Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

With the forecast of lots of rain for March, I decided to order a pair of these: Vaude Spray Pants

They weren't in stock so the order from 14th Feb did not arrive until 4th March (yesterday). This evening was miserable wet weather in Sydney - perfect opportunity to test them in an hour of steady rain (5 mm rainfall in the hour, temp 22 deg C). They performed brilliantly.

I opted for these because they had a published breathability and waterproof rating. Specifically MVTR of 15,000 g/m2/24h for breathability, and 15,000 mm min water column (see wikipedia for explanation of ratings).

Other breathable fabrics I've tried had MVTR ratings around 5,000 g/m2/24h, and were acceptable. These are very much better. Whatever you make of these numbers, I've tried my own simple practical test: Covering my mouth with the fabric and breathing in through it met much less resistance than the breathable fabric in my jackets.

Once I got over about 15 kph, I could feel the effects of the ventilation. They are really cool when riding. Moreover, when I stopped for 10 minutes at the shops, I didn't "sweat-up". Excellent.

After the hour, my knicks, and legs were bone dry. Using torpedo7 rain booties plus my usual silicone sealant on the cleats, meant my feet were bone dry too. The pants come with a small draw-string bag so they're easy to pack in your panniers or back-pack - very suitable for commuters.

I'm very pleased with them and would recommend them highly to anyone still considering what to buy. A yay++.

Cheers

That's a great review, Wombat, thanks for that! I'm back in Brisbane today and it is raining steadily. My plan is to get kitted out in my Ground Effect rain gear and go for a loooooong ride (seeing as I put on 1.6Kg whilst in Sydney ). I'll let you all know how it goes!

Max

Having commuted for 5 years in London in all weathers and temperatures into the minus figures I can give you an emphatic NO on the waterproof trousers. Not only, as others have said do they retain sweat but they are also a bit bulky and uncomfortable. I used to use Ronhill bikesters, they aren’t water proof but even when wet they keep your legs warm, they dry in no time, in extreme cold, wear two pairs….

I have never owned overshoes that really do the trick, great tip for drying shoes, rather than hot air is to pack them as tightly as you can with newspaper/hand towels, leave for couple hours, remove and repeat, the paper draws all the water out of the shoes – keep spare socks at work!

They look dorky but full mudguards were essential in the UK, much of the getting wet is from road spray and proper mudguards eliminate this. (I took them off when I got to Sydney as I felt like a dag).

Generally speaking unless you are cold then just get wet, better than marinating in your own sweat.

Oh, just spotted your comment about waiting for the train – makes it a tricky one, makes my advice redundant… Shimano sandals, waterproof shorts and a towel…?

After riding in the rain over the last few weeks, I decided to buy some rainlegs from Wiggle. They should be here next week. I found that riding home in the rain was fine, except that my shorts got soaked and became heavy and stuck to my legs. Very uncomfortable! I didn't care so much about getting a wet jersey as it was still quite warm. For cool weather riding in the rain I have my Endura Gridlock jacket, but that is too heavy for Australian summers.
Hopefully the rainlegs will give me the upper leg protection I need without making the rest of me into a sweatbox!

Rainlegs have done the trick for me on the three occasions I've had to use them so far.

Shaun

Well, the Helter Skelters seem to do the job very nicely. I've actually been hoping for rain so that I could use them! A couple weeks ago, my wish came true. I stepped outside to ride to the station and it was bucketing down. I whipped the HS's on. Very easy to do over my bike shoes due to the large leg opening. A bit of adjustment of the velcro, and I was off! Some observations:

* They're noisy. I anticipated this, but it's sometimes a little distracting. If it's really pouring down, you won't hear it over the rain anyway.
* They cover my knees nicely, which keeps them warm.
* If you don't do up the velcro tapers at the bottom of the leg, all the dreck kicked up from the road will go flying up your pants. Do the legs up properly!

I got to the station reasonably dry. Yes, you will sweat in these, and yes, you'll get wet from the sweat. I noted that my shorts and chamois, whilst not dry, were not wetter than they would've been from normal riding (when it's not raining). They were a little damp from sweat, as they usually are, but no more than that. My conclusion is that the HS's kept me dry from the elements. I arrived at the train station nice and toasty. I removed the HS's and was comfortably dry waiting for the train. Job done!

Max

Tested out the Rainlegs today on the way to work in the pouring rain...big thumbs up!

wombatK wrote:With the forecast of lots of rain for March, I decided to order a pair of these: Vaude Spray Pants

Curious to know if you are still using these and how they are going.

Thanks
Andrew

Aushiker wrote:

wombatK wrote:With the forecast of lots of rain for March, I decided to order a pair of these: Vaude Spray Pants

Curious to know if you are still using these and how they are going.

Thanks
Andrew

Yes, still using them and they're performing brilliantly. Used them in 2 hours continuous rain last Friday week, with nothing getting wet underneath - either from rain or sweat.

Cheers

I have a pair of the Vaude too...nearing 9 mths now. Pretty effective, dries easily and the velcro straps are great. I liked it so much I got a spare.

wombatK wrote:Yes, still using them and they're performing brilliantly. Used them in 2 hours continuous rain last Friday week, with nothing getting wet underneath - either from rain or sweat.

Thanks. Looks like Wiggle are no longer carrying them and Bike24.net is the only online source I found.

Andrew

Aushiker wrote:
Thanks. Looks like Wiggle are no longer carrying them and Bike24.net is the only online source I found.

Andrew

Wiggle have been dropping lots of good stuff. Shame really. But there's also these

http://www.ubergear.co.uk/cycle/legwear ... g-trousers

and

http://www.bobshop.de/en/Men-s/Cycling- ... 2c134d42bf

I love zombie threads

I've had the Ground Effect 3/4 rain pants for a while now. I've had the opportunity to wear them in day-long rain and full-on torrential downpours. It's quite good at keeping the water out, but it has its limitations. Breathability is not all that it could be. I find that the sweat on my knees causes the material to stick to my knees, which in turn causes the fabric to pull and becomes uncomfortable. My solution to this has been to cinch the bottom of the pants above my knees, rather than under them. It creates a billowing effect, much like this:



You can understand why it's a look I'd rather not have to "rock".

Do they do the job? Absolutely. Could they do the job better? I think so. Am I glad I bought them? Definitely. I'd give them a 7.5/10.

Max

wombatK wrote:Wiggle have been dropping lots of good stuff. Shame really. But there's also these

http://www.ubergear.co.uk/cycle/legwear ... g-trousers

and

http://www.bobshop.de/en/Men-s/Cycling- ... 2c134d42bf

Thanks. Ubergear don't appear to deduct the VAT and charge 20.00 pounds for shipping ... ouch.

Bob is about the same price as Bike24.net. Just slightly dearer due to the postage.

I will give it some thought. The alternative is Showers Pass Convertible pants [about $120 plus postage from http://bicyclinghub.com] or Endura Superlite pants at around $84 + postage.

Andrew

Aushiker wrote: I will give it some thought. The alternative is Showers Pass Convertible pants [about $120 plus postage from http://bicyclinghub.com] or Endura Superlite pants at around $84 + postage.

Andrew

Showers Pass stuff gets good reports from others here - il padrone is a big fan. Some of the convertible ones seem to have a variety of fabrics (e.g. lycra zip-off bottoms ?), so you might need to check details of each model. Specs on the Endura ones look okay - fairly similar to the Vaude ones, in specs and in price.

wombatK wrote:Showers Pass stuff gets good reports from others here - il padrone is a big fan. Some of the convertible ones seem to have a variety of fabrics (e.g. lycra zip-off bottoms ?), so you might need to check details of each model. Specs on the Endura ones look okay - fairly similar to the Vaude ones, in specs and in price.

I am familiar with Shower Pass gear having just lost a brand new Elite 2.0 jacket and a pair of their Storm Pants (not that great but still a loss is a loss), hence why I am back in the market .

I will replace the Shower Pass Elite 2.0 with another one I am pretty sure but I am taking the opportunity to rethink the pants. The Endura pants are cheaper than the Vaude one's based on current purchase options. Mind you Endura's top of the range jacket is cheaper too and their 2010 eVent model is going for $160 at Wiggle at the moment (clearance). Decisions decisions.

Andrew