Wet weather riding gear

[paturoa]

When I bought my cordura I asked the sales peps - water proof? Yes they say. Bollocks I say!

Anway got a 2 piece cheapo wets over Technic from motomail outlet store at kingsland, and they are great except after a while if it is warn the sweat builds up from the inside.

[NhuanH]

Results in from Jandal Tour 07:
Leathers, with rain jacket and trou - 1
Cordura jacket - 0

And that was *some* wet weather riding!

[T.W.R]

Just use my leathers with a Rjays 1piece wet weather suit over the top. It's stood upto some pretty heavy down pours with no leakage

Occasionally use a HUNTECH wading jacket over my leather jacket, works well & have been caught in a wicked down pour just with that & it took it with no problems. It's shelter -XP hydrophilic polyurethane waterproof/breathable membrane.

[far queue]

In the past I've used 2 piece leathers with a one piece rain suit over the top in the rain. But I came home from the Brass Monkey last year in pissing rain while wearing a Dririder Rallycross jacket with leather pants and PVC leggings. I was very impressed with how well the jacket worked - I was bone dry after a couple of hours in the rain, bottom half was fine too. Now I have a pair of spool cordura pants as well which will get their 1st run this weekend - the Mokihinui rally on the West Coast and the forecast is for rain all weekend. I'll let you how I got on when I get back.

The idea of not having to stop to put wets on appeals to me.

As for boots, I use Stylmartin Stormy's. They keep me dry too - after 9 years I've just retired them and the replacement Stormy's will get their baptism this weekend too.

[NinjaBoy]

Results in from Jandal Tour 07:
Leathers, with rain jacket and trou - 1
Cordura jacket - 0

And that was *some* wet weather riding!

wondered how long before you posted something.

I'm with Speedie, full rain suit - 2 piece is more convenient - is best for long heavy rain. However, if you're just commuting then a cordura jacket is OK and I feel more comfortable. You know you can get that srpay on water repellent stuff !

[Leong]

Leather is good.
Takes half an hour of light/medium raing to penetrate it anyway, so most times you don't need wets.

I have a Shift jacket that I can put on over the top with my helmet on in a few seconds and a cheap pair of vented leggings from the warehouse. Both the jacket and leggings fit under the seat.

Damn site easier than a one piece rain suit.

Agreed, most times when I've been caught in the rain on a trip I haven't bothered putting the one piece rain suit on. Too uncomfortable and difficult. My Spidi leathers seem quite rain resistant.

wet weather? my preferred option is the car


..... must be getting old ...

For commuting this is my preferred option too!!

[SpinFx]

You cant beat leather for safety, if Slippery when wet ....just throw on bright yellow rain gear so you can be easily seen and safe. Simple really.

[vamr]

No such thing as waterproof boots. Like an honest politician - possible in theory but never seen in this world

What you need are GAITERS. From your friendly Army Surplus store, opposite the billboard of the ho with the hootin' honkers. Just run a cord from your dick to the front brake lever, and you'll be certain to stop in the right place.

Mmmm, peeling paint.

May seem random but I found it interesting never the less... on the top floor of the Auckland City Libraries building on the left hand side is the Special Collections in the lobby of which, at the moment, is a display of 50s to 70s(?) ephemera, newspaper cartoons and illustrations.

The reason it came to mind is on the far wall are ink illustrations of the Auckland CBD and the majority of the buildings no longer exist (APART FROM THAT DAMN HOOTERS BILLBOARD!).

[boomer]

I used to always use cordura in the rain. Until I rode back from Loose bruces funeral. It is fine in light to medium density rain for short to moderate periods. But heavy rain for any period, nothing is better than a one piece rain suit over leathers. Get a dear one, cause they have hidden vents that dont let water in (under a series of flaps etc), and a neat diagonal zip system that channels water away to the side of you.
Boots... well thats a different story.

hey that reminds me... you still owe me some moolah for teh suit you ripped before you even got outta teh shop :P

bloody good...dry, warm and worth every penny.. i'm with Speedie on this one

[jafar]

I have found that cordura works best, Dririder jacket has yet to leak & rjays pants fit over the top of my boots so i get little or no leakage there either.
Leather gets heavy & COLD when wet & is a bitch to dry,where cordura doesn't have this problem.

[Black Bandit]

You can buy waterproof gear?

So far if I'm ever caught in serious rain the water always gets in somewhere. Have one-piece dry suit which fails around the collar. And feet get wet once the boots soak through. And hands get wet once the gloves soak through.
I guess there are only limited preventative measures one can take.

[Keystone19]

This is an interestingly close poll!

Guess it means that there isn't really a right answer to the question and what works for some doesn't work for others!

[Maverick]

I used to ride in leather, but the problem is that if you are a commuter and it is your only option, when leather finally does get wet, it stays wet, for a long time. Putting on cold damp leathers in the morning isnt the most enjoyable way to start the journey to work. at least cordura keeps you pretty dry and drys out quickly in time for work the next day again.


Mav

[kiwifruit]

plastic bags over socks under socks for dry feet

[Daffyd]

My 100% waterproof Cordura leaked first time out in a downpour.
Now I use a Dri-rider one piece rainsuit and overgloves by Rain-off.
www.rain-off.com (NZ made). Stay dry now.