Cold & Wet Outside, Warm & Dry Inside.

Love me some Chicago weather. Mmhmm. 37 degrees and raining in January. Most people don't like going outside in this stuff, much less ride their bike in it. I used to be one of those folks. That was before I had the right gear for the weather. I rode in cotton t-shirts and cheap "rain" gear that really didn't keep the rain out. And the cheap gear that did, was not breathable at all. I've used plastic garbage bags for rain kits. Kinda like a sauna on wheels. Plastic bags on the feet. Done that too. Yeah, it works better than nothing, but there is nothing that compares to having the right gear. Once you have some truly solid rain and cold weather apparel and outer wear, you will understand when you hear people say....

"There is no bad weather, just bad gear."


In the time before good gear, I was using Performance this and Pearl Izumi that. Now I ride in Gore Bike Wear Gore-Tex & Windstopper on the cold/wet days, and life is grand. No, it is freaking sweet. Like smiling while you ride your bike on days you used to dread freaking sweet. Smiling because you realize just how much a difference the right jacket and pants make. Then a bigger smile when you think that the gear you are wearing cost more then the bike you are riding in the winter. I've been using the Fusion jacket and pant from Gore Bike Wear for 5 years now, and it keeps getting better each year. Not that you will need new jackets from Gore that soon, I just love me some technical stuff, and like to try everything I can get my hands on.

I am not saying to go out and put yourself in the poor house on gear. But, if you ride when the weather turns to pewp, you owe it to yourself to pick up some pieces as you can. Not the pieces of pewp of course, but rather the articles of superb winter excellence. Perhaps a set of Gore-Tex socks to start. Or some City Overshoes. Windstopper gloves make a tremendous difference. The most spendy items of a cyclist's winter arsenal tend to be the jacket and pant. If you get cheap on this, you will be disappointed with the results. One $200 Gore-Tex jacket will outlast three $80 rain jackets, and actually keep you dry. If you have not had a chance to see a demo of Gore-Tex or Windstopper material, stop by our store and demand to! You can also check out Gore-Tex here, or Windstopper here.

Gore Bike Wear Fusion jacket & pant, Tool jacket, Tool gloves, City Overshoes, Sidi Diablo GTX, Bell Volt, Mission Workshop Vandal. Not pictured, Gore Bike Wear Xenon Sonic bibs & Windstopper tights.

Don't forget your helmet! Also, I always have my RoadID on my wrist whilst cruising on my bike. And to make sure the stuff I carry stays dry, a waterproof Mission Workshop Vandal. The harness system on the backpack is amazing. Make sure to get the optional waist strap.

Some days are cold, and some days are wet. But I have yet to find a day that I didn't want to ride my bike.

Mission Workshop Vandal Backpack -- review by Becky Welbes

After carrying large messenger bags on one shoulder for years, my left shoulder was starting to hurt. I carry everything in my bags, I use them for grocery shopping, packing for races, travel, and daily essentials. I needed a backpack to alleviate some pressure on my left side, and I was looking for one that could hold a lot, but not be too big. I've found that a lot of the large messenger-style backpacks are wide and awkward, especially for a woman's frame. I decided to go with the Mission Workshop Vandal because it has a relatively narrow shape, one that is trapezoidal so that it matches the natural shape of your back. It also zips up and straps down into a smaller bag, then can double in size when you need it. There's an internal frame that makes carrying large loads much easier on your back, as well as adjustable padded straps.

The straps have loops on them that make it easy to attach my essentials, like my phone holder and keys. They also have adjustments on the top, so that if you are carrying a large load and it's obstructing your view or hitting your helmet, you can drop the load down on the straps a little bit. That makes things so much more comfortable! Other highlights for me are the option to add a waistbelt -- something I've decided I need after seeing how much I carry in this bag regularly. I'm also a fan the roll top option, it's made carrying home awkward things like posters or new handlebars much easier. And of course the fact that this bag is entirely waterproof is a win-win.

My only complaint is that all of the pockets are big. I wish there was a small pocket on a flap or something for my smaller stuff. I still find myself carrying my tools, daily essentials, and wallet in separate pouches inside. Other than that, this bag is a workhorse that somehow challenges me to carry more and more in it. I've been able to carry loads that are almost a 1/3 of my body weight and not feel strained. This bag is totally worth the investment! It will last a lifetime, and has already paid for itself in use alone. Thanks Village Cycle for stocking Mission Workshop bags!