Any cyclist will tell you, regardless of riding style or frequency: riding in the rain sucks, big time. It doesn’t have to be that way, though, as long as you don’t mind looking a bit silly. Or, at best, different from anyone else.
One of the few upsides to the ongoing health crisis is the unprecedented boom in interest towards two-wheelers, especially electric bicycles, in the urban landscape. Suddenly faced with the reality of having to share the same small space with strangers, commuters have turned to e-bikes as a life-saver under the strict conditions of social distancing. Environmental concerns had already boosted interest in e-bikes, but it was the health crisis that brought demand to unprecedented levels.
Summer is winding down in most territories and that means we’re heading towards the windy, rainy fall season. For bikers, this also means counting down the days until the steed goes into storage, only to be taken out every once in a while when weather permits. RainRider, a company based in Germany and catering to that very specific segment of the market, says it doesn’t have to be so.
RainRider sells a variety of rain- and cold-weather related accessories for cyclists, from ponchos to pants, saddle and bike covers. Its latest and best (so they say) product is the SoftTop, which they describe as an all-weather, all-season protection for the rider, so that he or she never stops riding (hat tip to New Atlas).
Photo: RainRider
SoftTop is like an umbrella for you when you’re riding the bike, made of coated polyester fabric and transparent UV-resistant polyurethane, with air vents to prevent fogging. It’s easy to assemble and disassemble, easy to carry and easy to travel with, the makers say. It perfect “for rain and weather protection for cyclists, e-bikers on the way to work, to school, for shopping, summer, winter or as recreational athletes, touring bikers, hikers, outdoor athletes.”
Measuring 215 cm (84.6 inches) in height and 40 cm (14.7 inches) in width, it stretches from over the rider all the way down the sides of the fork. In theory at least, that means no part of you will get soaked, since it will protect your head, shoulders and back, down to your legs. RainRider also says that it’s meant to keep you warm but, based on the product’s official description, this only applies in terms of shielding you on windy days. Whatever warmth you’d be feeling would come from bringing down the level of pedal-assist so that you pedal harder and faster.
The biggest selling point of the SoftTop, aside from whatever protection from the elements it offers during rides, is that it comes on and off easily. The video below shows it in action, though somewhat hilariously, not on an actual rainy day – in fact, there isn’t a single piece of promo material to show it in action on a rainy ride. On the bright side, at least we get to see it being taken off, which is, according to the makers, a couple minutes-type of job.
The SoftTop attaches to the bike on the handlebars, and then on each side of the fork. Several aluminum and carbon fiber rods hold the bow shape, and they’re supposedly solid enough to keep it from turning inside out, like a regular umbrella does when caught in the cross-winds. When you park the bike temporarily, the SoftTop folds halfway down, offering protection for the rest of the bike. If you wish to leave it out for longer, you can simply unmount the SoftTop and start taking out rods to fold it down. You can then store it inside a small bag that comes with the product.
Photo: RainRider
According to RainRider, the SoftTop is lightweight (1.5 kg / 3.3 pounds), aerodynamic and safe, because it comes with B-Safe technology, which is just a fancy name for reflector strips for enhanced nighttime visibility. It’s also minimalist and durable due to the high-quality materials used, and most importantly, sustainable because it helps you ride your bicycle throughout the year and not just during the drier seasons.
You might look a bit silly with it mounted on the bike, but at least that thought will make up for it. The SoftTop costs €129.95 ($153) to buy.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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