Tired of getting wet? Check out the Drycycle

Reader Doug C. from Beaverton just sent a few photos of an invention he calls the “Drycycle.” Words can’t really do it justice, so thankfully he also sent along some photos. Check it out:

“I get a lot of thumbs up when I’m riding. People aren’t used to seeing it.”

Doug says the Drycycle is made “entirely of plumbing parts from Home Depot and a garage sale tent.” The windshield? A shower curtain from Target.

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Staying dry is definitely
a reason to smile.

But, does it actually work?

“I’ve been using it for two years now and it works great… I can ride to work in my normal work clothes in a steady rain and stay totally dry.”

Turns out that getting wet wasn’t what inspired Doug’s ingenuity. It was sweat. “I never liked wearing rain clothes over my work clothes and arrive to work all sweaty so this is my solution to that problem.”

Nice work Doug!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Allan Rudwick
Allan
14 years ago

how does the thing work with no fenders? it seems like road-moisture would be problematic

Nick V
14 years ago

Nice! But I wonder how it responds to a good gust of wind?

Matthew
Matthew
14 years ago

That’s simultaneously the most awkward, and awesome, thing I’ve seen all week.

N.I.K.
N.I.K.
14 years ago

Look closer. There’s at least some sort of clip-on rear fender on there. It appears as though it may be attached to the bottom of the length of pipe above it.

My concern would be riding through a cross-wind – not just for getting wet, but having this big sail throw me sideways. Wind and slippery roads are tricky enough to begin with, but…

AaronF
AaronF
14 years ago

I double dare him to ride it across the i-5 bridge!

Paul in the 'Couv
Paul in the 'Couv
14 years ago

Okay, I like the IDEA, and I agree about not liking sweat and not liking rain gear, especially when the temp is moderate ~40F or above.

But seriously, he must be using that for only pretty short commutes – he doesn’t even have a front fender – although maybe these photo’s are from before he finished the project.

buzz
buzz
14 years ago

Beaverton does not get the gorge wind like Portland does, but wind gusts still would be a concern for me. But, very cool!

Greg
Greg
14 years ago

Just to clear up the fender issue for the vision impaired, he has black plastic fenders on both wheels.

Nice little invention there.

Jeff
Jeff
14 years ago

Does this create forward visibility issues for cyclists behind?

Joe Metal Cowboy Kurmaskie

I smell a new sport in the making – sail biking or bike boarding? – how does it function in wind? I’m drawn to test one of these out – reports from the field?

wsbob
wsbob
14 years ago

The back side of this thing provides a really big surface to make the rider visible. Put a bunch of the reflective stuff on there to really take advantage of this surface. I see advertising potential too. More annoying stuff on the road!…Whoo-boy!

The thing does stick up kind of high, but I wouldn’t think much, or any more than a minivan.

Beaverton gets some wind. Nothing like out on the Columbia at times.

fredlf
fredlf
14 years ago

Joe @10

Without going to google, I’ll bet that some version “extreme bike boarding” has been around long enough to have more than one magazine, flames on internet forums and at least one big “ethics” debate about equipment.

KWW
KWW
14 years ago

eh, maybe in a tailwind, but on a bike you rarely have a tailwind…I’ll stick with my rain cape.

michael downes
michael downes
14 years ago

Hey Doug,

In future? Two blunt limit before brainstorming

Daniel
14 years ago

“….i like to ride my kitecycle, i like to ride my kite.”

rex
rex
14 years ago

I wonder if something like this would have less windage?

http://bikehacks.com/acg-surf-racks/

stripes
stripes
14 years ago

This is an awesome idea. I HATE wearing raingear. It’s ugly, it’s sweaty, it’s a pain in the ass to get on and off every twenty minutes when running errands.

The idea of a big, portable umbrella sheltering you while riding – it sounds just fine by me, for reals.

Joe Metal Cowboy Kurmaskie

Michael D – Two blunt limit… that made my day.

Becky
Becky
14 years ago

Nice. Certainly might help persuade my daughter to ride in the rain.

Kt
Kt
14 years ago

Well, boo to all of you putting down Doug’s work. 😛

He didn’t make this for everyone, he made it for himself.

I think it’s ingenious; I like how the front “windshield” portion stays stationary when steering. Doug, does the “windshield” stay pretty clear as far as not having any windshield wipers or what-have-you? Fogging certainly wouldn’t be an issue…

Doug
Doug
14 years ago

Doug here. Bike has fenders front and back but my shoes still catch some water when roads are very wet. It’s an imperfect world and I need galoshes. Amazingly, a cross wind isn’t a big deal but a headwind will push back the windshield an inch or two. I do have a short 2 mile commute. The “wings” fold up so it will fit through a doorway and can be stored inside.

TonyT
tonyt
14 years ago

To each his own I suppose.

Scott
Scott
14 years ago

Love it, Doug.

It reminds me of this bike that won the bicycledesign.blogspot.com design competition last year.

Refunk
Refunk
14 years ago

Gotta say, Doug, I really like it.

In the nineties, I built a very similar rig (same exact tent & plumbing materials – even roll-up sides – different colors, no front windscreen) BUT it wasn’t for rain! My intent was to reduce the brunt of the blazing sun when touring long days in high summer weather by providing that sometimes elusive commodity, shade.

First test ride, I was tooling along Marine Dr. and a blast of wind literally picked up the bike, lifting the front wheel with an instant loss of steering. When I recovered, I pulled over then-and-there and disassembled the thing before riding home.

Never occurred to my so-called mind to use it in the rain. Kudos to you, man. (I’d stay away from wide open spaces though, if I were you …just sayin’)

Jene-Paul

Refunk
Refunk
14 years ago

…although, I also have to confess that the Metal Cowboy’s idea might be interesting, from an intentional perspective. Haven’t Googled it, but it’s hard to believe there aren’t people already racing some version of this concept somewhere. Maybe Doug could start a whole new wave; I suggest proving grounds on the American Great Plains, where the wind is constant. Ain’t enough car-free highway in the Gorge to run safely, but those blustery farm roads from Iowa to Wyoming are often wide open!

J

Doug
Doug
14 years ago

The photos I posted were an early version and I’ve modified it since. Had to switch to a copper pipe in the front because the PVC wasn’t strong enough. Affixing the whole thing to the bike is the real trick. Visibility is OK during the day especially with Rain-X. I avoid riding at night with a wet windshield. I don’t ride fast as a rule but it’s proving more durable than I thought it would be when I made it. I cruise downhill at 15 mph with no issues at all.

Doug
Doug
14 years ago

One day I rode with a strong tail wind and was pushed along so much I didn’t have to pedal. A nice surprise The windshield does a nice job of keeping me sheltered from the wind which keeps me both dry and warm.

metal cowboy
14 years ago

Doug – I want you to know that while I was having a bit of fun – I really would love to test this… and perhaps start up a sailbike/bikeboard league,competition, day, fest something – it might end in blood and broken bones but the same could be said for any endeavor… who’s with me? Yes, this is might be the egg nog talking, but I’ll say it again, who’s with me?

Richard Campbell
14 years ago

Here is a similar product from back in 1997, the Raingo
http://bikehugger.com/2008/01/stay-dry-with-raingo.html