Believe us, biking in the rain can be great fun. The trails are as empty as a beer tent after closing time. And while in the dry you can shoot over tricky terrain like Felix Neureuther through the slalom poles, in the rain even the little roots on the home circuit require technical riding finesse.
Rain-soaked forest soil lets you experience the familiar in a completely new way. But the fun can quickly come to an end. Namely when your shoes and socks get soaked like a sponge and your cycling shorts hang on your bum like a wet nappy.
Biking in the rain is only fun with the right clothing. However, finding the right clothing is not that easy. This was once again confirmed in this test. We put a total of eight combinations of rain jacket and short rain trousers through their paces on our test track and put the materials through their paces on the test stands in the laboratory. The fit lays the foundation for good weather protection: the rain jacket should fit close to the body. If the material has too many creases, puddles will form and sooner or later water will seep in. Tightly sealed is the magic word. Long sleeves that overlap slightly at the gloves and a close-fitting collar keep the rain out. The width should be adjustable using Velcro or a drawstring. The jacket can be cut significantly longer at the back than at the front and cover the transition to the rain trousers over a large area. The same applies to the trousers: if the waistband is high enough at the back and remains in position even when pedalling, splash water hardly has a chance of penetrating the bike trousers. If the trouser legs also reach down to the knees and can be narrowed if necessary, you can literally dive through the rain like a submarine. The seams are another sticking point. They are taped on the inside to make them waterproof. However, tests have shown that this is often not done properly enough. Fewer seams therefore often mean more rain protection. We were particularly disappointed with the waterproofing. After just three washes, water beaded off many products much worse than when they were new. You can find all the test results on the next two pages.
Long-sleeved vests are the best way to regulate the climate under a rain suit on cool days. We tested five models. A hat, gloves and overshoes complete the outfit for your autumn tours.
COVER YOUR HEAD
Do you really need a hood when biking? And if so, is it better to wear one over or under your helmet? We have tried it out for you.
Helmet rather over it ...?
A well-cut hood for under the helmet closes the face neatly. This keeps the head completely dry, but also provides less ventilation. Visibility is less restricted than with a model for over the helmet. However, the helmet no longer sits as securely on the head and can turn slightly when you move. On the other hand, the small hood hardly bothers you when you're not wearing it. Both versions have the great advantage that no water penetrates the jacket from above.
... or helmet underneath?
Your big advantage: the helmet can be worn directly on the head as usual. This means that its fit is only slightly affected by the movements of the jacket. However, if you turn your head to the side, your vision may be impaired. As you can see in the picture, the front ventilation openings remain free. This means that the head gets more fresh air, but is also fully exposed to raindrops. If the large hood cannot be fastened anywhere, it flutters annoyingly in the wind when not in use.
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 12/2015 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Stefan Frey
Editor
