tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post842509229894854173..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Water, Water EverywhereVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-55579764208469390042014-04-24T04:13:20.754-04:002014-04-24T04:13:20.754-04:00Love your blog. Found your sensible Brooks saddle ...Love your blog. Found your sensible Brooks saddle advice and had to delve further. <br />What do you wear to cycle in the rain? I was thinking of getting an Otto of London poncho, but then thought maybe a trench coat would do. I notice you are wearing a coat in the photos. Poncho or coat? I live in the UK so rain pretty much all year. Hot or warm rainy days in summer and cold rain with wind in winter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15578541326874178049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52406852921605882942014-04-13T02:59:05.381-04:002014-04-13T02:59:05.381-04:00I ride 18 miles to work in specialist cycling clot...I ride 18 miles to work in specialist cycling clothes (warning! MAMIL!), then get showered and changed at the office. I chicken out if it's raining not because I don't like riding in the rain, but because I can't dry out my clothes, specially my shoes, at work ready for the ride home. I've had various jackets that keep my top half reasonably dry, but it's the feet that are the problem. I've tried neoprene overshoes, but I find them impractical. I used to find my big old CRT computer monitor great for drying my gloves - these flat panel LCDs are nowhere near as good. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16975362593871578984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3776298070436797372013-02-26T17:49:44.193-05:002013-02-26T17:49:44.193-05:00It's not too difficult to make a mudflap from ...It's not too difficult to make a mudflap from something plastic or rubber. But i've bought dutch made Bibia ones from here http://www.dutchbikebits.com/ for a more professional look.<br />A proper rain cape is also perfect for the rain, unlike ponchos which are designed for walking or standing in the rain. A cycle rain cape is larger to allow it to stretch out to the handle bars and will have loops to hold in your hands while cycling. The great thing with a cape though is while the mudguards (fenders) with their rubber flap stop the water splashing you from underneath the open bottom of the cape lets air circulate. A lot of waterproof clothing makes you perspire, even decent goretex material wont dissipate all perspiration so you end up feeling just as damp as if you'd not worn water proof clothing at all. Carradice make a cotton duck cape, while there are various PVC type ones made by dutch/german companies. It's needs to be a weighty material though so it doesn't blow up in the wind. Dennis - UKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-2916536843807481142012-04-24T18:33:06.474-04:002012-04-24T18:33:06.474-04:00I wear a raincoat and a hat. Here is a review of a...I wear a raincoat and a hat. <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/04/2-raincoats-nau-succinct-trench-and.html" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is a review of a couple of nice raincoats and <a href="http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2011/11/iva-jean-rain-cape-ethereal-wearable.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> is one of a cape.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3353835149394680682012-04-24T18:21:40.130-04:002012-04-24T18:21:40.130-04:00sorry if you've answered this already, but wha...sorry if you've answered this already, but what do you wear on such rainy days so you don't arrive soaked or semi-soaked to your destination? I've never ridden in the rain so I'm wondering about methods to stay totally dry during a commute. <br /><br />http://stephmakingfashion.blogspot.com/Stephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02301974713287887546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-86680841401604176882011-05-13T22:36:47.659-04:002011-05-13T22:36:47.659-04:00Rain Legs and a good waxed Carridice bicycle rain-...Rain Legs and a good waxed Carridice bicycle rain-cape seem like the ultimate protection in the humid Summer months when a gortex suit is transformed int a sauna suit. Dutchbike in Chicago has Dutch seat covers that are bright colored and durable. You could make one by sewing some vinyl "oilcloth" fabric with waxed linen thread. <br /><br />http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/rain-legs/Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00928626803440379665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84246394776416462142010-11-22T00:24:55.298-05:002010-11-22T00:24:55.298-05:00for awhile now, big fan of shower caps as saddle c...for awhile now, big fan of shower caps as saddle covers. trick learned from my fellow bike diva adrienne :DMELI.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01871688353021351859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61694933049401512282010-11-07T08:57:52.939-05:002010-11-07T08:57:52.939-05:00Hi Velouria, not relevant to this post but have yo...Hi Velouria, not relevant to this post but have you seen this beauty:<br /><br />http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160502500699<br /><br />wow!!Samuel Chilboltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-39591758012737798342010-11-06T22:24:36.175-04:002010-11-06T22:24:36.175-04:00I'm such a wus. I don't like riding when ...I'm such a wus. I don't like riding when it's raining or cold. Dear God, give me the strength. :-) I'll get out this month. But, Dec.- Feb., I just don't know. I admire you all-weather cyclists. I strive to work up the courage.Karlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-45680638579270469622010-11-06T13:21:51.889-04:002010-11-06T13:21:51.889-04:00That was a lovely post. Thanks!That was a lovely post. Thanks!J.Tuttlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923883452644723563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-32634415442515375912010-11-06T10:22:31.519-04:002010-11-06T10:22:31.519-04:00Melissa - That is one of the many reasons I love l...Melissa - That is one of the many reasons I love longish coats - they cover everything. I sometimes need to run errands while in the midst of painting or cleaning, and don't feel like making myself presentable. Throw on a coat and a hat, and I am all set. This is especially important in Vienna, where people don't generally go out looking disheveled.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-33825478025176445672010-11-06T10:17:57.303-04:002010-11-06T10:17:57.303-04:00LOVE the poem! Fun and well-written. Thanks.LOVE the poem! Fun and well-written. Thanks.Big Clydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11139621880727963169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62601851298943875322010-11-06T10:16:49.495-04:002010-11-06T10:16:49.495-04:00When I lived in the Netherlands, we rode bikes eve...When I lived in the Netherlands, we rode bikes everywhere, rain or shine. I wore a skirt every day, so when it rained, the solution was to wear rain pants. I learned how to get the pants on and off without flashing anyone. I'm sure I looked ridiculous with a skirt bunched up around inside the top part of the pants, but my longish coat covered it, I think, and I didn't really care--I stayed dry!MelissaPurlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18245003007013554971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56648309484043137992010-11-06T10:10:01.024-04:002010-11-06T10:10:01.024-04:00Carine - Or, how interesting that the ANT is a pal...Carine - Or, how interesting that the ANT is a pale gray! I wonder which RAL colour it is. There are too many beautiful colours to choose from.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-1760250392191125882010-11-06T01:40:11.803-04:002010-11-06T01:40:11.803-04:00Rebecca19804 - The pannier is totally waterproof; ...Rebecca19804 - The pannier is totally waterproof; no problems. <br /><br /><i>somervillain said...<br />"my other rain jacket is a true rain jacket which is waterproof, but it doesn't stretch, it flops in the wind, and i sweat to death in it. honestly, i'm wetter from sweat than i would be from just riding in the rain without rain protection."</i><br /><br />That was the problem for me when I was looking for a road cycling rain jacket: everything I tried was either not breathable enough, or not water resistant enough. I finally found one that was both, but it took me a while. Not an issue on my upright city bikes though.<br /><br />Re saddle covers - I also have one from Rivendell, and it is a lot better than Brooks as well. The colour is a subtle gray. But can anything beat the classiness of an inside-out supermarket bag? I don't know...Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-62408878613820826232010-11-05T19:06:58.836-04:002010-11-05T19:06:58.836-04:00i've only been in one bad rainstorm and while ...i've only been in one bad rainstorm and while most drivers behaved normally, i had one who honked because he couldn't go right on red. meh. reading about carrying your bike up the stairs, i'd like to know how exactly! my cruiser is probably 30 plus pounds and i haven't figured out how to carry it up without knocking the wheels into stairs. and it's so cold that my gloved hands don't grip on the bike very well.Ridonkulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00270308575611795934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5295799035085905532010-11-05T15:09:42.798-04:002010-11-05T15:09:42.798-04:00northern mike: regarding mudflaps, i have good lu...northern mike: regarding mudflaps, i have good luck using black plastic stiffener often found in various things: notebook covers, retail packaging, etc. the thicknesses can vary, but i recently made a mud flap from the plastic stiffener card from a $8 cargo net:<br /><br />http://www.flickr.com/photos/7516215@N03/5091082986/in/set-72157625011352879/<br /><br />the other thing i've discovered is that the width of the flap and curvature are not overly important, while the length is everything. i have narrow honjo fenders on one bike, but they are so long that there is no room for even a small mudflap, and they keep my feet and bottom bracket totally dry! a dutch bike that i used to have had a huge, wide (and heavy) rubber clip-on mudflap (axa brand, got it from a local dutch bike importer for $5), but it performed no better at keeping the water at bay than the narrow but long honjo fender.<br /><br />i agree with you that the stair tread material works, but is a little too stiff. and i agree, once you have a mudflap (or a long fender) anything less seems useless.somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-70885566360466208512010-11-05T15:02:05.949-04:002010-11-05T15:02:05.949-04:00NorthernMike -- I managed to pick up a nice rubber...NorthernMike -- I managed to pick up a nice rubber mudflap at Urbane Cyclist when I was in Toronto a couple of years ago. You might want to check in with them? If I recall, it was something that I had to ask for; but that they were happy to provide.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66745898155778183192010-11-05T13:31:24.671-04:002010-11-05T13:31:24.671-04:00Hey, folks, where can I find big, rubber mudflap(s...Hey, folks, where can I find big, rubber mudflap(s)?<br /><br />I saw a "Bibia" brand one on a bike the other day...<br /><br />I made one for my Pashley Roadster and LOVE it, but the material is rubber Stair Tread from Home Depot - and when it hits a curb, it doesn't deform enough for my liking, especially in the cold.<br /><br />Big mudflaps are just Amazing for keeping your feet dry. Fenders seem useless without them, once you've had one.NorthernMikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15341589798898070642010-11-05T11:50:52.084-04:002010-11-05T11:50:52.084-04:00Velouria - Yes, I am certainly a lucky devil :) Th...Velouria - Yes, I am certainly a lucky devil :) The color is actually a SUPER pale grey (I once heard a French girl call this color "dirty white"), which I believe would be very much to your taste. I am excited to see the ANT Truss in some other colors besides black... I met a customer at the expo who has ordered a pale green one with red rims and cream fat frank tires!<br /><br />And for the curious, here's a diamond frame in "Telegrey 4":<br />http://www.boutiquecycles.com/bikes/details/grey_motobecane/Carinehttp://onceuponabicycle.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-56460809680122806122010-11-05T10:24:11.960-04:002010-11-05T10:24:11.960-04:00when I picked up a Brooks Team Pro from Broadway, ...when I picked up a Brooks Team Pro from Broadway, they were out of Brooks branded saddle covers and I got <a href="http://redrockbicycle.com/product/serfas-waterproof-seat-cover-61823-1.htm" rel="nofollow">a Serfas one</a> instead. It fits perfectly and is also a nice way of camouflaging the brand while also being more durable than a plastic bag.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-5628889781915127402010-11-05T10:20:25.012-04:002010-11-05T10:20:25.012-04:00Would be curious to know how that pannier held up ...Would be curious to know how that pannier held up in the rain? Thanks.Rebecca Oldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05979821146538393459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-75459155977007706202010-11-05T10:18:48.782-04:002010-11-05T10:18:48.782-04:00I used to cover my saddle with plastic bags too, b...I used to cover my saddle with plastic bags too, but sometimes wind would move them out of place. Then I found something that has always worked, even on windy days: a shower cap from the dollar store. It's 100% waterproof, slightly thicker than the plastic bag and has an elastic that I shove inside the bottom part of the leather saddle (it fits my Brooks B33, so I suppose it would fit any saddle...) I've been using the same since May and it's still working fine, so I suppose it will last at least a year.Jazzboyhttp://www.bicycle.webnode.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-65984692205923738052010-11-05T10:16:33.380-04:002010-11-05T10:16:33.380-04:00I bailed on my ride to work because it was raining...I bailed on my ride to work because it was raining this morning. I normally don't care if I get caught in the rain on the return trip, but I tend to take public transit if I wake up and see rain as my bike ride takes about 30-40 minutes and even with rain gear my hair and face would be a mess. I especially hate it when rain wets my contacts (my eye doctor told me never to allow water to come into contact with soft contacts because bacteria will breed). The couple of times it has happened I've tossed the lenses and thought I should buy some goggles or something. Also, someone needs to develop a line of fashionable cycling clothes for us loop frame-loving ladies. Just like you'd never catch me in spandex, you'll never see me in a bright orange Mountain Equipment jacket either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-29627801511996613382010-11-05T10:01:56.943-04:002010-11-05T10:01:56.943-04:00for a seat cover, i have the one from velo-orange ...for a seat cover, i have the one from velo-orange that is waterproof and elastic. when stretched over the saddle, it looks like a regular, "generic" saddle. sometimes i also use a white plastic bag.<br /><br />for rain gear, my collection is still evolving, but right now i have a breathable, stretchable form-fitting synthetic fall cycling jacket that can keep me dry for about 1/2 hour in steady rain. after that, water will begin to seep through, especially at my elbows and shoulders. the reason i use it is because i'm rarely riding in the rain for more than 30 minutes at a time, and it breathes well and i don't sweat! i also use it as a dedicated fall jacket, rain or not, and with a couple of extra layers beneath it, it can be a winter jacket. i got it from performance bike on clearance pretty cheap. my other rain jacket is a true rain jacket which is waterproof, but it doesn't stretch, it flops in the wind, and i sweat to death in it. honestly, i'm wetter from sweat than i would be from just riding in the rain without rain protection.somervillainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13903377050982678550noreply@blogger.com