Aushiker

If anyone is after the Gorewear ShakeDry, Bike Discount in Germany, have medium and extra-large jackets. In black, of course.

HappyAussies

I can never figure out why the most common rain gear colour in the shop is black! what a fabulous colour for those dark, wet days when you really need to be invisible to cars .

Aushiker

I agree 100%. I can only assume that they are targeting roadies who race.

staehpj1

Shakedry supposedly has some great properties. Apparently it can only be made in one color and maintain those properties. In any case they no longer make it in any color so what is stockpiled is all there is or will be.

Roughstuff

I go with a simple Work Ready 3XXL, and let the excess bulk do all the ventilation for me. Nice bright colors and reflecting strips.

HappyAussies

You haven't lived until you have eaten Tim Tams . Come to Australia and you can feast on them EVERY day ....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tam.

Aushiker

An update. I was holding off on a purchase, given it has been so dry here, so I didn't need a new jacket, but as it is getting closer to winter, and I saw that 7MESH had the Copilot on sale with an extra 20% off, coupon code 'AprilShowers" I pulled the trigger. The cost worked out at $AU325/US$210 plus postage.

I will no doubt find out if it lives up to the hype soon enough.

djb

Happy rain riding!
Re taking care of jackets like these, I really do think it's worth keeping them in a bag or something when in with all your other stuff, to keep from being dirty and or scuffed up.
And like I've said before about washing and reapplying dwr stuff, I'm now very much convinced that doing this regularly will extend the life of an expensive garment, and it will work better for longer also.
Oh, did you get the ortlieb fork bag system in the end?
Cheers

Aushiker

Not as yet. I am holding off till the bike arrives so I can double check it they will work. The bike is 'due 30 April' but no word as yet that is still the date.

djb

What bike is it? Just curious (can't recall if you've mentioned already)

Aushiker

Reise and Muller SuperChartger 2 with Rohloff hub.

djb

yowzer, not what I was expecting. Belt will be fun to use, just from a maintenance point of view , or lack thereof.

Aushiker

Signs of getting older and still wanting to tour That said I am still planning to ride my Surly Long Haul Trucker and Salsa Mukluk, but for shorter two to three-day rides and for longer tours where the eBike will not be a practical option.

djb

The mukluk looks like a nice fattie--i got a used fatbike a few winters ago and really enjoy winter trail riding. A real hoot and a fun technical challenge with traction and balance, I get a kick out of trying not to have to dab or put a foot down. Plus sliding is always fun and it's all good for keeping bike control skills up. Don't use it really in the summer, snow to me is where it's most fun.
Have fun with new toy when it arrives. A pinion belt drive bike would be a gas, but pretty unlikely in reality, but fun to read about.

Aushiker

There is no snow here, so mine gets used for beach riding and touring where sand is expected and well playing on single track.

djb

ya, I still get a laugh of how the float of a fattie can ride over stuff that would be just impossible on smaller tire bikes. Ive done single track a bit on it and its a hoot also.
Snow is similar to sand, but different in its own way, and of course, snow has a whole slew of different characteristics depending on the type of snow, how deep, wet snow, dry snow, loose base, hard base....just a ton of variables and so getting the right tire pressures is crucial to maintaining traction.
My tires are only 4in (actually measure more like 3.5 pre squish) , so more finicky than 4.5, 4.8 or whatever, so having really good low pressures like 5psi is crucial to the tire deforming over the snow surface and giving traction.
A real learning curve at first, but fun.
cheers (and yes, I think I remember your photo from the past)

Derailed

I bought a Showers Pass Elite in 2010. It developed a problem with the main zipper around 2017, and I sent it in for repair. I had to pay, but it was reasonable. A couple of years ago, say 2022, the seam tape around the collar pulled apart. I thought I was toast at that point, but much to my pleasant surprise, they sent me a simple repair kit that worked well. They didn't even charge me for it.

I recall being hesitant to spend so much for a jacket back when I bought it, but at 14 years and still going, it has turned out to be a good investment. At this point, I won't hesitate to pay to replace it when it's no longer repairable.

djb

They've been very good in customer relations I find. I replaced my old one with a much lighter one, and it's been great.