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Am I expecting too much for my new waterproof shorts to keep my arse dry on an hours ride on very wet roads?
I bought a pair of Altura All Roads shorts back in the summer and this is the first weekend I’ve actually used them when it’s been piss wet. My front was dry but my arse was decidedly damp. They were not very expensive but I would have expected more. What do you think?
Thanks
I had the same with some Endura shorts a few years back. Quite hard to find shorts which really are waterproof, I now only buy one made from GoreTex as that does actually work.
I always assumed the two holes in the bottom allow quite a lot of moisture to enter the area.
Do they have tapes/velcro on the legs? Amazing how much gets in that way, if you're not wearing kneepads.
That said, my altura attacks pretty much never leave me with a "wet" feeling, just a little dampness sometimes when it's really wet.
You mentioned road- is it a road bike? No substitute for mudguards if it is
Are those short’s supposed to be waterproof, no mention of any specifications on the altura website?
https://www.altura.co.uk/products/detail/AL30ARXBS/all-roads-x-baggy-short/
They are the waterproof ones and are fully taped. As I said, the rest of me is dry, it’s just the bit of my bum that is in contact with the saddle. I know the two large holes for your legs don’t help, but I’m sure it’s not coming from there. It’s a new gravel bike that I’ve only just received, so no mud guards. I’ve got an ass saver somewhere so might try that while it’s so wet. Will also give them a wash in nikwax to see if that improves the dwr as well.
Wide gorilla tape stuck inside to the arse and legs.
t’s just the bit of my bum that is in contact with the saddle
Erm... Sweat?? It doesn't like leaving waterproof fabric if its not open to the air, which whilst sandwiched between your arse and the saddle, might explain things
Tumble dry or leave on a radiator also helps activate the proofing...
Bluntly, they won't be.
As I understand it there's 3 bits to waterproof clothing. The main fabric (nylon) which isn't waterproof, the external DWR coating, which makes most of the water bead and run off, and the internal breathable membrane which is basically full of tiny holes - the theory being that moisture vapour (sweat) on the inside can move through the membrane by osmosis, driven by the temp difference between inside (warm) and outside (cold)
In the case of the arse of your shorts. The DWR is useless, as the water can't run off as its trapped between you and the saddle (and never lasts long anyway as its subject to constant grinding paste). Then the membrane gets overwhelmed by the amount of wet outside, especially as you move around on the saddle, so you pretty much end up pumping the water through by pedalling. (this also happens on "waterproof" boots with a goretex liner as the boot flexes while you walk).
The best, IME, that you can hope for is a merely "clammy" nether region, and you shouldn't be getting that icewater enema feeling every time you ride through a puddle.
Its all a con I feel. I've yet to buy a piece of "waterproof" bike clothing that actually works as advertised for more than an hour in proper rain, and even that only when its new. If you check the Alpkit guide - they suggest reproofing every 6 months, more if its gets hard use. That's 3 washing machine cycles a time (machine clean/wash/proof). Waterproof clothing that needs re-waterproofing twice a year (at best in my practical experience) is not waterproof clothing...
Sweat isn't going to evaporate through your saddle, is it?
Its all a con I feel.
Well yes and no. The fabric IS waterproof. But there's a lot more to keeping you dry whilst exercising in rain than simply wearing a waterproof fabric. Just don't expect miracles. And if you feel let down, take the waterproof off for a few hours in heavy rain and see how much wetter you get.
Good advice, thanks. I think JonEdwards is right, and that’s all I needed to know really. I think I’m just expecting too much.
I bought a pair of Altura All Roads shorts back in the summer and this is the first weekend I’ve actually used them when it’s been piss wet
I'll add to this, it reads like you picked up the shorts in the summer and you've used them before there first outing in the wet, with it being the contact point between saddle and bum its possible the waterproofing has worn off from this or been washed off (how are you washing them and with what?) Maybe try reproof them with some nikwax or tumbledry them as suggested by timbog
And definitely fit an ass saver- a constant wet plume fired up your crack is adding serious wetness straight into the zone you are trying to keep dry.
Yes use a mudguard. Sitting on mud is going to wear through any waterproof material quickly. And it also wears your saddle prematurely.
No help for shorts (I never saw the benefit of waterproof top half of legs and soaking wet flesh on lower legs), but I've got 2 pairs of waterpoof trouser and they both work very well - tested by standing in a shower for 15 minutes and also having an outside hose turned on my for 10 minutes.
First pair are very old now and are no longer made - by Craft. The newer set, bought last December are from Madison and work very well indeed in terms of waterproofing. The waist isn't quite so good, but I suspect that is down to my podge meaning the trousers don't sit properly - braces sort that issue though!
I think I saw someone riding yesterday in the shorts version of the trousers I've got and they did look to be dry and the way he walked to the coffee van suggested he wasn't suffering any damp effects - so maybe some do actually work (his lower legs were soaked and manky though - given the temperature yesterday that wouldn't have been pleasant).
If the ride is manky, my jacket and trousers get a hose down whilst on the washing line and I allow them to drip dry a bit before bringing them inside to dry in a warm place - room temp.
The jacket got reproofed about a month ago and was last done 2 years back - it has brought it back to life again and is now fully dry (well apart from some sweat - I'm sure it is sweat as it stinks!) apart from a couple of bits where sweat on the inside is.
Trousers haven't needed reproofed yet and I suspect they won't need it until April after the majority of the wet slop has passed.
Almost all of that has no real relevance to the query about shorts, but it does relate to the comment about waterproof gear not really being waterproof - I've found kit that is and works very well - a version 1 Endura MT500 Burner jacket and the Madison trousers.
I have “waterproof “ trousers and every part of me in bone dry apart from my arse
Sat on a wet spongey saddle for a few houses and the water must just soak in to the fabric