Waterproof cycling trousers are useful for commuting into work. There is no point for a training ride, you are better off getting wet - good lycra is also quite quick drying.
My first pair of waterproof cycling trousers were pretty useless and this kind of put me off. My solution, was to keep a spare pair of trousers at work and change into them when I got deluged. However, recently I got a decent pair from a local shop in Oxford. These have been pretty good, when used with garters to keep the gap between shoes and trousers dry. The other simple tip is to use plastic bags within your shoes, to keep all your socks dry. If you use this triple combination, you can keep yourself pretty much dry (even if it does take about 15 minutes to get ready…)
The other trick, I was told by the shop, is to wash the waterproof trousers with a special wax - this helps to keep the waterproof quality for longer.
Waterproof Trousers at Wiggle
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend getting a top of the range Goretex waterproof trouser, like these Gore Ultra II trousers
at £98.99 they are pretty expensive. Although, Goretex is theoretically breathable and waterproof, in practice I find that you can still get pretty wet inside due to the amount of sweat. Unless, you do very long and very slow touring rides, I think you are better off with layers of lycra, cycling trousers restrict movement too much for my liking.
But, if you are a commuter in the UK, a good pair of waterproof trousers can be an invaluable aid to commuting. These Gridlock Endura trousers at £39.99 offer good value.
If you use waterproof trousers, make sure they are tucked in properly and don’t get caught in the chain. I use garters, but, you can also use the good old fashioned trouser clips
Breathable Waterproof Trousers?
In practise waterproof trousers offer varying degrees of breath ability. The importance of this depends on how much cycling you will do in them. If it is only a short distance, you will be able to get away with less breathable and cheaper trousers. As you do more you will need more waterproofing
2 comments ↓
great tip - thanks
i wasnt sure if i would require over trousers for cycling in but i will leave it now.
another idea is to use old pairs of socks over your work shoes to keep them clean. you can then dry them out for the next occaision. I have been bike commuting for around 20 years - the chance of getting wet (in the UK) are around 1 in 10. i will now look for some garters!
[...] Waterproof cycling capes are a good option for commuters who have to cycle to work whatever the weather. One option is to just wear a combination of waterproof top and waterproof trousers [...]
Leave a Comment