1st time Tourer, advice on waterproofs

[Elflick]

I’m thinking of doing the Camino pilgrim route in April for 2 weeks, and am thinking about what to pack. I’ve never done cycle touring before, and I’m not a ‘serious’ cyclist. 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.



I cycle to work every day (UK), about 25mins each way. I’ve never bothered with any waterproofs as I just pack dry clothing to get changed into.



Anyone know of any waterproof trousers that work and are lightweight? I have some Peter Storm ones, but these hardly work at all! Ok in the snow or in very light showers, but when it pours I get soaked…

Maybe Pertex? How are PVC?



I would hate to wear a waterproof jacket as I get way too hot cycling – even in winter with a very thin cotton shirt. I don’t know how other cyclists do it! March until November I’m in a vest.



I know there are ‘breathable’ jackets out there (and I wouldn’t bother for a commute) but for long distance cycling is a jacket a must?



Common sense tells me if I’m ok for 25mins without a jacket I’m ok for 6 hrs (in April anyway), and can change into dry clothing at the first stop. I’ll probably get a quick drying vest to wear. And to buy some lightweight waterproof trousers (<£50) I can put over my trousers when it rains.



I know I’ve just written an essay, I’m not really sure what to expect from this trip – but that’s all part of the adventure! (I do plan to do a couple of 3 day cycle rips around Norfolk, but need advice on waterproofs for this too!).



Anyway… any advice is really appreciated!!

 

[Dave Davenport]

I wouldn't bother with over trousers, as long as you wear something quick drying and have full mudguards but I wouldn't want to do that trip without a half decent breathable jacket, you can pick one up for under 50 quid. There's a reason 'green' Spain is green!

 

[ColinJ]

Common sense tells me if I’m ok for 25mins without a jacket I’m ok for 6 hrs (in April anyway)

With respect, I'd suggest that your common sense system needs recalibrating!

A 25 minute commute at sea level doesn't compare to being stuck up a mountain in a thunderstorm with a buckled wheel and a 10 mile hike to the nearest village.

One fine June day I got caught out by a freak storm on bike ride here in Yorkshire. In 30 seconds, I went from happily trundling along in the sunshine to shivering so violently that I couldn't steer my bike. Fortunately the storm blew over as quickly as it had started. Don't go up in the mountains without a jacket unless you really fancy suffering from hypothermia.

Stats over 30 years for April on El Camino Santiago De Compostela:

Median day temp: 10.6 C

Maximum day temp: 15.4 C

Minimum day temp: 5.5 C

Precipitation: 14 days

Stormy days: 2

Foggy days: 4

Ice days: 1

Clear days: 4

Those are just the averages, The extremes will obviously be a lot greater.

You could be lucky and have no mechanical problems and good weather, or you could have a problem and be stuck in freezing fog in the middle of nowhere. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[samid]

For the trousers, IME "softshell" fabrics are the best "universal" choice that can be worn on and off the bike 24/7 so to say. They are comfortable to wear, you can buy softshell pants that look pretty much like normal pants, they provide some level of water repellence and dry very fast when it stops raining, and you won't get soaked from the inside due to your own perspiration as softshells are very breathable. I wore softshell pants at altitudes from 0 to 6K meters. (For that matter, I also have softshell bike shorts that are great for the summer.)

 

[rugbyluke]

I say don't bother you skin is water proof save the space for beer

 

[andym]

I've got to agree with ColinJ. I was in Spain in May last year and northern Spain had some really horrible whether (fortunately I was in Andalusia). In any case there's a world of difference between getting a bit cold and wet on a 25-minute commute and being cold and wet for a whole day.

My basic philosophy is that if it really really chucks it down there's no way you can stay dry, but it's important make sure you have something warm and dry to change into when you can get out of the rain.


It's worth taking a jacket (maybe eVent?) to provide some protection in wettish weather - although even this won't stop you getting wet if it really chucks it down.

As far as legs are concerned I think you'd be better off with tights. They won't stop you getting wet but will keep you warmer - and they're also useful for cold nights.

There's nothing to stop you wearing shorts over cycle shorts. Again - there's a world of difference between a 25-minute commute and spending all day in the saddle.

 

[theclaud]

I'm also with Colin - I haven't cycled the Camino but I've walked some of it. When it rains, it really rains. And it will. The pilgrims on foot often wear ponchos that cover their rucksacks. On a bike I'd go for one of these, a peaked cycling cap, merino layers for the top half and tights or shorts depending on how much your legs feel the cold.

 

[the snail]

I can understand your reluctance to wear lycra/cycling shorts - I felt self conscious being a mamil, but having taken the plunge there's no way I would want to ride any distance in ordinary trousers, certainly not for hours in the saddle day in day out - by the time you get to Santiago you'd be praying for blessed relief. Proper cycling kit is soooo comfortable by comparison. I have some cheap halfords waterproof overtrousers, but I only wear them in extreme weather.

 

[Fletch456]

"It's worth taking a jacket (maybe eVent?) to provide some protection in wettish weather - although even this won't stop you getting wet if it really chucks it down."

+1 more for the consensus above.

And I've highlighted AndyM's comment here because I have an Endura eVent Jacket - eVent refers to the name of the fabric as well as being the name of the jacket. Though far from cheap at £130 a few years ago it did keep me very dry in torrential rain - we were in Italy and on the 1km bridge to Venice, which is completely exposed it was also blowing a gale.

Though there are a lot of waterproofs and nice ones too at around £40 - £60 they are designed to deal with a shower and not heavy or prolonged periods of rain - least not those I know of. Such as Altura Pocket Rocket, Pertex Jacket by surface, Race Cape by Shutt VR - each of these will go small enough to go into a back pocket and take care of you in a shower. If you want to gamble on there being no heavy rain. The material for the jacket by Shutt VR is supplied by Eschler who supply Assos for the Climajet jacket and for a lot less and sign up to their club room and you get 10% off.

You really do get what you pay for I think and the eVent jacket was a present and am glad I had it in Italy.

Have you thought of base layers - I've not read everything you said above but am relatively new to regular cycling but I've got into it and an really recommend them. I have two from Craft - a very light weight summer one and a winter weight (too warm for me really) and an ice breaker merino wool long sleeve. The merino I love - zero itchiness, fantastically effective when cold and very comfortable. Though I know you may not need something that warm I use it for leisure wear too and didn't think much of base layers when I started but they are very very common. Try Prendas for really good value. For any 2 week journey, if I didnt have one I would definitely look to get one for that climate. I too tend to get hotter than most (or am just an efficient sweater).

For generally good value also try the dhb brand - get good write ups and (I think they are only) distributed by Wiggle.

Have you got light / mid weight gloves. De Feet do a great pair that loads of people use.

If you don't mind advice from a retailer too - you can't do much better than Peter at always.co.uk It's run by a husband and wife team and often they've tried out the kit so the comments in the description are from them. Peter is just a nice bloke who isn't out for a sale come what may but wants people to go back time again.

That's enough...it's becoming essay like....

 

[Fletch456]

PS I know you're a regular commuter so apologies if I've told you stuff you already know.

 

[billflat12]

If your planning on covering any reasonable distances over those 2 weeks you need to consider comfort more to make your tour enjoyable . There.s a very good reason most cyclists wear padded quick drying Lycra shorts , i can assure you it has nothing to do with lack of vanity , but then you,ll soon find out for yourself if you plan on riding any long distances for 8rs a day without any. same goes for a lightweight breathable waterproof cycling jacket, if you need to ride reasonable distances in wet conditions its an essential. again lightweight overtrousers are more ideal if your forced to ride in heavy rain to reach your destination.( waterproof overtrousers would be essential in any wet conditions without shorts !! )

 

[Fletch456]

+2 for Billflat's comment cos +1 isn't enough re padded shorts and comfort. I tried £40-£50 saddles and didn't want to go with the consensus of a fizik saddle (that everyone around me was saying) at £85+ but in the end ..after some discomfort... I got a Fizik Arione and haven't looked back.

PPS My comments - I afterwards read that you don't want to stand out as a cyclist - the shorts with inserts will really help. Though there isn't a lot of cycling clothing that helps stop you from doing that though there is a range of urban cycling clothing by different manufacturers out there - surface doing a nice looking coat / jacket; anything in sportwool is less cyclist than lycra (eg Shutt VR); George Hincapie does a couple of urban things as do Swerve and Muxu do some good looking though you need to be slim for them I think urban cycling shirts.

None of that lot is cheap but I think will repay you. Especially anything in merino or sportwool cos it won't catch your body odour as fast as lycra or anything else for that matter - merino is just the best at that and some have worn it for days without washing - for me it's been at least 2-3 on occasion. Which is handy on holiday! Icebreaker do a massive range of short sleeve, long, hoodies, all sorts.

 

[srw]

Another one for padded shorts here. To which I'd add a Brooks saddle - but thousands wouldn't. One more thing to think about - you say you want to wear trousers. Unless you've done more than about three-quarters of an hour on a bike in trousers you've probably not noticed, but most trousers are made by sewing together two legs - which means there's a seam running from the fly all the way underneath the crotch. Even over padded shorts that seam becomes uncomfortable on the ...errr... gentlemen's area after a while between the area and a saddle. And I'd guess that if you're built differently it becomes just as uncomfortable.

Have a look at cycling-specific long trousers - Endura Humvees look good and avoid the awkward seam, although I see that a review suggests they're likely to get heavy when damp.

 

[HelenD123]

I took a cheap pair of overtrousers on my 6 month tour but only wore them a handful of times. I wore running leggings which kept me warm and didn't soak up much water. As long as you're warm you'll be OK.

I felt self conscious in lycra to start with but that faded. Sometimes I'd keep a pair of normal shorts handy to pull on over my lycra shorts so I could blend in when off the bike. I wore merino wool tops rather than cycling jerseys. They're great in any weather and look normal off the bike so I didn't need many sets of clothes.

 

[rich p]

I would hate to wear a waterproof jacket as I get way too hot cycling – even in winter with a very thin cotton shirt. I don’t know how other cyclists do it! March until November I’m in a vest.