Waterproof Legwear

[joolz1967]

Having commuted to and from work for the last year, have now found a waterproof jacket I am comfortable with. However can anyone recommend waterproof legwear? Overtrousers I have tried seem to loose and flappy. Distance is 10 miles/day, also plan to ride through winter months at fast touring speeds.

[byegad]

Rainlegs worked for me. I'm still using them on recumbents but on an upright the keep the worst off your thighs, your lower legs will get wet, on a warm day in shorts, so what!

[eileithyia]

Recently purchased some rainlegs for commuting, but not had the opportunity to wear them yet. Have used overtrousers in the past but found them just too hot and uncomfy even on cold winter days.

[cycle carnot]

Hi,

I bought some Altura Boulder Cycling Trousers and a Zefal Doowah tie to stop the right trouser leg mixing with the chainrings. The trousers aren't vented and do get a bit sticky on long rides. But they keep me warm and dry (in the sense of keeping rain out!) so work for me. Also have various pockets which are useful, and cover the top of my shoes.

HTH.

CC

[rualexander]

Long waterproof trousers would be too hot for me in anything but the coldest weather.
Rainlegs seem like a good idea although the strap that runs round under the thigh might be a chafing issue, I've not seen a pair 'in the flesh' though so maybe not. They look pretty daft but who cares about that.
There's several waterproof shorts on the market e.g. :

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/110494.html

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Gore_ ... e=googleps

http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... EL-RAI.htm

There's also the expensive Endura Stealth stuff : http://www.endura.co.uk/Dept.aspx?dept_id=133

[531colin]

Lusso Max Repel tights for cold and wet. Keep you warm and mostly dry.
Ron Hill Bikester DXB (?) for just wet, does the same.
Both dry out quick.

I cant abide overtrousers!

EDIT in the summer, shorts and just get wet!

[horizon]

It depends what you are trying to keep dry. If it is just your legs then it is warmth issue as otherwise you might as well wear lycra shorts and let them and your legs get wet. If it is a just a warmth issue then I would say lycra tights which even if wet will be warmer than nothing. If you want your legs to stay warm and dry then waterproof tights - I don't know much about those. But if you want something else to stay dry (e.g your work trousers) then you have to decide whether you want the extra warmth that having overtrousers will bring (and the rather creased appearance). I occasionally wore overtrousers with big zips on top of work trousers for short journeys; I now wear long tights for winter cold and will try out water repellent/proof tights if they don't work well in the wet. The best I used was in the snow when I hauled out a neoprene bib type wetsuit - snug, warm, dry and comfy - yum. In times gone by I was happy with a pair of tracksuit trousers and overtrousers but they are too warm when it rains unless it is nearer freezing. It is amazing how little of the year that you actually need anything on your legs anyway, rain or shine.

[climo]

http://www.theomm.com/products/garments ... aPant.html
I have a pair. Stretchy, light, packs smallish but warm.

[PW]

I keep several pairs of shorts and longs for different temperatures, but if I'm in long leggings and it rains I'm another Rainlegs user. With Roubaix fabric longs in cold weather they're brilliant.

[thirdcrank]

I'd agree that Lusso Repel is almost a miracle fabric - the claims seem preposterous but it really does work. Where I should have real doubts would be when the weather was very cold. AFAIK, these wicking fabrics work because evaporation means that the capillary action is away from the body, rather than towards it. That means that in the long term, they will inevitably cool the body through the evaporation. Perhaps no big deal if you are riding hard and generating a lot of steam, but the risk of chilling, especially if you are forced to stop seems a big one to me. I have some Chapal overtrousers which came from OZO / Mike Dyason / whatever he now calls his business. They are made from stretch Goretex so they avoid the Cod War image. Chapak no longer seem to be in business so I'm not being much help.

[pedalsheep]

+1 for Lusso Max Repel.
I can't get on with rainlegs at all. I can see that they would work well on a recumbent but unless you ride sitting down all the time they catch round the nose of the saddle.

[ANTONISH]

[quote="pedalsheep I can't get on with rainlegs at all. I can see that they would work well on a recumbent but unless you ride sitting down all the time they catch round the nose of the saddle.[/quote]
I think everyone has this problem with rainlegs ( my problem is getting off not "honking")- however I find them very effective when riding for hours in steady rain, provided I'm wearing all the waterproofs - jacket, gloves, helmet cover etc.
The purchase of a rotrax cape has made wet riding much more simple.

[byegad]

+1 for Lusso Max Repel.
I can't get on with rainlegs at all. I can see that they would work well on a recumbent but unless you ride sitting down all the time they catch round the nose of the saddle.

I rode my DF without honking out of the saddle so can't comment on catching the saddle nose. The strap behind the knee is velcroed at one end and I haven't had any chaffing from it.

[Slowroad]

Rainlegs look like a good idea and not expensive, but I wonder about fit - I'm a bit of a titch. Anyone else 5'2" tried them?
Cheers!