“Bike Cape” poncho
will set you back $10.]
Two local cyclists have come up with inexpensive ways to stay dry while you ride.
Larry Williams opened up The Monkey King (3534 SE Hawthorne) a few years ago by importing furniture and fine arts from China. Now the store sells all sorts of eclectic and funky furnishings.
On a recent trip in China, Williams noticed that when it rained, all the cyclists put on ponchos. That was his lightbulb moment,
“It struck me right then that ponchos would be perfect for the Pacific Northwest.”
The result is his $10 Bike Cape. It’s a basic poncho made out of waterproof PVC that has an adjustable hood, reflective strip, and a handlebar clip so it doesn’t fly off. You can find them at local bike shops all around Portland (I first saw them at Revolver Bikes on N. Interstate).
If a poncho isn’t your thing, how about a pair of chaps?
Several years ago, Portlander Ken Nelson realized that only the tops of his thighs and his knees got wet when he rode in the rain. That realization led him to invent his DryHigh Rain Chaps.
These nifty chaps are made from extra-thick polyethylene plastic, the same material as shopping bags.
You can check them out at Coventry Cycle Works (2025 SE Hawthorne) and Veloce Bicycles.
I haven’t tried either of these products. If anyone has experience with them, feel free to chime in.