be slightly awkward cycling as you need to hold the corners at the same time as the handlebar grips (cycling-specific ones have a loop for your thumbs). They can also flap about a bit in the wind. Vaude do one designed for cyclists.

I also don't like wearing skin-tight Lycra as I have eaten too many pies. I get round it by wearing the MTB-type baggies with the Lycra inserts. They are absolutely brilliant as you can get off the bike and wander about without looking like an obvious cyclist, and have the added advantage that you can use the outers as normal shorts by unclipping the liner.

Ground Effect make liner shorts. I haven't tried them myself but Ground Effect stuff is always good.

 

[HelenD123]

even breathable cycle clothing gets a bit minging .

Not if it's merino wool. I've worn it for days on end without smelling.

 

[billflat12]

Woolly clothing always sounds warm , i will admit to using sealskinz socks with a merino wool lining for wet winter rides, only cos its cold wet feet that affects me most , ( overshoes just get shredded on my v8,s ) i,ll have to get some merino wool socks for my work boots now then, then maybe they can live indoors"

 

[HelenD123]

Woolly clothing always sounds warm , i will admit to using sealskinz socks with a merino wool lining for wet winter rides, only cos its cold wet feet that affects me most , ( overshoes just get shredded on my v8,s ) i,ll have to get some merino wool socks for my work boots now then, then maybe they can live indoors"

Merino keeps you cool as well. I was wearing a long sleeve merino top in 40 C heat.

 

[Brommyboy]

I find that for summer touring instead of w/p trousers, cut them down to shorts! Keeps the saddle and underwear dry when the upper half gets wet. Any rain in Spain is likely to be heavy so just a thin w/p jacket would do. Cycle helmets are compulsory in Spain and must be worn outside of towns ... unless it is very hot ... or going uphill .. or ?

 

[willem]

There are a coupe of things you really need, and then there is a lot that you don't. For me the 'really need' category consists of a waterproof jacket (and EVent really is the best), one pair of regular cycling shorts for hot days, and one pair of regular style cycling shorts with inserts for colder and windier weather, or when you want to be less obtrusive. I also take one pair of ordinary lightweight trousers with zip off legs. I use these in the evenings and on rest days. You can wear t shirts or whatever you fancy. I don't like to wear cotton, but it is not important. Cycling gloves are also in the must have category, just like proper cycling shoes for use with spd pedals (I do not take ordinary shoes).
Beyond that, it is a matter of the conditions you may expect. When there may be a lot of rain and lower temperatures you really need to protect your legs and feet from the rain. Rain is fine, but not when it is cold. Then it can be dangerous. So if necessary I take a pair of cheap polyester waterproof overtrousers (so unlike with the jacket where I am prepared to spend top money for a good jacket, for the trousers something cheap is fine unless you have too much money). If you are descending from a mountain, you will be gratefull for a buff underneath your helmet and for winter gloves. I also take separate leg warmers to turn my cycling shorts into long ones. These cost and weigh little, but make life a lot more comfortable. You can put them on when you leave in the morning, and pull them off when it heats up, to put them back on for a long descent (with the overtrousers against the cold wind). To keep my feet warm and dry, I have a pair of light Vaude overshoes: http://www.bike4trav...roducts_id=497. Even with Goretex shoes, these make a big difference.
Willem

 

[Gotte]

I'm a great fan of ponchos. I've got a couple - a cheap but effective Decathlon one, and a more expensive, heavier, but really nice Carradice one (which is black waxed cotton):
http://www.carradice...t&product_id=69
(mine was £50, btw, not the £70 advertised here.


The reason I moved over to a cape was that I got soaked for a couple of days two tours ago while on the Mosel, and swore never to wear a goretex style jacket again. I don't know whether it failed and let the rain in, or whether it just stopped breathing (The latter, I suspect; I'm of a view that breathable jackets are a con, as they cannot breath when it's raining due to the layer of water on the outside blocking the pours, but that's by the by).
the last tour, I took the Carradice ponch and a pair of gaitors which covered my feet. True, the cape isn;t breathable, but because it's open at the bottom, it allows a good circulation of air, dragging the moist air out from under it while you cycle. I even found that if I started to get a bit warm, I could lift it up a bit at the front to all ow a draught of cooler air in. I could also throw it over one or both shoulders if it was only spitting, or if i just couldn't be bothered taking it off. It also has a really nicely designed hood which turns with your head and is cut not to impede vision.
Because of the cut, which covers the tops of your legs, you don't need to wear rain pants, which again means you don't get over hot or sweaty.
I have to say it worked flawlessly, and being cotton and a bit heavier, and having a tie to attach round your waist and loops for your wrists, it didn't flap around in the wind. Also, I travel so slowly on a fully laden tourer, I found there was no real wind resistance.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I use a waterproof top that has the under arm zippers and find that that helps me not to overheat. I too am the kind of person who overheats easily and wears very little underneath my top layer.
I had a dedicated cycling waterproof top (DHB make from wiggle), but that is not going on my long tour (It went with me on my 2 week tour, but this next tour is very much longer - quit house and job). I am now using a men's mountaineering one for my up coming tour and have already found that it works. Go for a simply design with fewer pockets and no draw cord around the waist.
I would not want to be stuck out without one.

As for the cycling kit - there are options, don't worry about looking like a cyclist - the bike is going to give it away and if you and found a safe place for your bike you will have had the opportunity to change into something else.

Go for comfort and get away from the saddle sores which you are going to get without dedicated cycling kit. I used to commute 45 mins each way to and from work and never really bothered with waterproofs unless it was throwing it down on the way to work, was never bothered with saddle sores etc.

But touring is something else completely (we (husband and I) did our first tour last summer), and you will really appreciate padded cycling shorts. You will also find it is best to go without underwear, the seams are just totally in the wrong place. Make sure you take some savlon - we found it cleared the sores far quicker than anything else.

 

[jay clock]

I don’t wear cycling shorts etc and I don’t intend to. When I get off my bike I don’t really want to look like a cyclist when I walk around town.

In my view a slightly provocative and mad comment to the average cycle tourist. Sports evolve specialist clothing for a good reason.

Firstly, they do not have to look like cycling shorts. If by cycling shorts you mean tight lycra. Something like these http://www.endura.co.uk/Dept.aspx?dept_id=112 .... I have toured in North West Spain to Santiago and looked like this.... http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=36447&v=y#pic_100022

Secondly, the weather in April will likely mean long trousers are also needed. Or leg warmers (but you will not like that look!)

Three, I personally never use overtrousers. However breathable, they make me too hot and sweaty

Four, my choice for touring is a non cycling specific Goretex Paclite soemthing like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/..._colorn_1?ie=UTF8&s=sports&img=0&color_name=2

Have a think about footwear. Overshoes might be a good idea if you have heavy downpours, or as I did in Spain, sandals. The clip-in cleated version offers a lot of advantages, but you may not like that..... If i did that tour that early in the year I would probably use shoes though.

Do not underestimate how cold it might be. There are ski resorts in the Picos de Europa and you will be cycling over some high passes.

Let us know how it goes, and do use CrazyGuy (see link above) as a research tool

 

[jay clock]

Sorry.... two more things.....

1 Buffs are fantastic! A must have

2 Merino wool. I now have a lot of these baselayers in various weights. They fit beautifully, they wick away sweat really well (essential to stop you getting cold when you are sweating in a cold place) and they do not smell. Icebreaker is sold in Blacks - have a look. Expensive, so Google hard, but worth every penny. And no they are not itchy and don't scream "cyclist"

 

[psmiffy]

I have cycled along the Northern Spanish coast in late April it rained and rained with occasional sleet- and was definetly not warm - looking left into the mountains it was definetly worse and even on some of the low hills there was a snow line

I spent several days continuosly in my waterproofs - Goretex, overtrousers, overshoes, hat, several changes of gloves - thermal long bottoms, base layer long, base layer short, long berghaus and fleece gillet top from time to time without becoming particulaly overheated or warm for that matter until I got further south and out of it

If you have decent waterproofs it is well possible to stay dry and warmish (if not particulaly content) and cycle all day - climbing decent hills is problematic and I normally strip down to the minimum under the waterproofs and replace everything when I get to the top

 

[Elflick]

Hey everyone thanks for the replies! I am starting to be converted into buying some decent cycling clothes!
I think I will now try some of those merino wool base layers, they seem to have really good reviews, and the poncho seems like a great idea - bit pricey but I like the fact it covers the legs too.

I might also try womens baggies (but trousers - can always roll them up). Question maybe Jayclock can answer - are these baggies comfortable? I ask because I tried on some quick drying craghopper walking trousers the other day and they were super uncomfortable –really scratchy. All other trousers seemed to be of the same material. I wondered if these baggies are of the same scratchy material? If so I may just get some combat trousers and wear cycling shorts underneath.