Cycling UK Forum

I recently purchased a cycling cape from Lidl. It looks as if it will be very useful for my short commuting journeys (just long enough to leave my rather wet when caught in a heavy rain shower...) and I have some hopes that a thing like a minature red tent on wheels might be given a wide berth by motorists... However, how on earth are you supposed to give an arm signal while wearing the thing? My arms are quite constricted by it...

Leg signal?

I used to wear a cape donkey's years ago, but remember being able to stick an arm out.

I had loops to hold so it stayed fixed at the front, but I could put an arm out if I wanted, not far, but I could.

I don't understand how anyone can cycle in them. Don't you get blown all over the place?

(I find wearing jogging bottoms knocks averages down by around 3mph - what must a cape do?)

My cape is a Carradice and it has thumb loops which I use to hold it over the bars, I've never found it a problem to remove whichever hand is required to make the signal with. When you go to make your hand signal just make sure that the cape is pulled away from the handlebars to allow you enough freedom to lift your arm, once the manoeuver is complete just hook your thumb back in and grip the bars. After a little practice it becomes second nature.

fimm wrote:I recently purchased a cycling cape from Lidl. ...

Any friend of Batman, is a friend of mine!

kwackers, I got the cape to use on my Brompton which is my bike-train-bike commuting bike: I'm wearing smart work clothes and the aim is to get from A to B as comfortably as possible! I have to admit it has only 2 runs out so far so I can't comment on what happens in stronger winds. When I'm out on my road bike I'm a lycra-clad speed-merchant - I have no intention of using a cycling cape in those circumstances!!

Thank you everyone for your responses - it sounds as though practice is needed...