Kit for wet weather commuting, mixed modal style?

[Time Waster]

Does anyone commute via train and shortish bike ride in work clothes rather than the direct from home style in cycling kit with change of clothes? What do you wear in truly dreich weather?

My system is my 5 or 6 year old Paramo adventure lite Velez waterproof for lesser rain or drizzle showers. I put on Berghaus overtrousers on heavier rain when the rain is heavy enough to wet me out in the ten minutes max ride to the office. In warmer weather when the is a chance of short and drizzly sierra showers then I'll just carry a Montane windshirt to put on and possibly no waterproof trousers.

This used to work but I think I need something new.. Not sure whether to go for hiking jacket that's suitable, such as Paramo standard Velez jacket, or a Rab one. Or I should get a cycling specific one albeit a commuting style one.

Also, I find it hard to get long enough leg over trousers. Are there cycling specific ones? Are they usually longer because of bent knees when cycling? I wear normal work clothes and shoes. Spare socks in the bag if I get wet socks. Usually feet ok but ankle is exposed as the overtrousers lift during cycling.

Finally, overshoes? I used to wear neoprene ones over my cycling shoes (actually trail shoes not cycling ones.. They were a bugger to put on so I don't use. Are there any ones I could wear on normal shoes that are very easy to take off and put on? They seem a good way to cope with the gap.

Anu advice?

 

[wiggydiggy]

I used to.

I had a 2.5 mile ride to the station, I started in full gear, leggings, tops, jackets etc but eventually I worked out just cycling in normal work clothes was best. I have a Carradice saddle bag which with a shoulder strap works really well for just picking the bag off the bike and getting on the train. On days with heavy rain I just ignored it as when I got to the office I'd just change my top.

As this was all pre COVID and WFH I had no laptops or anything like that to carry, I'd fit my daily belongings into a 12ltr Barley Bag.

 

[Punkawallah]

Sounds like you need a rain cape.

 

[mjr]

Sounds like you need a rain cape.

That would be my suggestion, but it depends on the ride. My cape is the second-least aero thing I've ridden in, and your feet are still at risk of drenching because the increasingly wider and heavier cars are increasingly splashy. Great on park routes in town, but difficult on an exposed roadside cycleway.

 

[biking_fox]

Most (all?) hiking waterproofs will be too warm for cycling you'll sweat more than the rain gets you! Should be fine for winter, but for summer drizzle you need the lightest thing you can find which is usually cycling specific.

TBH if you can't commit to wearing cycling clothes and changing, which not every organisation supports, it might easier to only cycle in on the dry days and accept you'll occasionally by caught out. Does depend on the job I guess.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

How short is the bike ride?

 

[Time Waster]

That would be my suggestion, but it depends on the ride. My cape is the second-least aero thing I've ridden in, and your feet are still at risk of drenching because the increasingly wider and heavier cars are increasingly splashy. Great on park routes in town, but difficult on an exposed roadside cycleway.

It's coastal so rain tends to come with a head wind strong enough to push you backwards. A rain cape on top could mean I take off!

 

[Time Waster]

Most (all?) hiking waterproofs will be too warm for cycling you'll sweat more than the rain gets you! Should be fine for winter, but for summer drizzle you need the lightest thing you can find which is usually cycling specific.

TBH if you can't commit to wearing cycling clothes and changing, which not every organisation supports, it might easier to only cycle in on the dry days and accept you'll occasionally by caught out. Does depend on the job I guess.

If I don't cycle it'll be a twice as long walk. Car parking is difficult even at the best of times.

 

[mjr]

It's coastal so rain tends to come with a head wind strong enough to push you backwards. A rain cape on top could mean I take off!

Unlikely because modern cycling capes tend to be much higher at the sides. It ain't a parachute!

It would probably be much slower in those conditions than other waterproofs, even if you slow enough to limit sweating. Possibly slower than walking, from what you wrote.

 

[Time Waster]

I'm on a Bromton so I do not want to slow myself down any more!! It is a 3 speed but should be a 6 speed. I haven't got round to fixing the plus/minus shifter. Not a fan of hub gears neither but I need the fold and the height capacity of the Brompton.

When I got the front block bag (metro large) I was actually amazed most by how much harder and slower it made the bike. A headwind with that bag on the front is a real trudge. At times I have to go into lowest gear too!!! I don't even have to do that on hills.

No I am looking for something more conventional as I will probably be using it off my bike moving around the site. Has to look presentable at least. Rules out the roadie, ultra light top for me. I think hiking tops would be better. Paramo stopped making the ciqlo model designed for cycling and cycle touring. Not sure there is much made for hiking and cycling use, just hiking ones that could be used cycling. The drop tail is less pronounced in those.