As a Seattle commuter and someone who heavily sweats I struggled with rain gear. all I can say is... Rain cape. it allows for airflow beneath and most come with an integrated hood to wear under the helmet
Ayy I'm down in tacoma and have gotten heavy into cycling this summer. I have a fantasy of selling my car and just biking everywhere but the rain we have scares me lol what do you wear for pants? Or does the rain cape adequately keep the pants dry? And do you use studded tires when you're worried about ice?
@@TacSav253 the pants get pretty gnarly. For a while I used these knee-high booties that worked well. Never needed special tires and just exercised caution
@@chrisshelley5777 Hey Chris I'm trying to plan out a rain setup for the Portland area, been considering a cape (cleverhood rover, tried it on it's pretty lightweight even the large size.) Do you find it hard to deal with wind? I'm crossing over the Colombia on the 205 bridge from WA into OR so wind gusts & wind in general, plus an uphill climb on the way back.
1) slow it down a bit cause it's gonna be slick 2) wear reflective safety yellow and have a red blinky tail light 3) ride like cars can't see you cause they don't 4) ride and follow vehicle rules of the road 5) take the slick tires off and put the knobbies on 6) have a powerful bike headlamp cause you also need to be seen from opposing traffic (friggin left turners) 7) make sure your brakes work wet 8) make sure your bike has big long covered fenders 9) change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag 10) Weeeeeee!?
"Take the slick tires off and put the knobbies on" Roadbike tires are not the same as airplane tires dude, having "knobbies" or not won't make any difference to grip under rainy conditions/water on the road.
Well... Overall your advices are good. But the 4th one should be first and 7th should be second. Especially if you have rim brake. In my case the brake pads on my v-brakes just stop working bacause of the wet dirt and sand on the rims. Caused me problems several times on the road. And you don't necessarily need powerfull light sources. Just use something with good enough diode on the front and back of your bike. And my personal advise - use good water resistant shoes! Especially in colder weather.
Great vid Cruise. Here's another great tip - after a super wet ride, before putting your bike away (and bringing it inside) tilt the bike 90 degrees towards the sky - in other words, make the front wheels vertically above the rear wheel. What you might find is that the chainstays have filled up with water through little vent holes drilled in the frame and unless you tilt your bike and drain them, the water will sit in there and that's not good for the bike.
After doing a long day tour in the rain I highly recommend wearing waterproof trousers with a layer beneath it to insulate yourself from when it gets cold from the wet. Seal skins waterproof mittens (they're just gloves, silly name), waterproof shoes and a jacket and you're golden. Mudguards too! Whole trip I was dry and clean!
Living and bike communicating in Seattle, rain is a constant. Best investment I ever made for my bike: FENDERS! I use a hard shell bike raincoat, rain pants, and shoe covers. They don't work 100% or for more than 30 min after which, nothing keeps you really dry. This clothing helps keep the colder rain out and warmer sweat in. The good thing is that the warm stays in longer and you don't start to get cold and shiver, which can be the end of a ride and make a bad experience. After strong rains for my round trip commute yesterday, my clothing, shoes and rain gear are still not dry. Not much you can do. There isn't really any clothing that is completely waterproof.
A nice alternative to ziplock bags are the dry bags that are used by hikers. Also could wear "wet socks" such as sealskinz waterproof socks so your feet stay dry while cycling.
When I started riding, many moons ago, I was advised against the use of any kind of hooded jacket. A hood may not turn when the rider turns their head, so they are hindered when trying to look behind. Even when worn under a helmet, the straps may not hold the hood to the head enough. Either a cap, a bandana or a balaclava should be used instead.
Depends on the hood, but yeah, they can easily get in the way of turning your head which can be a bit dangerous. The one on my red jacket works well under a helmet though. Probably best to stick with a separate hat..
Oh yes for those cycling in summer rain. Pack your casquette (cycling cap) in your pocket. Once it rains, wear it under your helmet. The small visor is still helpful in keeping the rain off the cycling glasses.
I really don't mind cycling in the rain. When it's hot out, I enjoy it as it provides some relief. So I just get wet and enjoy the rain. I commute about an hour each way to work and change my clothes when I get to work. I carry a towel to dry off if I get wet. I also keep baby wipes in my office, extra clothes and shoes, deodorant, etc. so that i can be confident that whatever happens on the way to work, I can be presentable.
I wish I had watched this before my Hokkaido bike trip last July. 12 days in total and 11 days of torrential downpour. Visibility was the biggest issue. No problem retaining traction on the roads. A waterproof bag is a must. The rain destroyed anything that wasn't properly protected.
Great video with excellent tips! I will keep them in mind the next time I see predictions of rains during my biking trip on AccuWeather or Tomorrow.io.
One thing I found kind of helpful are rain ponchos. If you go quite slow, how good mudguards and try to avoid puddles you can wear your normal cloth under it. Another thing to watch out for, is that blinking rear lights are not legal everywhere.
one thing to note about ponchos, they tend to have extra material that tend to fly out because of wind. We have a biker that got into an accident because the poncho got tied up in a truck's big wheels. So make sure thatthe extra poncho material is not flying out too much
When it’s rainy I always carry additional socks and riding clothes with me, because at work they won’t dry and on the way back you don’t want to wear some pretty wet and cold t-shirt, trousers and socks ...
Thanx for the informative video. Call me crazy (as my friends do) but I like riding in severe weather when training. But not when commuting, though. Over the time I collected some good rain gear which keeps me dry and is very breathable. There has always been one thing that annoyed me, though. Wet hands! But recently Roeckl brought out some waterproof summer gloves and I fell in love with them. Although a bit pricey, I can totally recommend them to any rain-rider. I also have a Scale with v-brakes and went through some brake pads until I found ideal pads which work very well in rain and temperatures below zero degrees celsius. My favorites are the Kool Stop salmon (single, dual or triple compound) which really make a huge difference compared to standard brake pads. They're pretty soft, wear out quickly, but are very rim friendly. I also like the Ashima Pro-G pads which are similar to the KoolStops. I can also recommend the application of water repellant coatings (lotus-effect) on your glasses. Oakley has such repellants which you apply on your glasses before your ride. It gives you an undisturbed view through the glasses which is much safer in my opinion. And you are right: lions on the road can be pretty dangerous, regardless of the weather conditions😋.
Thanks for the recommendations! I also like riding in pretty severe weather, especially during races since it makes things more interesting/tough :) I haven't tried waterproof summer gloves.. those sound interesting, but I usually prefer to ride bare handed
Can’t beat a poncho for you (and fenders for your bike) when commuting in the rain for up to an hour or so. They may look だせい but nothing is more effective at keeping most of you and the bike dry as possible. Lift up for ventilation when stopped at the lights! I got a large one on amazon for 1500 yen, so don’t even need rain pants. In summer, I clip in with my Shimano sandals, like you, with no socks. I have to operate my 18-speed STIs without looking, but that is pretty easy for most cyclists I think. Got the idea from Grant Petersen’s cyclists bible “Just Ride”.
Cycling in the rain is cool. It is fun. Cycling through a thunderstorm is not cool and not fun. The moment you hear the first thunderclap or flash, find shelter to hide! Just came back from a ride with torrential thunderstorm. This is a tropical thunderstorm. Humidity is 90%. Anything cyclists use for rain do not work in humid all-year-round summer weather. Sandals are good for commutes. Finally for a waterproof backpack, a waterproof roll top that is used for watersports is perfect.
The other thing to watch out when riding in the rain is hydroplaning. Probably not an issue with road bike tires, but anything thicker can lift you off the ground if you're going through a puddle at 30kph
Wear reflective/fluorescent anklets. The motion makes them 3x easier to see than a jacket. Dipped car lights don't reflect light from a jacket or bag. Dipped lights to reach ankles.
Full Fenders!! Love them. I found rain gear unusable, if I have to ride to a destination I backpack a full change shoes included wrapped in a garbage bag. If I'm just riding I am going to get wet anyway so I don't really do anything to stay dry. Being I ride a steel frame I drilled a small hole (1/8" or 3mm) in the bottom of the bottom bracket for drainage. After a wet ride I will spray WD-40 in the vent holes to disperse the water that may be in there. You would be amazed how much crud comes out of the hole I drilled.
I didn't know just how much I needed this video. I live in Seattle, so yeah.... Any and all tips will help. I'm also ashamed to say I completely forgot about fenders. I have an MTB, so it didn't even occur to me lmao
I rode my mt bike for a long time without fenders in the rain. Al be it fun, the mud and wet eventually trashes your clothes. At a minimum it worth having a removable seat-post clamp mud guard for the rear. Front guards are helpful but not all that effective for mt biking. For commuting having front and rear is key.
My recommendation for people commuting in the rain a lot is to invest in the most rainproof bike you can, so belt drive, internal gearing or singlespeed, disc brakes etc. Something that you can keep clean with just a quick rinse off and dry. You’ll definitely be glad you spent that extra money over time.
Seconded. I have a trecking bike with a Pinion 1.18 and a Gates carbon drive. It's my only bike, so has to be all-purpose. It's heavy, but then, I cycle so I stay in shape. The 5 min extra one way won't kill me. And maintenance is limited to changing oil once a year... The belt now has 14'000 km and is still going strong.
@@TwoWheelCruise I'm planning on doing a belt drive set up on a frame that has elevated chainstays... like this 1992 Haro Extreme frameset I'm eyeing....lol
I wear safety shoes whilst riding , Why , because 3 yrs ago I was run off the road by 2 camper vans , and my left sand shoe was hole by the hard road surface , Plus these safety shoes are water proof , and finally I ride for enjoyment and fitness , so when U are riding remember the the road surface ( be it ash-felt , concrete , paver or even gravel ) , is tougher than your feet !
My commute is about 20 km, and I usually go at at least 80%, so I'm soaked when arriving and have to shower anyway. Which means: I usually don't bother with special rainclothes, other than making sure I stay warm. I do have a sleeve to cover my helmet, though, I hate getting soaked on my head (it also gets chilly). When it pours really down I will don a high viz rainjacket. Shoes are a problem; during wet season (you can't call it winter in central Europe anymore) I will ride with my Lake boots. If you keep the leather well greased they stay kinda waterproof, but just about. I have the possibility to hang my clothes in a boiler room at work, so they are dry when I go home.
Thanks for all of the tips! Definitely keeping my head and core dry is a top priority for me. I kind of just give up on the shoes, but am thinking to get a dedicated solution for that
@@TwoWheelCruise The thing is: With the way I perspire, it's a choice for me between getting wet from the inside, or from the outside. I'm slightly overweight (BMI 26 at 59 yo), so getting heat out is often a priority.
I commute daily in any weather on bicycle, waterproof clothing doesn't ventilate well, on rainy days I simply change to a tri-suit and have a rain cover on my backpack. I ride road bike with clipless paddles most of the time, shoe covers important to prevent water and dirt getting into shoes. When weather gets really bad combined with poor road condition, I switch to MTB and wear sandals instead.
Things that I still looking for solutions: (1) water gets into eyes when it rains heavily, and can be very irritating (I suspect it has something to do with air pollution), sometimes force me to stop and wait it out. (2) cycle short pads soaked up water and it take forever to dry after washing (I have to wash my cycle clothing daily) in wet season.
Sitting on your bike and riding in the rain is a life savings tip, also on heavy traffic roads with fast moving traffic, at one time my cain broke while standing it could off cost me my life i fell in the middle of the road.
Cool just noticed unit 01 in your background! Requesting more videos about particularly acclimate days such as very hot, very cold, monsoon-y, have you ever been on the road during an earthquake?
always plan your route, make sure you have a place along your route that has a shed, so you can stay there if you need to let the rain pass also, if the rain is too hard and visibility is low, or its too windy, just sit it out and let the storm pass.
my rain gear is decent in the rain. Not 100% dry but at least 80%. mostly sweat. I have helmit rain cover, water proof jacket and water proof rain pants. Also water proof booties that are not tight and held in place with velcro whisch I recommend rather than road booties. Gloves though are difficult to get water proof but not bad the ones I wear. Light rainfall not a problem. Overall I stay rather dry and again mostly sweat so I wouldnt worry about 100% waterproof. Hopefully commuter changes clothing once arriving at work or school. Also shower not necessary. A few paper towels to pat down excess sweat good enough. If you figure you smell than a spray body deoderant is sufficient. Easy nice commute. The only negative is when it rains, usually some wind thus more effort to peddle bicycle.
I thought i was going to hate this video but man. You're entertaining, just buy the things man and review the jackets and things so that you can help me out deciding! ;) nice work
Yay! Sandals are great for the rain. I don't wear much gear though. I did before. I actually wear less now, because I get sweaty under all the clothes. So swim trunks and tank top. I just dry off at my destination. I didn't have fenders during the rainy months, but I do have a rear rack. I think that did the trick since I don't remember having any mud butt. It's going to be snowing here soon. Would you do a video for that? haha. I haven't done that before, but I may this winter. I just need to somehow get my hands on a fatbike and some windshear handle bar things for my handsies
I wear less in the summer here too. We don't get much snow where I live unfortunately.. Maybe only accumulates once a year.. But I will definitely try to make a video on that day. I used to ride in the snow every day in winter back when I lived in Michigan and I loved it.. This was before fat bikes though, which I'm sure are even more fun..
Ah, the Uniqlo hack. I know it well. Can I tell you my favorite? Uniqlo's Airism for your base layer. Works so well and for perhaps a third of the price of a "cycling" base layer. As it gets colder I'll switch to their Heat Tech inners and see how that works, but I've been using Airism for over a month and hand's down it's amazing. Long live Uniqlo!
They make gore-tex helmet covers, I had one I used on a specific helmet dedicated for winter/wet riding. Too bad a squirrel got to it when it got stored in the garage for awhile. Vests and toe covers are good and don't store up as much heat. Even in the winter you need to be able to vent heat.
Thanks for the videos, good stuff. I would've liked to hear how you maintain your bikes, especially if you have to ride in the rain day after day. At least where I live my experience has been that even a little riding in the rain tends to get the chain, cassette etc. all gritty and cause them to wear faster unless I do a very thorough cleaning after the ride. But I don't think you have the time or energy to do a full cleanup every day.. :)
Doesn't rain that much in Los Angeles, so getting those cycling specific rain gear is a gigantic waste of money. I just use a rain jacket and pants from Big 5 Sporting Goods. Rugged Exposure is the brand. The jacket is long enough to cover my back and I put the hood under my helmet.... I've also used bread bags in between my shoes and socks... shoes will get wet but the socks themselves stay dry. (I use spd set up). And since i wear Rx glasses i use those "Over Rx" sunglasses but with yellow lenses.
Hi. In Europe we have Decathlon, which sells a range of good value and good quality sports equipment (including bikes) and sports clothes. If it comes to Japan - check it out! Interestingly, bike clothing (rain gear) is more expensive than running rain gear (go figure!) - so, I buy the running rain gear...;)
the worst thing: wet feet, then your bottom, the rest is doable for training/ racing if you can warm up at home in a few hours. Sealskinz/ Dexshell or other waterproof socks and light long bike jacket to cover your bottom should do the thing for even a few hours ride :)
I take a different approach to riding in the rain during the summer. If I wear any type of rain gear... I just sweat too much. End result... I'm still wet. I rather be wet and cool during the summer versus wet, sweaty, and hot. Since my bikes have rear racks, I have a waterproof Ortlieb pannier with a towel and complete change of clothes. I give myself some extra time to get to work... to dry off and change. For footwear... I wear a pair of Keen brand hiking sandals and Showers Pass ( www.showerspass.com ) waterproof socks.
Cool! I would add tips like a shoe cover to avoid soak wet and durt spray of the pavement/wheel. I am using a transparent waterproof pouch for smartphone too and it is aprooved!
Some helmet manufacturer makes some plastic covers to top (upside) of helmet. I do not own them, but probably they stop all the ventilation also. maybe it is for ride when expecting rain all the time.
I have one made by Vaude. The ventilation is not an issue when it rains. Just don’t forget to take the cover off once its stops raining. They are easy to put on and off even when cycling. I wear a mountainbike helmet because the shade helps to keep the rain from getting into your eyes. I have clear lens glasses, but I try to avoid wearing them in the rain as the tend to fog up.
I try not to ride in the rain, because where I live the drivers are scary to begin with and they are even worse when it rains. If it rains while you are out if possible go to a covered location and wait it out if possible.
depending on how heavy it rains and how long the ride of course, just prepare to get wet. either from the rain itself or from the sweat condensing on the inside of your rain suite. but, how often does that happen? and don't forget to look at the forecast. maybe things will clear up in 15 minutes.
For regular riding I prefer shower cap on the helmet and DIY A$$ saver as advice by Michael Rice(the american guy/nhk cycling around japan host). As for commuting I prefer 16" folding bike with built-in fenders looks cute and easy to wash after or just dip in the bath tub and overhaul later LoL As for light you might try spoke light or valve tube light it's very catchy and have the light stick idol concert-ish feel even you're not a 'brother' LoL
I'm curious about that custom made solution as well.. Spoke lights look cool, but I'm not so concerned about visibility from the side.. Rear is number 1 priority for me
Same in Germany. You can't use them as the only light source on your bike. You also have to have lights on your bike, which fulfill special regularities. But when you use those lights in daytime to make yourself seen in traffic, noone will ever charge you for that.
Yeah they say you should always use lights that give constant light and don't blink. The stupid thing is that every light you buy seperatly has a blinking mode.
do you have a link to your two wheel cycling merchandise. i trust the quality and really would like to help you and would love to where it as advertisment for your show probably be better than just introducing you to that anime you probably already saw lol. never mind i found out where they are... now need to figure out what instagram is... googling it.
We have a spreadshirt store shop.spreadshirt.com/twowheelcruise/ And a new redbubble store where you can get stickers www.redbubble.com/people/twowheelcruise/og-shop instagram.com/twowheelcruise/
Supacaz is good and grippy it's expensive tho, my friends prefer lizard skin sticky and grippy I think around same prize as supacaz. I stop wasting my money on bar tape, I use EVA foam sheet 2mm DIY bar tape super cheap just need electric tape and plug no need double side tape.
Always have extra dry clothes triple wrapped in plastic bags in backpack. If u are doing a multi day ride, u MUST get dry and warm at nite. I remember reading about a young newly wed couple in Seattle in 1976 who Decided to ride across USA for honeymoon. They rode east for four days in The rain and camped at nite. They were soaked and inexperienced. The wife Died from hypothermia on the forth day. Get a hotel. Get warm. It’s a life saver
Why spend 30 dollars on a mediocre rain jacket, when if you spend more, you get an excellent jacket. Whether you have money or not,throwing away 30 dollars is not a great idea
My Tip for riding in the rain... stay home and watch a good movie, when the rain clears go for a ride, and, you'll save yourself lots of money on wet weather apparel that's never quite satisfactory. I have taken this approach for over a decade and it works really well.
your a uber monster lol.... no weather stops you. i was cycling up a hill today and i was like how the heck did you and your wife ride up a mountain... i am soooooo far behind your wife in cycling power... shes a monster.... and your an uber monster lol....😂😂😂 so slow right now... made me realize i need to put more work in my cycling.
As a Seattle commuter and someone who heavily sweats I struggled with rain gear.
all I can say is...
Rain cape.
it allows for airflow beneath and most come with an integrated hood to wear under the helmet
Definitely a good solution that won't force you to overheat
Ayy I'm down in tacoma and have gotten heavy into cycling this summer. I have a fantasy of selling my car and just biking everywhere but the rain we have scares me lol what do you wear for pants? Or does the rain cape adequately keep the pants dry? And do you use studded tires when you're worried about ice?
@@TacSav253 the pants get pretty gnarly. For a while I used these knee-high booties that worked well. Never needed special tires and just exercised caution
@@chrisshelley5777 Good to know I appreciate you!
@@chrisshelley5777 Hey Chris I'm trying to plan out a rain setup for the Portland area, been considering a cape (cleverhood rover, tried it on it's pretty lightweight even the large size.) Do you find it hard to deal with wind? I'm crossing over the Colombia on the 205 bridge from WA into OR so wind gusts & wind in general, plus an uphill climb on the way back.
1) slow it down a bit cause it's gonna be slick 2) wear reflective safety yellow and have a red blinky tail light 3) ride like cars can't see you cause they don't 4) ride and follow vehicle rules of the road 5) take the slick tires off and put the knobbies on 6) have a powerful bike headlamp cause you also need to be seen from opposing traffic (friggin left turners) 7) make sure your brakes work wet 8) make sure your bike has big long covered fenders 9) change of clothes and a towel in a dry bag 10) Weeeeeee!?
All good advice! Especially like #10 ;)
Unless in sand/rocks knobbies arent needed. Slicks on pavement in wet give more traction. Lower psi. More rubber on pavement equals more traction.
"Take the slick tires off and put the knobbies on"
Roadbike tires are not the same as airplane tires dude, having "knobbies" or not won't make any difference to grip under rainy conditions/water on the road.
Well... Overall your advices are good. But the 4th one should be first and 7th should be second. Especially if you have rim brake. In my case the brake pads on my v-brakes just stop working bacause of the wet dirt and sand on the rims. Caused me problems several times on the road. And you don't necessarily need powerfull light sources. Just use something with good enough diode on the front and back of your bike. And my personal advise - use good water resistant shoes! Especially in colder weather.
An old fashioned shower cap works well for covering either the head or put over the helmet works well and can easily be stashed in a tool kit etc.
yeah, they're really handy
Great vid Cruise. Here's another great tip - after a super wet ride, before putting your bike away (and bringing it inside) tilt the bike 90 degrees towards the sky - in other words, make the front wheels vertically above the rear wheel. What you might find is that the chainstays have filled up with water through little vent holes drilled in the frame and unless you tilt your bike and drain them, the water will sit in there and that's not good for the bike.
Thanks and good point! I usually do that and bounce the bike a few times :)
After doing a long day tour in the rain I highly recommend wearing waterproof trousers with a layer beneath it to insulate yourself from when it gets cold from the wet. Seal skins waterproof mittens (they're just gloves, silly name), waterproof shoes and a jacket and you're golden. Mudguards too! Whole trip I was dry and clean!
Living and bike communicating in Seattle, rain is a constant. Best investment I ever made for my bike: FENDERS! I use a hard shell bike raincoat, rain pants, and shoe covers. They don't work 100% or for more than 30 min after which, nothing keeps you really dry. This clothing helps keep the colder rain out and warmer sweat in. The good thing is that the warm stays in longer and you don't start to get cold and shiver, which can be the end of a ride and make a bad experience. After strong rains for my round trip commute yesterday, my clothing, shoes and rain gear are still not dry. Not much you can do. There isn't really any clothing that is completely waterproof.
Exactly, nothing really lasts over 30 minutes, especially once you start sweating. I've come to finally learn how valuable fenders are now..
Always such high quality product for your videos! Very informative! Thx!
Thank you! :)
A nice alternative to ziplock bags are the dry bags that are used by hikers. Also could wear "wet socks" such as sealskinz waterproof socks so your feet stay dry while cycling.
When I started riding, many moons ago, I was advised against the use of any kind of hooded jacket. A hood may not turn when the rider turns their head, so they are hindered when trying to look behind. Even when worn under a helmet, the straps may not hold the hood to the head enough. Either a cap, a bandana or a balaclava should be used instead.
Depends on the hood, but yeah, they can easily get in the way of turning your head which can be a bit dangerous. The one on my red jacket works well under a helmet though.
Probably best to stick with a separate hat..
@@TwoWheelCruiseI find it interesting, you don’t use a mirror on your bikes? You don’t find them useful?
Oh yes for those cycling in summer rain. Pack your casquette (cycling cap) in your pocket. Once it rains, wear it under your helmet. The small visor is still helpful in keeping the rain off the cycling glasses.
Thanks, TWC, you're providing a wonderful service.
Thanks! :)
I'm enjoying your recommendations/tips on riding in rain as it's pitters/patters outside.
Another typhoon this weekend 😡
I really don't mind cycling in the rain. When it's hot out, I enjoy it as it provides some relief. So I just get wet and enjoy the rain. I commute about an hour each way to work and change my clothes when I get to work. I carry a towel to dry off if I get wet. I also keep baby wipes in my office, extra clothes and shoes, deodorant, etc. so that i can be confident that whatever happens on the way to work, I can be presentable.
I do the same in the Summer. My office has turned into a gym locker room haha
Interesting and very enlightening. Superb video, thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
I wish I had watched this before my Hokkaido bike trip last July. 12 days in total and 11 days of torrential downpour. Visibility was the biggest issue. No problem retaining traction on the roads. A waterproof bag is a must. The rain destroyed anything that wasn't properly protected.
Yikes! That sounds really rough 😅
Great video with excellent tips! I will keep them in mind the next time I see predictions of rains during my biking trip on AccuWeather or Tomorrow.io.
One thing I found kind of helpful are rain ponchos. If you go quite slow, how good mudguards and try to avoid puddles you can wear your normal cloth under it.
Another thing to watch out for, is that blinking rear lights are not legal everywhere.
one thing to note about ponchos, they tend to have extra material that tend to fly out because of wind. We have a biker that got into an accident because the poncho got tied up in a truck's big wheels. So make sure thatthe extra poncho material is not flying out too much
When it’s rainy I always carry additional socks and riding clothes with me, because at work they won’t dry and on the way back you don’t want to wear some pretty wet and cold t-shirt, trousers and socks ...
Exactly, I keep a bunch of spare clothes in my locker :)
Thanks good stuff 👍🏽
Thanx for the informative video.
Call me crazy (as my friends do) but I like riding in severe weather when training. But not when commuting, though. Over the time I collected some good rain gear which keeps me dry and is very breathable.
There has always been one thing that annoyed me, though. Wet hands! But recently Roeckl brought out some waterproof summer gloves and I fell in love with them. Although a bit pricey, I can totally recommend them to any rain-rider.
I also have a Scale with v-brakes and went through some brake pads until I found ideal pads which work very well in rain and temperatures below zero degrees celsius. My favorites are the Kool Stop salmon (single, dual or triple compound) which really make a huge difference compared to standard brake pads. They're pretty soft, wear out quickly, but are very rim friendly. I also like the Ashima Pro-G pads which are similar to the KoolStops.
I can also recommend the application of water repellant coatings (lotus-effect) on your glasses. Oakley has such repellants which you apply on your glasses before your ride. It gives you an undisturbed view through the glasses which is much safer in my opinion.
And you are right: lions on the road can be pretty dangerous, regardless of the weather conditions😋.
Thanks for the recommendations! I also like riding in pretty severe weather, especially during races since it makes things more interesting/tough :)
I haven't tried waterproof summer gloves.. those sound interesting, but I usually prefer to ride bare handed
Very nice job!
Can’t beat a poncho for you (and fenders for your bike) when commuting in the rain for up to an hour or so. They may look だせい but nothing is more effective at keeping most of you and the bike dry as possible. Lift up for ventilation when stopped at the lights! I got a large one on amazon for 1500 yen, so don’t even need rain pants. In summer, I clip in with my Shimano sandals, like you, with no socks. I have to operate my 18-speed STIs without looking, but that is pretty easy for most cyclists I think. Got the idea from Grant Petersen’s cyclists bible “Just Ride”.
Love a good pancho and sandal combo 😀
Thanks for the tips. You covered everything ! Ya Haaaa !
Thanks! I tried to be as thorough as I could :)
Cycling in the rain is cool. It is fun. Cycling through a thunderstorm is not cool and not fun. The moment you hear the first thunderclap or flash, find shelter to hide! Just came back from a ride with torrential thunderstorm. This is a tropical thunderstorm. Humidity is 90%. Anything cyclists use for rain do not work in humid all-year-round summer weather. Sandals are good for commutes. Finally for a waterproof backpack, a waterproof roll top that is used for watersports is perfect.
thunder is pretty rare here from my experience thankfully..
The other thing to watch out when riding in the rain is hydroplaning. Probably not an issue with road bike tires, but anything thicker can lift you off the ground if you're going through a puddle at 30kph
Yes, especially on certain types of pavement/paint/bricks
Wear reflective/fluorescent anklets. The motion makes them 3x easier to see than a jacket. Dipped car lights don't reflect light from a jacket or bag. Dipped lights to reach ankles.
Full Fenders!! Love them. I found rain gear unusable, if I have to ride to a destination I backpack a full change shoes included wrapped in a garbage bag. If I'm just riding I am going to get wet anyway so I don't really do anything to stay dry. Being I ride a steel frame I drilled a small hole (1/8" or 3mm) in the bottom of the bottom bracket for drainage. After a wet ride I will spray WD-40 in the vent holes to disperse the water that may be in there. You would be amazed how much crud comes out of the hole I drilled.
That sandale hack is probably one of the dumbest best solutions I ever heard.
Haha it works 😅
I didn't know just how much I needed this video. I live in Seattle, so yeah.... Any and all tips will help. I'm also ashamed to say I completely forgot about fenders. I have an MTB, so it didn't even occur to me lmao
It's literally rained almost every day this month in Japan. I've never loved my fenders so much before lol
I rode my mt bike for a long time without fenders in the rain. Al be it fun, the mud and wet eventually trashes your clothes. At a minimum it worth having a removable seat-post clamp mud guard for the rear. Front guards are helpful but not all that effective for mt biking. For commuting having front and rear is key.
My recommendation for people commuting in the rain a lot is to invest in the most rainproof bike you can, so belt drive, internal gearing or singlespeed, disc brakes etc. Something that you can keep clean with just a quick rinse off and dry. You’ll definitely be glad you spent that extra money over time.
Very true, my single speed is my go to rain bike. Would love to get a belt drive sometime..
*someday
Seconded. I have a trecking bike with a Pinion 1.18 and a Gates carbon drive. It's my only bike, so has to be all-purpose. It's heavy, but then, I cycle so I stay in shape. The 5 min extra one way won't kill me. And maintenance is limited to changing oil once a year... The belt now has 14'000 km and is still going strong.
Sounds awesome!! Gotta get mine 😁
@@TwoWheelCruise I'm planning on doing a belt drive set up on a frame that has elevated chainstays... like this 1992 Haro Extreme frameset I'm eyeing....lol
I wear safety shoes whilst riding , Why , because 3 yrs ago I was run off the road by 2 camper vans , and my left sand shoe was hole by the hard road surface , Plus these safety shoes are water proof , and finally I ride for enjoyment and fitness , so when U are riding remember the the road surface ( be it ash-felt , concrete , paver or even gravel ) , is tougher than your feet !
Better safe than sorry
My commute is about 20 km, and I usually go at at least 80%, so I'm soaked when arriving and have to shower anyway. Which means: I usually don't bother with special rainclothes, other than making sure I stay warm. I do have a sleeve to cover my helmet, though, I hate getting soaked on my head (it also gets chilly). When it pours really down I will don a high viz rainjacket. Shoes are a problem; during wet season (you can't call it winter in central Europe anymore) I will ride with my Lake boots. If you keep the leather well greased they stay kinda waterproof, but just about.
I have the possibility to hang my clothes in a boiler room at work, so they are dry when I go home.
Thanks for all of the tips! Definitely keeping my head and core dry is a top priority for me. I kind of just give up on the shoes, but am thinking to get a dedicated solution for that
@@TwoWheelCruise The thing is: With the way I perspire, it's a choice for me between getting wet from the inside, or from the outside. I'm slightly overweight (BMI 26 at 59 yo), so getting heat out is often a priority.
I commute daily in any weather on bicycle, waterproof clothing doesn't ventilate well, on rainy days I simply change to a tri-suit and have a rain cover on my backpack. I ride road bike with clipless paddles most of the time, shoe covers important to prevent water and dirt getting into shoes. When weather gets really bad combined with poor road condition, I switch to MTB and wear sandals instead.
Yeah, on hot rainy days probably best to just change clothes. Way too hot with a waterproof jacket.
Things that I still looking for solutions: (1) water gets into eyes when it rains heavily, and can be very irritating (I suspect it has something to do with air pollution), sometimes force me to stop and wait it out. (2) cycle short pads soaked up water and it take forever to dry after washing (I have to wash my cycle clothing daily) in wet season.
shoe covers work perfectly as part of a rain system, and place like REI and MEC have cheap ones
Sitting on your bike and riding in the rain is a life savings tip, also on heavy traffic roads with fast moving traffic, at one time my cain broke while standing it could off cost me my life i fell in the middle of the road.
Cool just noticed unit 01 in your background! Requesting more videos about particularly acclimate days such as very hot, very cold, monsoon-y, have you ever been on the road during an earthquake?
Thanks! I'll definitely make some videos about those topics.
And fortunately, no
always plan your route, make sure you have a place along your route that has a shed, so you can stay there if you need to let the rain pass
also, if the rain is too hard and visibility is low, or its too windy, just sit it out and let the storm pass.
my rain gear is decent in the rain. Not 100% dry but at least 80%. mostly sweat. I have helmit rain cover, water proof jacket and water proof rain pants. Also water proof booties that are not tight and held in place with velcro whisch I recommend rather than road booties. Gloves though are difficult to get water proof but not bad the ones I wear. Light rainfall not a problem. Overall I stay rather dry and again mostly sweat so I wouldnt worry about 100% waterproof. Hopefully commuter changes clothing once arriving at work or school. Also shower not necessary. A few paper towels to pat down excess sweat good enough. If you figure you smell than a spray body deoderant is sufficient. Easy nice commute. The only negative is when it rains, usually some wind thus more effort to peddle bicycle.
I'm safe now(lol, it hardly rains over here like 5 a year)still good to know
I thought i was going to hate this video but man. You're entertaining, just buy the things man and review the jackets and things so that you can help me out deciding! ;) nice work
Thanks! 😁
don't ride in the rain but sometimes on a long ride it can rain so thanks for some helpful tips another dislike is the wind love your vids
Thanks!
Riding in the wind can be pretty tough as well..
Well done Cruise.
Thanks! :)
i especially use big ski goggle under the rain (well even if its cold for the eyes its easier)
I used to use them in the cold MI winter :)
mtb gear is really good aswell, ive purchased a fox ranger water 150$ but its waterproof and elastic and apparently can withstnd quite heavy rains
Yay! Sandals are great for the rain. I don't wear much gear though. I did before. I actually wear less now, because I get sweaty under all the clothes. So swim trunks and tank top. I just dry off at my destination. I didn't have fenders during the rainy months, but I do have a rear rack. I think that did the trick since I don't remember having any mud butt. It's going to be snowing here soon. Would you do a video for that? haha. I haven't done that before, but I may this winter. I just need to somehow get my hands on a fatbike and some windshear handle bar things for my handsies
I wear less in the summer here too. We don't get much snow where I live unfortunately.. Maybe only accumulates once a year.. But I will definitely try to make a video on that day. I used to ride in the snow every day in winter back when I lived in Michigan and I loved it.. This was before fat bikes though, which I'm sure are even more fun..
Ah, the Uniqlo hack. I know it well. Can I tell you my favorite? Uniqlo's Airism for your base layer. Works so well and for perhaps a third of the price of a "cycling" base layer. As it gets colder I'll switch to their Heat Tech inners and see how that works, but I've been using Airism for over a month and hand's down it's amazing. Long live Uniqlo!
Yep, they make great base layers for summer and their heat tech is my winter base layer 😀
Might have to make a video about uniqlo hacking haha
I use Uniqlo’s Airism as a baselayer too.
Focus check! 🙂
I'm in asia here, yeah it rained a lot. I don't have fender too because i don't want my road racer looks like you know not so 'racing' at all, lol.
haha I understand that feeling
They make gore-tex helmet covers, I had one I used on a specific helmet dedicated for winter/wet riding. Too bad a squirrel got to it when it got stored in the garage for awhile. Vests and toe covers are good and don't store up as much heat. Even in the winter you need to be able to vent heat.
Yeah, I'm thinking to get a dedicated commuter helmet, especially for winter/wet riding..
Good vid.
Thanks!
Thanks for the videos, good stuff. I would've liked to hear how you maintain your bikes, especially if you have to ride in the rain day after day. At least where I live my experience has been that even a little riding in the rain tends to get the chain, cassette etc. all gritty and cause them to wear faster unless I do a very thorough cleaning after the ride. But I don't think you have the time or energy to do a full cleanup every day.. :)
Thanks! You're correct, I barely clean my stuff unfortunately.. that's why I want to get a belt drive commuter 😍
@@TwoWheelCruise Ha! Expecting to see a Two Wheel Cruise video on one of those one day then ;)
Have good mud guards as they prevent the spray from the tyres coming up hitting you in the face or backside, as it is a very unpleasant feeling.
Good tip! I've added some recently
Doesn't rain that much in Los Angeles, so getting those cycling specific rain gear is a gigantic waste of money. I just use a rain jacket and pants from Big 5 Sporting Goods. Rugged Exposure is the brand. The jacket is long enough to cover my back and I put the hood under my helmet.... I've also used bread bags in between my shoes and socks... shoes will get wet but the socks themselves stay dry. (I use spd set up). And since i wear Rx glasses i use those "Over Rx" sunglasses but with yellow lenses.
Hi. In Europe we have Decathlon, which sells a range of good value and good quality sports equipment (including bikes) and sports clothes. If it comes to Japan - check it out! Interestingly, bike clothing (rain gear) is more expensive than running rain gear (go figure!) - so, I buy the running rain gear...;)
General athletic gear generally works just as good and way cheaper 🙂
the worst thing: wet feet, then your bottom, the rest is doable for training/ racing if you can warm up at home in a few hours. Sealskinz/ Dexshell or other waterproof socks and light long bike jacket to cover your bottom should do the thing for even a few hours ride :)
So true.. It's such a horrible feeling crossing over that line ones your shoes start getting wet 😬😬😬
I take a different approach to riding in the rain during the summer. If I wear any type of rain gear... I just sweat too much. End result... I'm still wet. I rather be wet and cool during the summer versus wet, sweaty, and hot. Since my bikes have rear racks, I have a waterproof Ortlieb pannier with a towel and complete change of clothes. I give myself some extra time to get to work... to dry off and change. For footwear... I wear a pair of Keen brand hiking sandals and Showers Pass ( www.showerspass.com ) waterproof socks.
Yes, seems no one makes good rain clothes. Good water proof sweating...
Cool! I would add tips like a shoe cover to avoid soak wet and durt spray of the pavement/wheel. I am using a transparent waterproof pouch for smartphone too and it is aprooved!
Nice! I forgot to mention a ziplock bag for the phone! 😱
But I use that on every ride for sweat protection..
I use toe covers as they mostly stop the spray and aren't too hot or cumbersome. Also clip on fenders work really good too.
Some helmet manufacturer makes some plastic covers to top (upside) of helmet. I do not own them, but probably they stop all the ventilation also. maybe it is for ride when expecting rain all the time.
That's true, I didn't think about the ventilation part..
I have one made by Vaude. The ventilation is not an issue when it rains. Just don’t forget to take the cover off once its stops raining. They are easy to put on and off even when cycling.
I wear a mountainbike helmet because the shade helps to keep the rain from getting into your eyes. I have clear lens glasses, but I try to avoid wearing them in the rain as the tend to fog up.
Is those covers elastic or how you carry with when it is not on the helmet?
Mersuharrastaja they’re not elastic but have an elastic in the rim. Really very small so they fit easily in a small pocket.
ok
Should I get cycling glasses with powered lenses? I have bad eyesight and wear glasses as it is, but it doesn't keep out the rain. At all.
'That's another thing that really helps, if you have a solid helmet...' :D :D :D
Gotta get one 😑
Sorry, I couldn't resist! On a serious note, love your videos!
I try not to ride in the rain, because where I live the drivers are scary to begin with and they are even worse when it rains. If it rains while you are out if possible go to a covered location and wait it out if possible.
My bike skidded before when i was riding in rain 🌧. That was so bad. I did not even feel my rear wheel when i pressed the back brake. So take care.
yeah, you have to be a lot more careful!
I prefer cycling cap than eyeglasses unless if there is a wiper blade on top of it. 😊
Yeah, the glasses can make it hard to see at times..
Question, how do you prevent your water bottles from being dirty by the rain water ur bike kicks up?
I've never tried anything to deal with that.. I think the easiest thing would be to just store your bottle somewhere else.
depending on how heavy it rains and how long the ride of course, just prepare to get wet. either from the rain itself or from the sweat condensing on the inside of your rain suite. but, how often does that happen? and don't forget to look at the forecast. maybe things will clear up in 15 minutes.
The hardest part for me is the river path flooding
@@TwoWheelCruise you don't have an easy route. more like a stop and go obstacle course.
Those pantlegs look a bit flappy. I worry about the chain grabbing them. I would use pantleg straps.
For regular riding I prefer shower cap on the helmet and DIY A$$ saver as advice by Michael Rice(the american guy/nhk cycling around japan host).
As for commuting I prefer 16" folding bike with built-in fenders looks cute and easy to wash after or just dip in the bath tub and overhaul later LoL
As for light you might try spoke light or valve tube light it's very catchy and have the light stick idol concert-ish feel even you're not a 'brother' LoL
which episode was the A$$ saver in ?
I'm curious about that custom made solution as well..
Spoke lights look cool, but I'm not so concerned about visibility from the side.. Rear is number 1 priority for me
Doh I forgot, it's a vague but I think it's a newer one either summer or autumn. The host change every time btw, so it's actually easy to spot.
Probably this one, I am a bit vague though I only remember the shower cap LoL czcams.com/video/41X_CdIIqHM/video.html
I hate riding in the rain and after the rain. I'm not afraid to get wet. But i don't want to wash my bike
EXACTLY!
Here in The Netherlands it is officialy forbidden by law to use blinking lights on your bike. Though they do not enforce it.
Really? that seems counterproductive.. Thankfully they don't enforce it..
Same in Germany. You can't use them as the only light source on your bike. You also have to have lights on your bike, which fulfill special regularities. But when you use those lights in daytime to make yourself seen in traffic, noone will ever charge you for that.
Yeah they say you should always use lights that give constant light and don't blink. The stupid thing is that every light you buy seperatly has a blinking mode.
Sounds like a law that needs updating..
There must be a logical reason for it
do you have a link to your two wheel cycling merchandise. i trust the quality and really would like to help you and would love to where it as advertisment for your show probably be better than just introducing you to that anime you probably already saw lol.
never mind i found out where they are... now need to figure out what instagram is... googling it.
We have a spreadshirt store shop.spreadshirt.com/twowheelcruise/
And a new redbubble store where you can get stickers www.redbubble.com/people/twowheelcruise/og-shop
instagram.com/twowheelcruise/
Two Wheel Cruise thank you!
Do u recommend Supacaz bar tape?
Supacaz is good and grippy it's expensive tho, my friends prefer lizard skin sticky and grippy I think around same prize as supacaz. I stop wasting my money on bar tape, I use EVA foam sheet 2mm DIY bar tape super cheap just need electric tape and plug no need double side tape.
Never used it, I usually just use the cheap stuff and I have no problem with it.
Cruise is ketchi - Cheap is Real XD
Eva poster on the wall?
Got it a few years ago at an Eva art exhibition in Osaka
Always have extra dry clothes triple wrapped in plastic bags in backpack.
If u are doing a multi day ride, u MUST get dry and warm at nite.
I remember reading about a young newly wed couple in Seattle in 1976 who
Decided to ride across USA for honeymoon. They rode east for four days in
The rain and camped at nite. They were soaked and inexperienced. The wife
Died from hypothermia on the forth day. Get a hotel. Get warm. It’s a life saver
Definitely always have a dry change of clothes and dry off as quick as you can after
Professional? Right Right the invisible mudguards, no rain.
とてもいいビデオですね
ありがとうございます！
no rains in Egypt . thank god xdd
is that good or bad?
Butt pain update: it's getting worse. Cant seat properly in the office
Still saving money for a road bike
Excited..
Im a noob so
solution: standing desk ;)
Cycle across Japan like Chris from Abroad in Japan wwwwwwwww
Stay away from manhole covers etc in the wet. Very slippy and dangerous.
Why spend 30 dollars on a mediocre rain jacket, when if you spend more, you get an excellent jacket. Whether you have money or not,throwing away 30 dollars is not a great idea
My Tip for riding in the rain... stay home and watch a good movie, when the rain clears go for a ride, and, you'll save yourself lots of money on wet weather apparel that's never quite satisfactory. I have taken this approach for over a decade and it works really well.
Dude your video is informative but check the focus before uploading your content ...
Thanks! On a better camera now 😉
your a uber monster lol.... no weather stops you. i was cycling up a hill today and i was like how the heck did you and your wife ride up a mountain... i am soooooo far behind your wife in cycling power... shes a monster.... and your an uber monster lol....😂😂😂 so slow right now... made me realize i need to put more work in my cycling.
It takes some time, but you'll get there with some consistent training 😉
Don’t
弱虫ペダル
😉
For an English teacher, you should know it’s my wife and I not me and my wife
MY tips for cycling in the rain: "don't"
Probably the smarter choice, but I have no car and walking to work takes forever..
Pro tip: get a car
I did.. bike is still better 😛