Cycling in wet weather

[GorgeousLadyofWrestling]

I’ve started cycling to work, which is about 12 miles. I have most of the things I need, I think, but when it’s rainy I’ve really neglected my legs and feet and I’m suffering!

What suits you best out of all the different things to use? I have padded Muddy Fox leggings, which I love, so waterproof trousers - is it best just to get over trouser ones?

Feet - not sure what’s the best thing to do. Get waterproof socks? Or get those over-shoe things?

What else do you use that’s a god send in bad weather? I don’t mind cycling in all weather but just need to be prepped, cos I have neglected myself on rainy days and it wasn’t fun

I wear gym type leggings, the slightly shiny ones as they seem a bit more water repellant than the cotton type ones. I don’t bother with waterproof trousers. Then a waterproof jacket. Just wear trainers , no waterproof socks or shoe covers....but trainers are quite solid rather than mesh ones.

I change my clothes when I get to work, keep the same trainers on though. My trousers are often wet/damp but I hang them up and they’re dry by home time.

I do a 14 mile a day commute, have done for years. I cycle in any weather apart from if the wind is 20mph plus.

Maybe I just need to figure out my shoe situation then. Three times now, I have ridden in bad rain and my feet got soaked - my trainers and socks were soaked and my feet were bright red, hot and painful - it was excruciating!

I tried cycling in some light weight ankle boots with minimal flexible sole, but they just weren’t flexible enough - they made my knees hurt.

I wear neoprene overshoes but I wear cycling shoes with cleats so a bit different. They are fantastic though!

overshoes, you need

12 miles each way? Why aren't you cycling in SPDs; are you changing shoes when you get to work?

My challenge in that much rain would be keeping hands warm, but you seem to be managing.

I'm not sure what OP meant by "suffering": cold?

Double the lycra legging layers would be my solution. Lycra still insulates when wet. Lycra packs down small and can even fit in a back pocket if disrobed.

Yeah I mean, I would still consider myself a novice! No idea about cycling shoes, cleats or SPDs...?

Suffering equals my feet getting wet and really hurting as they dry and warm up! Never felt anything like it. They go all hot and tingly. So I really need to find a solution.

I have waterproof gloves and a waterproof jacket. Double leggings is a good idea so will do that.

Really it’s just feet. Should I try cycling shoes? I have a basic idea of what cleats are but have never used them - understand they need a bit of practice clipping in and out.

After a couple of shorter rides in cleats (either on quiet roads/off road) you'll get used to them. I - clumsiest woman alive - would never go back to flat pedals!

You get used to unclipping a foot as you come up to junctions or potential hazards really quickly. Plus it'll make a noticeable difference to your overall speed/cadence/power on hills!

I don't wear cycle shoes and clips for commuting but I do on my road bike, only took me one ride to get used to them. You could commute in them and keep work shoes in the office?

If you don't want cycling footwear, what about just bringing spare dry socks and shoes for use when you're at work? Or keep socks & a pair there.

I kept ... 4 pairs! of shoes at work. Wellies, sandals, running shoes, office shoes. Made perfect sense to me.

It’s not so much about not wanting to wear cycling shoes, it’s more - I need to keep my feet dry. Yesterday I cycled home and started with dry socks and shoes, and ended up soaking wet - which is fine for everywhere else but my feet went all hot and painful.

www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,20/4077201158

My nike trainers are very similar to these. So quite padded so warm (warmer than my shimano cycling shoes), I've never had wet feet with them.

In winter my shimano shoes are too cold plus they're not as waterproof as my nike trainers. I have to swap to shimano winter boots on the road bike in winter. So if you do buy cycling footwear maybe think about winter spd boots.

or get nike trainers :)

I can't find my exact model anywhere, I got them a few years ago.

I’m lost in a world of pedals and shoes. I don’t know what to get. I dont have enough knowledge to know what I need.

Do I just get these and then any shoes that fit with them? How do you know what shoes will fit with them? Or so they need additional things like bolts?? So lost.

www.sportsdirect.com/shimano-pd-ed500-light-action-spd-pedal-932251#colcode=93225103

There are 2 main types from shimano - SPD-SL which are 3 bold cleats and sometimes called road cleats, or SPD, aka 2 bolt or mtb cleats.

The ones you've chosen are 2 bolt spd pedals (which a set of cleats you'll attach into your shoes included). So any spd/2 bolt/mtb shoe should be compatible.

Then you have the choice of if you want something that "looks" like a cycling shoe - like this www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-dorica-mtb-shoe

Or something that's a bit less "obvious" like this www.wiggle.co.uk/giro-womens-petra-vr-off-road-shoe

There's a bit more to it, and different brands do things a bit differently, but there's enty of shimano pedals/compatible shoes o n the market to get you started with

Oops there's a lot of typos there, but hopefully you get the gist of it!

Velotoze keep my feet super dry, but they are a pain to get on and would only work over cycling shoes. They are rubbish if it’s warm as your feet can’t breathe and get soaked in sweat. They are very cheap and look funky! They work well with shorts as they fit so closely to your skin the water doesn’t seem to run in.

For longer rides I have a pair of Northwave goretex winter boots. I wear sealskinz socks. I put my tights over the outside of the boots which seems to stop the water running in. The boots have a close fitting neoprene collar. I then put a pair of neoprene overshoes over the top and then a thinner plasticy coated pair. This seems to keep my feet dry for about 90 minutes of torrential rain!!

For short commutes (half hour), I wear the boots, one pair of overshoes then a pair of Gore Bike Wear waterproof cycling over trousers over the top. Again that’ll keep my feet dry in the heaviest rain.

I second the sealskinz socks. And take a nice clean dry pair of socks with a dry pair of shoes to put on at work.