Does anybody still use Cycling Capes?

[Cycleops]

I was wondering if they are still popular and are they at all effective?

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I have cycled with a few people who have used them; they looked ancient (the riders and the capes ) but seemed to work - they were certainly less wet than I was.

 

[numbnuts]

I would like to try one, but I've been told don't get a cheap one so that has put me off

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I do have pics of me cycling with people in capes but despite having a good look thru my files I cannae find them They look as if they should be the most complicated contraptions to cycle in, and that they'd get caught up in all sorts of places but they don't. I think it's wizardry that makes them work.

 

[recumbentpanda]

Yes, yes they do. In a recent extreme weather event on the Bath-Bristol path I passed several cape wearers - all sheltering under bridges and overpasses . . .

 

[Paul.G.]

I used to have one when I was abkid, used it on wet days on my commute to school. I suppose the advances in cycling rain jackets have made them obsolete? I would like one for nostalgic reasons though!

 

[Apollonius]

I remember them from years ago too. They do work well, as long as it isn't too windy, which, of course, does often go with rain. We used to carry them rolled up round a spare tube secured to the back of the Brooks saddle with a spare leather toe strap.

That was in those funny old days when we used to have plastic strips round our wheels called mudguards. Modern fabrics for breathable coats have replaced all of it.

 

[growingvegetables]

In summer - much prefer a cape. Keeps you dead dry, but you don't overheat.

 

[KneesUp]

I've seen people using them and thought about getting one, but good ones are quite a lot for something I don't know if I'd like/use.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I have a cheap one and it does a decent job. I like how small it packs down and the fact that the water is never going to soak through. It can be a handful in the wind, but less of a problem once you realise that the trick is to sit on the tail of it so it won't billow up.

Being cheap, mine doesn't have the straps to hook onto the handlebars, which is an irritation, and sticking an arm out to indicate is not possible. I still get the boil-in-the-bag effect a bit but I've had worse from supposedly breathable rain jackets.

Mine's fine in case of getting caught out by the weather but a better one or a jacket/waterproof trousers for a planned ride in the wet.

 

[BigAl68]

I see two most wet days on the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path. Always wondered what they are like to use but have never bothered to find out

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I carry one in my work bag, it gets used if the ride home from work is wet. I also have a lightweight jacket, that goes in the saddlebag when I go out on a Sunday.

 

[Cuchilo]

I ride in my spidey pants sometimes if that counts ?

 

[Sara_H]

I have a cheapo poncho. It's quite effective. I got it because I instantly overheat when I put a waterproof on, this isn't a problem with the poncho.

Only problems are - it billows out if I go fast down hill, so can't see over shoulder properly! And its pattern is very loud! OH said "Oh my God! You're wearing the 1970's!!" the first time I put it on.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

It's a long long time since I've used a cape. Everybody used to carry one on a clubrun before decent waterproof fabrics came along and the cry "Cape up" meant pulling in and doing just that. Horrible things really, caught the wind and even with thumb loops would never stop flying up and acting like a parachute.