Wet weather riding gear

[The Stranger:Me]

and have stayed completely dry, even in the crouch!!!!

Obviously not riding fast enough.

[Pwalo]

My Teknic jackets (summer and winter) have never let me down in the wet. I've got a cheap pair of Orina lined overtrousers(with knee armour), which I spray a couple of times during the winter months.

My wet weather gloves are RJays recommended to me by the lads at TSS which are short enough to fit inside my jacket sleeves, and like wise have never let me down. I usually give them a water proofing when I deal to my overtrou.

Works for me. I've used leather jackets in the past, but I'm a lazy bum, and the synthetic gear is so much easier. Especially when you ride in the place that defines changeable weather.

[vifferman]

For years, I rode with a cheap two-piece rainsuit over leather, It was awkward, uncomfortable, flapped badly in the wind (twice blowing out the zipper), and didn't actually keep me very dry. Plus the pants made me slide around on the seat.

I tried (briefly) a one-piece suit over my gear. The rationale was that it was light, waterproof, cheap ($100), and if I carried it with me, I'd be safe from D'Auckland's unpredictable sub-monsoonal climate.

This was a DISASTER. Yes, it was 100% waterproof, and specifically designed for bikers (zip right down one leg, stretchy bits, etc) but it was still awkward to get on, and if there was even the faintest glimmer of solar radiation, it worked like one of those "boil in the bag" chook-cookers.
Of all the things I've ever bought, this was the most hated item. It still makes me perspire to think about it...

I remember seeing a biker on the northern m'way wearing a Teknic jacket. I was very dubious how much protection it would offer, and inwardly sneered at the idea, but a seed had been planted...
One day, not long after, I finally twigged that the leather jacket was shite: it didn't keep me particularly warm in Winter, was too hot in Summer, and had good abrasion resistance but that was all (no armour). So, I went shopping to "see what I could see" and ended up buying a Teknic Hurricane jacket identical to the one I'd sneered at!

I wore my leather jacket once after that, then sold it on TardMe.

When I crash-tested my jacket (more than once), Kerrie at MSW rebuilt it with leather overlays on the sleeves and shoulders. I've crash-tested these, and they're excellent. Now I have abrasion resistance AND all-weather protection.

Pants.
For years (3? 6? 4.24?) I wore some excellent Motoline overtrou over my leather pants. These are light, 100% waterproof (vinyl-coated nylon with seam-sealing). They worked very well, but I felt uncomfortable with the lack of seat grip they afforded, and disliked having to put them on for that reason. However, I'd still be wearing this combo, except I finally twigged that my leather pants were killing my knees on long trips, due to the extra Knox armour I'd had Kerrie add to them. I looked at several replacement options, and although I really liked the Macna pants with leather panels in the right places, the fit wasn't as good as the Spidi GranTurismo pants I ended up buying from Motohaus. These are pretty good: really comfy, well-armoured (knees and hips), have a leather panel on the seat for grip and abrasion resistance, another on the inside of the lower legs, thigh vents and a zip-out thermal liner. They're not perfect, because they need leather on the knees and hips. I may get Kerrie to do this sometime.

I haven't replaced my jacket yet, because incredibly there's NOTHING on the market that's comparable! What I want is something that doesn't rely on a waterproof liner for waterproofing (the Hurricane uses an outer fabric that's waterproof/breathable), that has leather on the vulnerable areas, lots of vent zips, and good armour. The nearest I've come to this is the Spidi OnRoad, which is waterproof leather, but it is short of vents for summer.

Gloves
I want some Spidi Sport Comp waterproof. I've got Spidi Ravens, which are excellent, but the cuff is too small.

Boots
StylMartin StylSafe. Fantastic boots: comfy, waterproof, well armoured, well priced. The only thing I wished they had was more toe protection.

I'm now at the point where all I have to do if the weather turns is change from my crappy Dri-Rider glubs to the Spidis to be completely dry and warm.

[Devil]

Cordura anyday. My stuff is great. Carting extra layers of waterproof gear is a pain in the arse.

[Horney1]

I've ridden many years and thousands upon thousands of ks with a leather jacket and during that time I've spent many many hours riding in extremely heavy and continuous rain (often at speed and sometimes when nearly everyone has choosen or been warned to stay at home). I'd go the leather any day. Throw a can of bees wax into it on a nice warm day and it takes at least an hour for the rain to penetrate a little bit. If you should be unfortunate enough to have an off it'll still keep the rain out to, no torn gortex or stretched urethane layers. If the weather gets too bad or you're in for a long ride a pvc jacket (or similarily waterproof) over the top will see you right for hours.

I find the worst thing is the gloves, the leather is usually thinner and softer and doesn't really keep the water out enough. I've found synthetics not too bad in that area.

[KoroJ]

Road last years 1000 miler and back to Wgtn (which included hours in everthing from sunshine through drizel to pissing down) in Spool Jacket, Tecknic Pants, Sidi Boots & Spidi Gloves.

My balaclava got slightly damp.

[McJim]

I've tried the whole "Ride every day come rain or shine" approach but found the combination of cyclonic rain storm and night in the CBD makes visibility so impossible that I bounce the front wheel off kerbs I can't see.

Hence in heavy rain I use a car again.

I know....I'm a woose.

[mark247]

Yeah, I have to say i just use the car as well usually. Just the idea of wet roads puts me off quite a bit anyway, esspecially in town.

[JayRacer37]

wet weather? my preferred option is the car


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

Seconded. Riding road bikes on race rubber (one of my bad habits...) in the wet doesn't fill me with joy. So I just take the car...thats why we have them.

[Dodgyiti]

I use a quality 2 piece waterproof suit over the top of my leather pants and jacket. Keeps the worst rain out, and when I get somewhere I leave the rain suit over the jacket and pants an take them off as one- easy as cordura- plus the rainsuit material dries faster and if its sunny again you can go back to dry leathers- whereas the cordura will still be wet for a while and your wearing it still.
Safety of leathers, convenience of something that drys fast and packs up small.

[Titanium]

IF I ever get caught riding in the rain ...... I can count 2 times in 10 months of riding.

I leave on the Quaismoto Leather jacket and pants but put my cordura jacket and pants over the top, if really wet.

I have removed all the padding and armour from my cordura so it is not so bulky over the leather.

Warm, dry ... mmmmm nice.

[oldrider]

We have been using our current leathers and rain suits since about 1987. (20yrs)

They have been great but mine are getting a bit knackered now and don't fit me very well.

They have (Hers and mine) been through two fairly serious offs and the rain suits have got a few holes here and there and the odd mud stain but they still work OK. (with occasional silicone respray)

The rain suits were made in Taiwan and have no brand name on them and the leathers were made in Pakistan, I think!

The leathers get a re-do with "Backhouse" or "Snowseal" about now (Autumn) ready for the winter and I prefer Snowseal the best, especially on the gloves and boots.

The rain-suits get a spray with, "Silicone Water-guard" and that seems to work for about a year or so.

We often don't stop and put the rain suits on in showery conditions because the leather dries out between showers from the wind while riding.

The only thing that attracts me toward the cadura (sp) suits is that they look a lot more flexible and comfortable, not to mention, "smart" and I would like to get one for Mrs O/R but she says we can't afford it so I am forced not to buy her one!

The other thing that puts us off the expense of new gear is, so many people we have ridden with in cadura suits get wetter than we do, even though our gear is getting old and tatty.

I did borrow my son in law's DriRider suit one day and I really wouldn't have minded keeping it but it was a bit too big for me and of course so is he, so I gave it back when he asked for it! (it didn't rain while I was in it)

We have often wondered about the benefits of cadora over leather and this poll looks as if it is just a matter of "personal choice" rather than one clear winner standing out. Cheers John.

PS: I voted for what I do rather than what I prefer because frankly, I just don't know what's best!

[SixPackBack]

After the recent storm and my leathers getting completely drenched I decided to look into buying a one piece over suit.
So it was off to cycletreads for a fit up.
After trying 6 different sets on the sweat was dripping off me, most are a real struggle to get into with zips and Velcro on the legs, body, wrists and neck. When I had eventually suited up to my satisfaction I looked like the michelin man. Riding home however was dry and warm while still having the satisfaction of knowing should I arse off the leather would still protect me.

[Kinje]

My Cordura gear seems to stand up OK to the rains, unless it starts really coming down. In heavy rain there is a little rain gets in around the top of pants and bottom of jacket.

The worst case of this was experienced on the Takas going to Wgtn for the weekend. That was particularly heavy rain, and you could see the wind gusts blowing the surface water lying on the road- so being a bit wet was the least of my worries at that time! And there was a cop parked by the 70km/hr sign going into Upper Hutt to warn you of the 10-20cm deep water flowing across the road.

[inlinefour]

Time for a poll.

Do you prefer waterproof cordura or leather with a rain suit over the top in rainy weather?

I'm just going through this debate at the moment as my Spidi cordura trousers have finally gone beyond the point of waterproofing. I was considering going for a 2 piece leather riding suit and just getting waterproofs to go over the top. One reason was because I think leather is safer than cordura, but waterproof cordura is just so easy...

Thoughts?

Got one of those suits that fits over your normal riding gear. All good when its wet and cold, but its ferkin hot and sweaty when its warm. Dunno what I'm going to do with my riding gear now I can't ride, any suggestions?