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Wool socks, MX boots & wet weather. My idea but maybe is what you all do. Wool socks, MX boots & wet weather. My idea but maybe is what you all do.
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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 18 Jun 2007
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The French Farmers' rain suit is a great idea!
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 05:11.
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  #2  
Old 18 Jun 2007
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In the OLD DAYS trials riders used to wear steel toed and reinforced wellies [rubber boots ] and Barbour [ or Belstaff ] Jackets and trousers .They would seal the gap between the boots and tousers with with a thick strip cut from an inner tube .[the trousers would fit over the boots btw]

It's not always 100% effective if you want to go wading for long periods but it does stop the rain water from being driven up the gap.

The heavy wellies provided good protection against rocks etc.

Years of farming in the rain taught me that Barbour gear is the best .
Barbour still make the International Jacket as worn by ISDT competitors of long ago .They are not so fashionable these days.
But the rain has not changed - it is still wet .
I still wear heavy wellies if I have a long way to go in the rain.You can buy them anywhere that construction and farming gear is sold .They are much cheaper than biking boots and if you don't need them anymore you can always donate them to a worthy indigenous farmer on your travels .

PVC rainsuits don't work for me because I find the arms too short and the wind drives the rain in through the zippers and flaps ,although the better ones have good seals .
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  #3  
Old 18 Jun 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dodger View Post
In the OLD DAYS trials riders used to wear steel toed and reinforced wellies [rubber boots ] and Barbour [ or Belstaff ] Jackets and trousers .They would seal the gap between the boots and tousers with with a thick strip cut from an inner tube .[the trousers would fit over the boots btw]

It's not always 100% effective if you want to go wading for long periods but it does stop the rain water from being driven up the gap.

The heavy wellies provided good protection against rocks etc.

Years of farming in the rain taught me that Barbour gear is the best .
Barbour still make the International Jacket as worn by ISDT competitors of long ago .They are not so fashionable these days.
But the rain has not changed - it is still wet .
I still wear heavy wellies if I have a long way to go in the rain.You can buy them anywhere that construction and farming gear is sold .They are much cheaper than biking boots and if you don't need them anymore you can always donate them to a worthy indigenous farmer on your travels .

PVC rainsuits don't work for me because I find the arms too short and the wind drives the rain in through the zippers and flaps ,although the better ones have good seals .
That brings back memories, To add a little, use big wellies and wear sea boot socks, turned down over the tops. Flannelette pyjamas bottoms under your jeans were great for keeping out the cold. Over everything I wore a welded seam pvc over suit. It kept out both the rain, and wind so kept me warm as i went home on leave during the winter weekends in the early sixties.
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Old 18 Jun 2007
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On waterproofs once again
Sometimes a waterproof works OK under the rain (out fishing for example) but it may misebly disappoint you "under attack" of a constant shower riding on a motorway.

Just wanted to follow up adding 3 pics:

PIC 1- wet in the eurotunnel by the way the yellow T-shirt reads "YOU NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG" never worn again while riding...



PIC 2- dry. at the Swiss border with the farmers rainsuit on (a hint of a
smile is showing).



PIC 3- I how I test my equipment now (use warm water to do a full test
- plastic tend to get soft and "permissive" when warm) -
just kidding... I am not such a maniac, i needed to clean it....!


best regards to all.
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  #5  
Old 18 Jun 2007
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Personally Hein Gericke Touareg Gore plus sealskins. Comfy, dry, easy to walk in.
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Old 19 Jun 2007
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Hydrodynamics
Thing is, if you are riding at 80mph into a 20mph headwind, those raindrops are hitting you at 100mph, so no wonder they push through woven fabric, even 'waterproof' woven fabric. I think that the consensus bears this out; a lightweight impermiable membrane is best. Only thing is, they do get awfully sweaty, don't they!!

I think you need to turn the pressure up in your shower Alex
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Old 19 Jun 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagbeetle View Post
Thing is, if you are riding at 80mph into a 20mph headwind, those raindrops are hitting you at 100mph, so no wonder they push through woven fabric, even 'waterproof' woven fabric. I think that the consensus bears this out; a lightweight impermiable membrane is best. Only thing is, they do get awfully sweaty, don't they!!

I think you need to turn the pressure up in your shower Alex
Nope, just ride witha full touring fairing Its a whole world different.
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  #8  
Old 22 Jul 2007
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Red face 150f = 65c
Quote:
Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
It's nearly impossible to completely waterprook MX boots. Best is SNO-SEAL. It's bee's wax. Cook them in the oven with it on....at about 150f for half hour.

I knew I missed something!!!
you meant 150 FAHRENHEIT, not 150 CELSIUS... of course, that makes sense to me now (150f = 65c)...
....sorry, it took four weeks but here we are, better late than never...


luckily I haven't tried it yet...
...can just imagine my Alpinestars after 1/2 hour in the oven at 150c.....

Thanks for the tip.
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