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| Part of my Commute Route with Moderate Rain we had Today |
Many rainy days in North Texas are not well suited to commuting on a bike or any other vehicle not protected against lightning strikes. However, there are some, and still more where the chance of rain is low enough that riding is practical. My route has a few spots, shown, that tend to flood, but there are detours available that would allow me to ride, and perhaps shed the label of "fair weather cyclist."
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| Much More and this would be Impassible |
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| Daughter Shows off Rain Gear |
In my post, here, I related some winter booties I purchased. Since then, I've also gotten some lightweight, occasional use raingear. I got to try it out today and it fits the bill between being light enough to carry on occasions when rain MIGHT be expected, and heavy enough to stand up to more than a handful of uses.
However, the worst element of dealing with rain, IMO, is trying to keep one's feet dry in cycling shoes. The heavy booties would keep the water out, but they're much too warm for many of the rainy days we get in North Texas.
I'm hoping that disposable polyethylene, water resistant shoe covers will do the trick. A box of 100 should last a LONG time. My thought process ran thusly: I did not want something heavy or expensive, because I also want to use these with clipless pedals. Disposable shoe covers are light, and at about 15 cents a pair, I won't feel bad about cutting holes in the bottoms to allow me to use the cleats. We shall see.
For colder days, the heavy covers should work fine, though these covers may well improve their water resistance.
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| Disposable Water Resistant Booties - Will They Stop the Rain? |
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7 comments:
Cheap-o disposable bootiies are a great way to go, I think. Another option is the old plastic grocery bag (or produce bag, they're really good and thin and easy to steal from your local supermarket) over your foot underneath your shoe is also pretty good. Your feet will sweat, and your shoes get wet, but overall its pretty comfy.
You ride a long way for work though...
I'm gonna stop rambling now.
That rain commute route looks rather beautiful.
My problem with traditional raingear is the swishing noise it makes; it really gets on my nerves! Recently I bought a waterproof road cycling jacket made of some fancy material, and it is blessedly silent. Finally!
I knew someone who used Totes overshoes, Steve, and he cut a hole for the cleat in the bottom. I've never tried it myself, but I've found that fenders and a large mudflap for the front wheel keeps most of the water away from my shoes. If they get soaked, I stuff them with newspaper at work to help them dry quicker. Change the paper once or twice and they're dry by go-home time.
I carry a pair of Burley waterproof shoe covers in my pannier that do a pretty good job of keeping your feet wet IF you're wearing them under regular rain pants. Otherwise, water just runs in at the top.
Apparently, Showers Pass covers are just like the Burley ones, which were discontinued in 2006. They are VERY expensive, even compared to the Burleys. REI has some that look like the Pearl Izumi neoprene jobs I already got, and Carradice makes some that look "1910 state-of-the-art."
Of course, this presumes that Tracy MEANT to say "keeping your feet DRY."
Disposable shoe covers, that's a good idea.
Neoprene socks. However they'll turn your feet into melting sweat puddles in the summer.
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