RainMates, Considered->

Bought a pair of RainMates, which are the Smythes of Lincolnshire next to the RainLegs which are the RainMates bastard cousin thrice removed and therefore from Sheffield, from Todd & Martina @ CleverCycles [who still won't show The LFoaB any link love, but hey I forgive them, for now]... and thought I'd do a mini-review of them since I've been using them lately for riding, riding in the mist, riding in the rain, riding in the rain & cold, riding in the mist & cold, riding in the rain, cold & mist and last: entertaining Amy late at night -after hours, so to speak- by wearing them w/nothing underneath while I cook and/or vacuum.

They are pretty well thought out.  Speaking to their durability, I haven't a clue as I've not owned nor used them enough to know... but I'm guessing they will last as they seem well constructed and are a 'Specific-Use-Item' [sorta like a rain jacket: you use it when you need it, otherwise you don't].

Wearing them with my usual wool tights and knickers, they keep me dry and warm.  Actually if it's above 50, too warm... I sweat pretty heavily with them on, even though they aren't a full pant and are a chap [think Village People & "YMCA", there ya go]

Few things that could use further refinement, and for the scratch they go for would be a fair upgrade [but they are Euro-Made or at least Euro-Developed & Sold so that probably explains the price i.e. USD having its arse handed to it by the Almighty Euro-Note and/or Sterling Poundcake]: the snaps should be rubber coated.  The inner-knee snaps 'Bing & Ting' on my toptube as I roll [or maybe that's because I have too low of a Q-Factor on my cranks/or my knees are too aero/or maybe I should rubber-coat my frameset?]... but in any event that would be nice.  That said, it'd cost their company an additional 0.2 cents for all the snaps on one pair of RainMates to be coated and therefore crank the list price up by 21% I'm guessing. 
Also, the right leg band, on the shin flap, velcros from the inner-calf to the outer [w/the reflective tab] and that makes perfect sense to this cycler... however, on the left leg: that same leg band velcros outer to inner, and that makes no sense.  Maybe it's just me and my love of symmetry but, I do not understand why you would do that from a design point of view/or, for that matter, risk having excess fabric [in this case, the end of the band] be available anywhere near the drivetrain [even if it is the non-drive side] of one's whip.  Maybe it's as simple as my pair are screwed up and other RainMates aren't like mine?  No idea.

'Nother Thing... every time I use them I always think the connecting straps that go from your inner-thighs in, back thru your groin region & around behind your thighs before snapping into snaps on the sides of your hip/thigh area, well I always feel like this is going to create discomfort or chaffing or something bad in the crotch/saddle area... but so far it hasn't.  I do notice that after sitting and standing, with the RainMates on, I can feel those same straps pulling up & into my chamois -which with my past well-documented chamois/ManOnion issues always concerns me- but again, like I said, no problems.

When you don't need them, they roll super-tight & small for easy storage in your saddle bag, handlebar bag or messenger bag... and they have the 'I-haven't-used-this-yet' feature of being able to snap up into a closed/locked position while they stay on your waist.  This I can't comment on as I've always had a religious aversion to Fanny-Paks and, therefore, cannot bring myself to explore this option.  But I must add, Todd @ CleverCycles showed me this option, and did look sexy as all get out [but I also know that Todd regularly uses Fanny-Paks when he drives around town in his Hummer H2].

Can't really think of much else to add... they are good: they keep you dry [in a super monsoon scene, I'm sure full-on rain pants are the way to go, but for the Commuter/Rando/Practical kinda soul, these seem solid] and warm [at least for me below 50 digits/and too warm above that number].

50 bucks at-->CleverCycles

Dig...
 
[taken last night, 12-midnight'ish, somewhere 'tween Beaverton/Aloha & Hillsboro, Oregon]

Keep Ridin'... Always

Comments

[Al Mollitor]

Thanks for not showing us a photo of you doing the dishes!

[Al Mollitor]

Thanks for not showing us a photo of you doing the dishes!