gauvins

Obviously not to ride with it. But to mitigate the impact of heavy downpours (pull off, and wait until the worst is over) and for when you visit a place during a rainy day.

We've long distance hiked with trekking umbrellas and found them to be an excellent substitute for rain pants well as a great protection against the sun.

Not yet tried during a bike tour, largely because they cannot be easy to carry.

FBinNY 

Never thought about it. I guess that once you accept the idea of spending hours riding in the rain, the issue of walking it it isn't much of a factor.

Also, On tours, I carry a waterproof(?) shell for riding, and use it when walking also, reducing the need for an umbrella.

FWIW, I tour light, so EVERYTHING I carry has to me multipurpose, or used routinely, or otherwise "gramworthy". So, an umbrella wouldn't make the cut, except as a way to prevent rain in accordance with Murphy's Law.

Snuts

The way it has been raining in Quebec, Great idea. I just might pick a cheap one up.

-Snuts-

arctos

I use an aluminized umbrella on tour for shade and/or rain protection when I stop in shadeless places for a drink or lunch. It is eight ounces. The same design is available at Six Moon Designs

Doug64

No, but we were two of the six people who did not have umbrellas that day. We finally broke down and bought a cheap $5 umbrella, mainly to keep our cameras dry. It just barely made it through the day. We had our rain jackets, but still managed to get wet anyway.



I hadn't thought about it, but it might be something to consider when we know we will be in the rain and need to take pictures.

gauvins

Ours are basically identical (and i believe I read somewhere that there are many brands made by the same manufacturer).

How did you carry it? Attached to the top tube? Straddling the rear rack+panniers?

gauvins

Yeah -- terrible year. Feels like worst ever (and is actually quite bad) but I also recall significant snow falls first week of May.

Take care of yourself. (I believe that to forecast is for "some" sun later this week.)

Machka 

Nope. No umbrellas.

But I do carry a poncho.

arctos

I use a dry bag stuffer on top of the rear rack and use the nylon strap holding the dry bag to hold the umbrella in place but accessible.

Yes. There are other sources of the same umbrella such as: Gossamer Gear

DropBarFan

Before touring in South Florida I'd laugh at taking an umbrella. But in summer they have frequent furious but short afternoon downpours, umbrella could be more convenient than donning foul-weather gear.

BigAura

I understand the conceptual appeal for a few limited set of circumstances (desert sun, gentle rain).

There are several negitives that would keep me from generally packing and lugging around an umbrella on a bicycle tour.

• umbrellas are terrible in wind
• they tie up one of your hands
• you can't ride with an umbrella
• they supplement, rather than replace rain-gear

RoadRider4321

I forgot that Quebec does have it rainy season.

My family used to live in Ste. Foy (pronounced San-Fwa). Was a nice province in which to live where French is the dominant language. Now my french is "tre mal" (translation, "very bad.") My late Dad taught at Laval University.

Bon Nuit from Tucson, AZ

saddlesores

this little device frees your hands for more important things
whilst riding.

....like playing fruit ninja on your cell phone....



or you go for a little more coverage for heavy rains...



and for monsoon season and/or your camping needs,
we have these contraptions...

Machka 

This is why I prefer to bring a poncho. It's small and light. It doesn't tie up my hands. And I can just pop it on if I've got to dash from tent to toilet or if I'm wandering around a city doing some sightseeing or whatever. I can even ride with it if I wanted.

indyfabz

My parents had waterproofing installed at the factory.

staehpj1

No, I never have carried one on tour and never really wished for one due to rain. For sudden torrential showers I have typically been able to find some shelter and most of the time it isn't all that cold when/where I tour. The very few times that I might use one much are not enough to justify carrying one all the time.

My normal solution is to have wind proof outer clothing to keep the wind chill in check when I am wet. That has been generally sufficient.

Note that I said that I, "never really wished for one due to rain". I have wished for easily accessible shade at times in the desert. I can remember times when in the blazing sun in 110+ heat when I would have paid a lot for a silver umbrella during breaks.

I am not sure if I will ever take one along, but so far I haven't. If I ever do, it is probably more likely to be on a backpacking trip than a bike tour.

Rowan

The Ground Effects Stormtrooper cycling jackets we have are equipped with hoods which are promoted as being designed specifically for riders in that they don't restrict sideways glances -- and that design works. Combined with waterproof trousers, I would feel comfortable walking about in most types of wet weather (and have).

I can understand the desire to have shade in the sun, but a broadrimmed, foldable hat like I use at in my employment works just as well. The hat, styled along similar lines to the traditional Australian bush hat, is made of a material similar to oiled duck (which is known here in Australia as japara), and folds into a small bundle that is easily stowed in a pannier.

Otherwise, I just don a cap and sunscreen.

BigAura

For warm weather riding that's all I generally use. Outer tech-clothing dries quickly.

Squeezebox

My silver umbrella will sit in the closet next to my UL chair, folding table, space blanket, and the Ti skillet.

prathmann

Never used one on a tour since I had adequate other rain gear. But I did use one for awhile for a fairly short commute. Similar to one of the pictures above it had a C-clamp at the handle end that clamped to my handlebar. Worked well as long as there wasn't too much wind.

Snuts

That made me laugh.
Today, I'm soaked through (3hrs of mist/showers). I have re-thought the Umbrella, no.

-Snuts-

fietsbob

As described, you may like it for sightseeing in towns, walking..

My rain gear now features a Cycle rain cape, on a bike, with mudguards.

....for the wet Oregon Coast.

LBS Sells Jackets, pants shoe & helmet covers and etc. most prefer that, it seems ..

gerryl

I would not bring one along for rain. However I would certainly bring one along for sun protection. Years ago I came across a cyclist in Egypt resting on the side of the road under the shade of his umbrella, at that point it's really parasol, I was more than a little jealous.

tmac100

When I bicycle tour I have a rain jacket/parka and a US military surplus poncho - which works great on the bicycle.

After some issues with my spats, I have chucked them in the grbage. They were not all they were cracked-up to be.

I use an umbrella when doing foot tours etc, but never with a bicycle.

JeffL

My wife and I carried an umbrella when we rode the Great Divide last year, to help protect us (mostly her) from the sun in the desert in New Mexico. I was initially dubious, but it proved useful in the really hot, sunny parts of the route.