This morning's commute and other commuting stories

They stop better than normal pads (ditto to Swissstop Blue), but in a full deluge, there's nothing you can do when there's too much water between the rims and pads.

1) Not on all rims and brake setups they don't. I suspect my problem was that I was using them on short levers with not much pull. The other problem I had was that the pads became rock hard and polished shiny after a couple of months thus making them worse.

2) Yes there is. You can dab your brakes periodically to dry your pads and rims a bit.

Taking my mudgardless bike was a mistake. Five minutes into my ride heavens opened. Had my raincape fortunately, but wet arse. Stopped off half way in a bike shop to buy one of those AssSavers. Nice bit of design. They must make a killing on them.

Worked from home first thing to see if I could avoid the rain, but gave up waiting and cycled in about 9.30am.

Saw 3 cyclists instead of the usual 300.

It stopped raining as I arrived at work.

9/10, would get wet again (and I probably will this evening).

What cape are you using? Am thinking I need one.

@velocio you are also a cape owner, what is it and is it any good?

I own this: http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/clothing/john+boultbee+clothing/OXFORD+Roll+Up+Rain+Cape/

And it's fantastic. Very waterproof, a good fit that doesn't feel like wearing a sail, the cap/hood works well (without helmet), and it has little magnets to keep the front over the bars and protecting your knees.

It's only worth having a cape on a bike with mudguards as should be obvious.

As to whether it is worth it? Well it's fantastic, it does the job... but in reality it's only really wet enough a couple of days per year. It is truly over the top for anything other than torrential rain, and then you need your commute to overlap with that torrent. It turns out that just doesn't happen as much as you think it does.

Overshoes and jacket (I'm now using the RH+ Air X-Change winter jacket which is also over the top in it's own way... it's nowhere near cold enough for this jacket yet) is enough.

I have to spend extended periods out doors all year round. In the last 10 days I have been drenched 4 times so considering it might be a good thing to have in my pannier bag.

This year I have waterproof cycling boots but the rain runs down my legs and fills them up. The cape looks like it could solve the vertical ingress. The commuting/work bike has mudguards.

Top tip: If you keep a spreadsheet of each of your commutes and how wet you got on a scale from 0 (dry) to 10 (torrential downpour) then at the end of the year you can look back and see just how sad you are.

(I may have such a spreadsheet but I only cycle commute once or twice a week)

This one: http://www.ottolondon.com/poncho.aspx?master=poncho in black. I got one in red for Clara I liked it so much. Loops on the hands so to cover your knees. Reflective piping on the edges is really bright.

Two hundred and thirty pounds.

@Greenhell
What other daily events do you log?

He has a log log of all his turds.

Xzibit shat on it.

Today I have ghetto gaiters made of cling film to stop my boots filling with water. They are working but my boots are starting to feel very sweaty.

Wrong Green...

Left the house this morning with a cold, forgot overtrousers, got to work soaked.
Couldn't face sitting at a desk all day, ill and wet. Picked up hard drive and cycled home.

My shoes have been wet for about a week now.

On the rain note, Gore Windstopper Active Shell is less sweaty than the full rainproof whack, and kept the short deluge out for me. (15 mins of rain) Not sure if it can work on long rides.

weight, but just once a day, not before/after logging out

I'm so fucking happy to be wearing one.

The other problem I had was that the pads became rock hard and polished shiny after a couple of months thus making them worse.

That does happen, putting them in the part washer bring them back into working order.

Yes there is. You can dab your brakes periodically to dry your pads and rims a bit.

That is true, abet annoying.

What's all this rain cape none sense. It's not cold enough for coats.

I was a bit chilly in tshirt and shorts today. Might wear a long sleeve tshirt tomorrow. Most cyclists seemed to be in full winter gear this morning on my route.

Cause it's a cape, not a coats.

Still not cold enough.

I wore trousers.