Bike Gear for Staying Dry During Soggy Cycling Season

Don’t be soggy and sad during Ride in the Rain Month. Cascade Bicycle Club has rounded up a selection of essential gear to help you cycle through the sloppy season while remaining warm, dry, visible, comfortable – and happy. 

Low-Maintenance Belt Drive Bicycles

Priority Bicycles specializes in low-maintenance commuter and recreational bikes (and e-bikes) that all use Gates Carbon Drive belts instead of chains. Multiple Cascade staff members own the Priority 600, which features a sealed Pinion gearbox instead of a derailleur.

Image

Priority Bicycles is Cascade’s Ride in the Rain Month sponsor, and they have produced a video series detailing the types of gear you’ll need to weatherproof your rides. Watch the video below for some great tips.

And if you want to buy a belt-drive bike, remember that Cascade members get a 15 percent discount on Priority’s bikes and accessories by entering the code available in the Cascade Member Benefits Portal.

Rain Capes

Cleverhood has popularized the cycling rain cape as an alternative to rain jackets. You’ll see Cascade staff wearing them all through winter and on rainy days year round. Cleverhood's Rover Anoraks, which have a front pocket, are also practical and popular. 

Image

Cleverhood now offers kids capes that are amazingly adorable ($44.50 before discount). 

Better still, Cascade members get 15 percent off when they use the code in the Member Benefits Portal. And if you purchase from their Cascade-branded line of gear Cleverhood will donate a portion of the price to Cascade.

Drop-Tail Bibs: for Nature’s Call

Cycling apparel brand Voler proudly makes all of its products in the USA. Voler is also a Cascade partner that offers discounts to our members with the code available in the Member Benefits Portal.

We love their drop-tail cycling bibs, which eliminate the hassle of other bib shorts by enabling women to more easily take care of business when nature calls. For cold fall and winter riding, their Artico X Cargo Drop Tail Bib Tights offer fleece lining and two cargo pockets for carrying snacks or a phone. $219 before the Cascade member discount.

Learn about Drop Tail Bibs in the video below.

Pull the Wool Over

First bred in Spain, Merino sheep are known for their fine, soft wool. As a performance fabric for people biking, merino is renowned for its wicking ability and anti-stink properties. 

Voler offers a line of merino jerseys, hoodies, hats and gaiters in its Merino Shop.

Bike Bags

For bike commuters, a good waterproof backpack or pannier is crucial for porting that laptop home and keeping your lunch sack dry.

With an integrated rain cover, Po Campo’s Bedford is a backpack that converts to a pannier, or vice versa. Save 10 percent off the $170 retail price by using the Cascade member discount code.

Rain Pants

Waterproof pants, which slip over your regular work pants, are a must for year-round bike commuting in Seattle.

Image

The waterproof Transit pants from Showers Pass ($149 before discount) have reflective striping for visibility at night and velcro cinch straps at the ankles to keep road spray out. Save up to 40 percent on Showers Pass gear by filling out the application in the Member Benefits Portal.

Fenders

Fenders are your first line of defense against a soggy bottom. You can find lots of fender options at your local bike shop, but we like the quality of German brand SKS, which has fender varieties for all styles of bicycles.

Cascade members save 15 percent on SKS fenders and gear by using the member discount code and shopping at sks-us.com

Tired of Rain

Get a grip when road conditions turn slippery. So-called inverted tread or siped tires increase traction by channeling water to the sides (versus knobby tires that provide traction in mud or sand).

REI has a wide selection of inverted tread tires at various widths and price points including the Vittoria Randonneur ($38) with reflective sidewalls. 

If you’re pedaling in frozen and snowy locations consider studded tires like the Schwalbe Winter Active ($129.99 for two tires, prioritybicycles.com). 

Image

Or make your own DIY studded tires with a drill, screws, and some advice from the Adventure Cycling Association.

ICU!

Washington state law requires a non-blinking front light and a rear red reflector (or red tail light) when biking after dark. For set-it-and-forget-it practicality, a dynamo hub light such as those on the Priority 600 are powered by the rotation of your front wheel, no batteries or charging required. 

To enable drivers to see you from behind, we like the NT401 smart light from Ravemen ($34.95) that detects when you are braking and allows you to show your love of biking with emojis and custom light patterns.   

Image

DIY Bike Gear

If you’re ever caught without your rain jacket, or you want to score some sick fashion points, consider making a trash bag waterproof jacket. 
Cut holes for your head and arms in a heavy-duty trash bag, then slide smaller plastic bags over your forearms and secure them with rubber bands for quick, waterproof sleeves.

Waterproof socks like the Cross Point socks sold by Showers Pass ($47) are great for keeping your feet warm and dry. Or just slip some bread bags over your feet before putting your shoes on. Just dump out the crumbs first!

Lube Your Chain

As Priority recommends in its video above, it’s important to keep your bike chain cleaned and lubed during the rainy season to prevent rust. 
Cascade staff member Steph Brune likes Progold Prolink Chain Lube because it both cleans and lubricates. $10.75 for a 4 oz. bottle.

Or get a Priority Bicycles belt drive bike or e-bike and never lube a chain again.

Need more gear ideas? Check out our Winter Biking Gear Tips video below, and check Cascade’s social media channels for more Priority Bicycles Ride in the Rain Month videos dropping weekly through November.