Cycle cape

[Chris]

Does anyone know if cycle capes are still available? I want one for commuting as it rains heavily and frequently here.

[AJPITFC]

Just search Google Advanced Search

Put in Cycle Capes
http://www.gearshift.co.uk
Ebay of course
http://www.harryhallcycles.co.uk/

To name just three

[Karen Sutton]

I've got one of these. Tried it for the first time last Sunday. It's great. It kept me dryer than my jacket, even my feet were dry. So condensation or heat build up either!

http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=12057

[thirdcrank]

Rotrax cyclis of Soton regularly advertise one in the ctc mag. Also Carradice make the Pro-route also advertised ditto.

In spite of the last posting, I should ask yourself why you never see these being used. It is certainly not through unavailability. When I started cycling there was little else which was completely waterproof and I my dad, from an even earlier period of antiquity, insisted that I always carry one. When I retired in 1997, I extended my cycling to include a shopping bike for that very purpose. In my LBS they had a forlorn looking cycling cape, ordered specially for a rambler who never came back to buy it. Forgetting how useless these things are I bought it and used it only once. Then I remembered the problems: overall - condensation. (They had a readers' write-in in the 'comic' in the 1950's on this subject and one contributor said he wrapped an inflated inner tube around his torso to create airflow under the cape) In modern traffic conditions control of the bike can be compromised and in any sort of wind you feel you have a similar amount of sail to the Cutty Sark. Perhaps that is why they were so often worn with a Sou' Wester.

In short anybody with good memories of these things has got the pink lenses in their cycling sunglasses. If you really want one and live within cycling distance of Gildersome, South Leeds, feel free to cycle over and I will give you mine. Otherwise, modern cycling clothing is infinitley better. Mick Agar

[jb]

I made the mistake of taking one to Ireland once as my only waterproof. As it rained most of the time I had to spend my evenings wandering around in this large poncho looking like Clint eastwood on a bad day. added to that every time I wanted to get in or out of it in a cafe for instance I had to disapear under it for a while feeling a right prat. Also I had to remember it was attached to the bike when I jumped off it.

Their great if your making a one off journey when its stair rodding it down with no wind - and they keep the bike dry - but otherwise forget them.
Cheers
J

[rp]

Just been reading Josie Dew's book The Wind in my Wheels. She found the cape very useful in third world countries where toilets and handy bushes are scarce, and interested locals are many! Sometimes a great big poncho can have added benefits!

[EssexMan]

Do they really work when its windy? I always imagine it must be literally like trying to sail into the wind on a bike.

I accept that capes rule when your standing still and the rain is coming straight down.

[PW]

They are very useful in heavy summer downpours when the wind's light, I'd prefer not to use one in high winds or on roads where articulated wagons operate. The former CTC shop, now Bike Plus, used to sell one imported by Emmelle which is decent quality.

[thirdcrank]

I would say that a traditional cape woud be ideal for something like marshalling a bike race in heavy rain when you would have your own little tent and the relative lack of physical activity would mean there would be no problem with condensation. Also you would be both conspicuous and recognisable as cycling related at some distance by competitors with sweat in their eyes, steamed up glasses etc. But for cycling in 2006, weatherproof clothing has moved on. Mick Agar

[Chris]

Thanks for the all of the above. Can't agree with last correspondent as I live in the west of Ireland and it rains a lot. Waterproof clothing is hot and it isn't waterproof for very long here. I want a cape to keep off the worst affects to give the second layer a chance.

[thirdcrank]

Obviously too far away to take up my offer of my cape free - if I see Father Ted or Dougal around I will get them to pass it on. Here's wishing you dry cycling. It's been raining here for what seems like forty days and forty nights. With a hosepipe ban in half the country, we've got a couple of giraffe on the corner of the street waitink for the ark. Mick Agar

[steve.y.griffith]

I have a number of capes surplus and being sold in aid of the National Cycle Museum in Wales .
I have a very very large yellow one ( distance collar to bottom front 120cm and distance to rear 100cm. I am 1.8m and it’s far too big to

I have various others smaller . The best material is the thicker one. I find a cape the best way to keep dry but it does need to be the right fit . Modern capes tend to be far to small the Carradice one for example
pm me with any cape requirements

[Stradageek]

With the wetness we've experienced in the West Country lately I've returned to a cape - one I inherited that must be almost 40yrs old. It's great, though I've also added short wellies to keep the feet dry.

The big surprise was cycling into a headwind. Though I don't have stats to back it up, I really feel that that cape acts like a fairing and I go faster!

To add a little detail, this is on a 1984, very upright, 20" wheeled Stratton folder, a bike which normally boasts all the aerodynamic eficiency of a wardrobe

[Carlton green]

To add a little detail, this is on a 1984, very upright, 20" wheeled Stratton folder, a bike which normally boasts all the aerodynamic eficiency of a wardrobe

When I checked the Stratton looked very similar to my Raleigh Compact (photo below) which is basically a rebadged Bianchi / Carnielli Graziella (Italian bike). I quite like my Compact but the aerodynamics of it are all what would expect from an ‘up-right’ bike; mostly I don’t go fast enough for the uprightness to be of any importance. I’d be very pleased to discuss these 20” wheel bikes on a separate thread - sharing knowledge and experience is good.

A while back I got caught out in the rain and used an inexpensive poncho on my drop handlebar Mixte, that poncho worked remarkably well and made me wonder about trying out a cape. The poncho saved me from getting soaked, but a cape would have been at least as effective and a cape is designed with features for the cycling use whereas a poncho is a general purpose garment that - with some success - I forced into ‘better than nothing’ service.

Of course there are multiple ways to try and keep dry / less wet; and unless one must make that journey in heavy rain a cape might not be necessary. For those with more flexible plans one can choose to either stay indoors or venture out there with whatever you already have that works at least reasonably well. Looking at my likely remaining years, and trying to be logical, I’ve plenty of good enough stuff to ‘see me out’ … but are we always logical and sometimes there’s a logical case for easing life by buying a better item .

—-

[freiston]

I used to swear by capes and still believe them to have considerable merit but they have fallen out of favour with me and I can't really explain why (but I'll have a go).

I think part of it might be to do with the fact that I ride upright bikes without drop bars more now, and I think that capes work better with drop bars and a more forward leaning riding position. The last time I wore one was on my Brompton in a very strong headwind in very cold weather. I don't have problems like some do with capes catching the wind but in this instance, that wasn't the wind-induced issue. The cape was blown hard against my torso and riding up over my bars and pulling down at the front. The cape was hard against the front of me rather than providing a canopy. I was getting cold, getting wet and feeling quite miserable. Another part is that despite the breathing room under the cape, I now sweat under one like I never did as a youngster, and my Carradice Pro Route stinks of stale sweat even after washing it without soap (I asked Carradice about washing it and they said don't - hence no soap).

I have since found some very good waterproof jackets - mine made by Galibier: they work very well as a jacket and combined with waterproof overtrousers and spats/overshoes, pretty much keep me dry in any rain - the caveat being sweat (I am a sweater). My jackets do an admirable job and are easy to put on and take off but the overtrousers are a nightmare. So much of a nightmare that I avoid using them where possible and usually only put them on before departing - not mid journey.

My internet browsing has made me aware of waterproof unisex skirts that are much easier to put on/take off so I ordered two from AliExpress. Both are wrap-around design and super quick and easy to put on and take off. One is very lightweight, packs to nothing but is too short. The other is much better in fit, using velcro and an elasticated waistband and is much easier to put on/take off but is heavy and bulky (a rubberised cloth). I haven't had the opportunity to test either yet (sod's law) but I intend to make one out of lightweight material to the design and fit of the heavy rubber one.

I reckon that a combination of jacket and (to be made) skirt will perform better and be more easily and quickly deployed than a cape or a jacket and overtrousers, and be more convenient and packable. The skirt can be used as a small groundsheet when camping, a bench cover etc. and be equally effective as waterproof clothing on the bike and off. It might take overcoming a psychological barrier using it in town - especially in the bright orange material I have got to make it with.