Rain chaps, a cape, and fenders: how we ride Portland winters without rain pants

Every October, customers start walking into Clever Cycles soaked and ask for rain pants. We sell rain pants, but before we ring them up, we ask how far they ride. Most people tell us twenty minutes or less. For a ride that short, rain pants may be more than you need. Here’s what we often recommend instead.

The problem with rain pants

Rain pants keep rain out, but they can also keep sweat in. On a bike, your body warms up as you pedal, and after ten minutes in a sealed layer of nylon, you may feel as wet from perspiration as you would have without the pants—only warmer and clammy. Breathable fabrics help, and the Showers Pass rain pants we stock are among the best options out there. But no fabric eliminates the trade-off completely, and putting rain pants on and taking them off can feel like a lot of fuss for a short ride.

The same trade-off applies to shell jackets, which is why many of us at the shop ride under a cape. We’ve written about capes before; what we haven’t covered as much is how to keep your legs comfortable.

Where the rain actually lands

Stand beside a bike in the rain and watch a rider go by. Water tends to land on the tops of the thighs and knees. It doesn’t land as much on the backs of the legs or the shins. Water that reaches the shins is often spray from the front wheel, which is where fenders help.

That’s the idea behind Rainlegs. They’re chaps, not pants: a belt at the waist, a strap at each knee, and a panel of waterproof fabric over the front of the thighs and knees. The backs of the legs stay open, allowing heat to escape as you pedal. Clip them on over your clothes, ride, and, when the rain stops, roll them into the belt for easy carrying.

We’ve stocked Rainlegs for years, but haven’t talked about them much. They look unusual, and many people who discover them do so on their own. Then, this September, a Reddit thread brought a surge of visitors to the product page, and we had very few left to sell. We expect a large shipment the week of November 2, in black and reflective, with sizes across the range.

What they are not

Rainlegs are best suited to Portland-style drizzle and light rain on shorter rides. They’re not designed for a downpour or an hour in steady rain, when water can get past the knee and onto the lower leg. If you ride a long commute in all weather or need to arrive in dry trousers, rain pants are likely a better choice. Rainlegs make sense when your ride is short enough that you don’t need to dress for the wettest possible conditions.

They also work best with clothes that dry quickly. Wool, synthetics, and stretch work pants are good options underneath. Denim can be fine for a short hop, but wet jeans can stay wet for the rest of the day.

The system: cape, chaps, fenders

From October to May, many of us at the shop reach for a cape. The Cleverhood Rover covers your hands on the bars, your lap, and the front of your thighs, while allowing air to move underneath. Add Rainlegs over your pants to cover the parts of your thighs and knees that the cape may leave exposed when it lifts. Full fenders with a long front mudflap help keep tire spray off you. A wool cap with a brim under your helmet can help keep rain off your glasses. That’s a practical kit for many city rides, and it goes on quickly. See the capes and anoraks in our rain gear collection.

The setup has limits. At higher speeds or in a headwind, a cape can catch the wind and become difficult to manage. On those rides, we recommend a hooded anorak instead, with Rainlegs for leg coverage. In a downpour, no outfit will keep you completely dry indefinitely; it can help to plan for a change of socks or another way to finish the trip comfortably.

Fenders first, always

If you’re choosing one piece of wet-weather gear, consider starting with fenders. Full-length fenders, especially with a front flap that reaches close to the ground, help block spray from the wheels. Clip-on fenders can leave a gap where spray reaches your shoes. We can fit fenders to many bikes, including some without eyelets, and Portland-based PDW makes fenders nearby. In our experience, fenders can make a bigger difference to everyday comfort than rain clothing alone.

The shipment

We expect Rainlegs back the week of November 2, in both black and reflective versions. Sizes from XS to XL. The reflective version has reflective panels on the front of each leg, adding visibility when you pedal on dark, wet streets.

For more on what to wear on your hands and feet, what to put on a cargo bike, and Oregon’s lighting rules, visit our rain gear for cycling in Portland page. You can also visit us at the shop on Hawthorne to talk through what might work for your ride.