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Does anyone know of anything other than DWR (definitelynot water repellent) coated tights for road riding? It seems there's plenty of piss-proof pants for the MTB but I'm struggling to find anything useful for the road. Kinda looking to minimise the soaking and ensuing cold on 2hrs plus road rides.
Overshoes, merino leg warmers and wet legs here... I find whilst moving I'm fine for 3-4 hours, when I stop as long as not in biting wind its ok for a quick stop. Soggy lycra and legwarmers at least don't feel clammy. Dry (ish) feet are more important (to me at least).
Waterproof over trousers on the commute are a last resort if its absolutely tipping it down and freezing, as even with full vents down the side, I seem to generate so much heat and vapour inside that I get damp anyway..
Not tried bib tights in any form yet..
edit - I'd add I'm in SE England, so when it rains heavily its usually fairly mild even mid winter..
Kinda looking to minimise the soaking and ensuing cold on 2hrs plus road rides.
I generally find that good winter bib tights, eg Rapha Pro, stay warm when wet. I've not really found any lycra style leggings which are really dry without you just sweating to death.
unless it’s absolutely tipping it down in which case I generally don’t bother going out.
+1
I've a pair of Gorewear Goretex shorts that I wear over long bibs if I really have to go out in the rain. Makes a huge difference in warmth, dryness and comfort without impeding pedalling at all. They are quite slim fitting too, so don't flap about.
Gailbier Mistral bib tights hold up well to rain
The front panels feature forward-facing panels reinforced with a technical membrane that’s both windproof and water-repellent
Mine have served me well the last couple of years
https://www.galibier.cc/product/mistral-winter-bib-tights/
Another vote for mudguards and overshoes (or boots). With that combo the weather has to be utterly dreadful for the wetness to be noticable.
If you're getting cold, it means you need to ride harder.
Mudguards.
Galibier Mistral already mentioned
Otherwise
piss-proof pants for the MTB
Why not?
Have you got mudguards? Not raceblade type but proper guards with a decent flap on the end. In decades of winter riding I've yet to have an issue with soaking wet legs thanks to the above.
If not Spatz!
As above, mudguards keep the water off the road getting to you, and in light rain that's probably almost all the water that hits you.
Water from above, if it's light enough then Roubaix style tights shed enough to not get uncomfortable, if it's beyond that then don't bother and ride another time.
I recently bought a bike with full mudguard fittings , so for the first time in thirty years I now have comprehensive, full length guards. The difference is amazing. I'd always used clip ons but they are not in the same league. My legs are much drier and my feet never seem to get soaked like they did with SKS raceguards/blades
Stolen goat do some leg warmers that keep the rain off if you don’t want full tights.
that + full guards…
yea full guards is what you need, the reduction in spray is huge.
I use castelli sorpassos for long rides in shitty conditions. They get wet but stay warm.
Ankle boots and shoe covers.
If its cold, its always my hands, toes and ears that freeze long before the legs
For feet/lower legs - Spatz.
Waterproof chaps: for when you only want to wear half of your waterproof shorts...
Joking aside, I've got a set of these Rain Legs for commuting. If it looks iffy and a high chance of rain fr the ride, I stick these on rolled up and ready to deploy. Work well until the rain runs off the sides etc and soaks your anyway, but they're great to a point.
Over boots like Matt has posted plus chaps or a cape for the thighs.
Surely we have to assume that decent mudguards are fitted along with both wheels?
Thanks all. I do have guards but have just ordered some extra flaps. Possibly spatz next and some shorts
I do have guards but have just ordered some extra flaps
Being a bit of a weight weenie I made my own and binned the heavy rubber flaps.
Found some suitable plastic. Cut to size, drilled holes in it and the guard and bolted it to it.
My local bike shop was giving some away with their logo on recently. A bit of free advertising.
Keep some zip ties in your bag so when the rivets holding the arms rust out you can pop the rivets out and zip tie them back on. It's happened on every pair I've owned. I now remove the rivets from new and zip tie them back on. Just drill a 2nd hole and loop back up.
so for the first time in thirty years I now have comprehensive, full length guards. The difference is amazing. I’d always used clip ons but they are not in the same league. My legs are much drier and my feet never seem to get soaked like they did with SKS raceguards/blades
A road bike that takes full mudguards is usually the first thing on a wish list.
Rainlegs. Used for years. Very good, but only really good if you use a bike with proper guards.
as many have said about close fitting full length guards and long flaps makes such a massive difference to how wet you get.
Just go full wetsuit or latex gimp suit
I grew about the Galibier, but I'd be happier if they offered different leg lengths, like they do with some of their bib shorts. #6foottallhobbit
In general, Galibier products are excellent quality and superb value for money.
Guards obviously and decent overshoes but I also have some pearl izum bibs that are made from a softshell fabric, thing is I haven’t used them yet despite buying them a couple of years ago, moving and then renovating a property put paid to that but I’m just getting back on the bike and I’m sure the weather will turn.
They have an ‘Elite’ label inside and a nifty pocket on the side, softshell is on the front/top of legs and the seat/back area, I do have an old pair of sport full tights to go over shorts that are ‘no-rain’ but whatever coating they had is long gone, no idea what the castelli ones are like?