Cycling Waterproof and Rainproof Overtrousers Gravel

OUR DESIGN CHOICES

Following our design work on the Rain Jacket RC900, we wanted to develop a full rainproof outfit that was breathable, sporty and compact for long or multi-day rides while keeping riders comfortable both on and off the saddle.



We created these overtrousers with the same great features as the jacket: excellent waterproofing and breathability, a sporty cut for comfortable pedalling and a compact design.

COMPACT DESIGN

We wanted to design cycling bottoms that were sporty, waterproof, breathable and compact for long or multi-day rides, with a comfortable fit and slim leg for easy pedalling.

Folded down into their own waterproof pocket to slip easily into a bikepacking or other small bag, the overtrousers stay protected if the bag gets wet.Overtrousers weight, in size M: 328 g

Size M when folded: 17x14x8 cm

Cut

The slim leg helps prevent chafing from the saddle or a saddlebag.These overtrousers will therefore be perfect for wearing over cycling shorts, depending on the season and during wet or cold rides.

BREATHABILITY

To reduce perspiration at the lower belly and between the legs, we leveraged the air flow created by movement and added zips along the shins and inside the leg to allow air to enter at areas that are less exposed to splashes.

BREATHABILITY OF THE FABRIC (RET)

To see whether a fabric is breathable, we test its evaporative resistance or RET (based on the ISO 11092 standard). The lower its resistance, the more it lets water vapour produced by the body escape, therefore the more breathable it is.

• RET <6: extremely breathable, suitable for the most intense workouts

• RET 6 to 12: very breathable, designed for moderate exercise

• RET 12 to 20: moderately breathable, not enough for exercise

• RET >20: little breathability, unsuitable for exercise

FABRIC WATERPROOFING

A fabric's waterproofing is determined by measuring its resistance to the pressure exerted by a water column, measured in mm (test based on ISO 811 standard). The higher the pressure, the more waterproof the fabric. These are the waterproof characteristics of the 900 overtrousers: 15,000 mm before washing, 10,000 mm after 10 washes.

WATERPROOFING

It's not just the fabric that matters for the product's waterproofing; the assembly is just as important. All the seams on the RC900 are taped and we used YKK water repellent zips with flaps for extra protection.

MEMBRANE OR COATING?

The overtrousers RC900 have a three-layered fabric with a membrane.



The membrane is a type of very thin micro-perforated plastic film (polyurethane) which makes the fabric both waterproof and breathable. It is also very supple, lighter, more robust and more breathable than a fabric with a coating.

Coating is a layer applied to the interior of the fabric which makes the fabric waterproof. It costs less than a membrane, and requires a lining to protect it.