Rainy Days

I don't know if you've all realised, but it's been a cold, windy and rainy winter so far, and it doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon. Winter picnics have been few and far between unlike last winter. Instead we've been battling the elements riding around Sydney- but of course, trying to do it in style...

Because we will ride our bikes in all weather, rain, hail, or shine (except hail, perhaps- and preferably shine...), we've put together a quick guide to help you in this inclement weather we've been experiencing.

First up. Don't ruin you beautiful shoes with splashes of dirty gutter water. Gumboots are your friend. Whether they are traditional, colourful, or stylish like these:

Gloves are essential on dark winter mornings to stop you suffering frostbite while the mercury struggles to get above freezing!

Rain coats don't have to be garish. There are some really nice non-seven-year-old-on-their-way-to-school raincoats out there.

Capes! How stylish! How elegant! How functional! There are heaps of capes around at the moment. Some vintage, some brand spanking new, We love them all.

Check out CycleStyle, a lovely Melbourne based online store for cycling paraphernalia. Not only do they have made-to-order capes, but they also provide a Lumatwill option. (Please excuse me while I have a fabric-nerd moment) Lumatwill is a superb fabric that includes luminous yarns in the weaving stage of the fabric's production, so anything made is hi-vis, but made of Saville Row quality wools and tweeds. No need to add stripes of 3M reflective tape to those works of tailored art!

CycleStyles "Jenny" Cape

Dashing Tweed's Lumatwill Cape

CycleStyle also stock “oilskin” pannier and rack/basket friendly bags in bright colours for waterproof portaging... handy!

Lastly, if you're sewing inclined yourself there are some nice sewing patterns for capes from the 50's 60's and 70's floating around on places like Etsy and eBay. They make a nice weekend project while the rain hammers against the windows. My favourites are:

So, don that urban armour against the elements and don't be afraid to get a little damp, it's only water after all...

j.xoxo