Damp (again!)

[david_s]

So, I spent three hours on UK motorways on Friday afternoon - pretty much underwater all the way...

I've been biking for 20 years, and this is possibly the wettest I've seen the roads in a while: when I got home found that my clothing just around the waistline (and lower) was damp underneath my jacket and trousers.

My jacket and trousers are Heine Gerrick goretex (now about 7-8 years old) and I was wondering whether this is a problem with the clothing and whether I should look for better, or whether a zip fastening two piece suit will alway be a bit damp after heavy rain?

Do other riders stay dry all the time with better clothing or do I just carry on living with it?

thanks

 

[jimbo]

If its really bad I put water proof trousers and jacket over my goretex. This has the advantage that the textiles don't absorb a few pints of water to discharge on the floor when I get to my destination.
I suspect your kit is reaching the end of its reliable life span too.

 

[david_s]

Hmm... may be an expensive trip to the outfitters then

 

[Schtum]

Hmm... may be an expensive trip to the outfitters then

If you want to stay really dry, make it even more expensive and buy Gore-Tex Pro Shell kit rather than the less effective Performance Shell stuff.

 

[NeilDD]

So, I spent three hours on UK motorways on Friday afternoon - pretty much underwater all the way...

I've been biking for 20 years, and this is possibly the wettest I've seen the roads in a while: when I got home found that my clothing just around the waistline (and lower) was damp underneath my jacket and trousers.

My jacket and trousers are Heine Gerrick goretex (now about 7-8 years old) and I was wondering whether this is a problem with the clothing and whether I should look for better, or whether a zip fastening two piece suit will alway be a bit damp after heavy rain?

Do other riders stay dry all the time with better clothing or do I just carry on living with it?

thanks

Have you gleaned the kit properly?
It does make a difference, as dirt blocks the pores in the gore-tex membrane, and allows the water a way of wicking through.
Try some nikwax tech wash as a cheap fix to see if it helps.

 

[Dave Barrett]

Unfortunately, this is why I don't use Hein Gericke stuff anymore. The only 100% dry clothing I've found to date is the BMW Gore-Tex stuff.

 

[Simon.B]

Following on from NeilDD, try washing it with Nikwax cleaning in your washing machine and then treating it with Nikwax waterproofer. But do the waterproofing bit in your bath rather than the washing machine as you get a more even coverage

 

[david_s]

Unfortunately, this is why I don't use Hein Gericke stuff anymore. The only 100% dry clothing I've found to date is the BMW Gore-Tex stuff.

Right - BMW dealer it is then. I'd just like to *trust* some clothing for a change!

 

[Sir James]

I'd say it was probablys just the extreme weather ....

I rode from Sunderland to Andover on Friday and for the first time in 6 or 7 years water managed to leak through ....

BMW Gortex gloves had to be rung out and dried on a coffee machine ..

BMW Street Guard Pants still damp on Sunday .....

H&G Tuarag Boots let in a little around my toes ....

BMW TW@T Jacket had wet arms inside liner ......

BMW Tank Bag ( not sold a water proof ) was drown and everything in it ....

TT Zaga Panniers had an inch of water in each ...............

Shoei Hornet was great on the way down but steamed up on way back when it wasn't raining ......

2 Ortleib bags were fine ........


PS .... Nothing had ever leaked before ..........

 

[david_s]

I remember the spray from the road being like a thick fog for well over 3 hours, so maybe I'm being too picky? Hmm... I wasn't anywhere near as bad as Sir James, but then it may have been worse if I'd stayed on the bike for much longer!

 

[Berin]

My Rukka kit has always been completely dry, even through hours of rain and spray and it's now about 6 years old.I do wash and reproof with Nikwax kit. Plus, it drys quickly. Downside is, if we ever get summer, it's too hot - above say 25c.