The poncho might be one of the simplest ways of staying dry on a bicycle, but only the bold wear one without feeling sartorially challenged – one of the drawbacks that the Boncho sets out to address.
The Boncho features a stylish tailored hood with peaked cap and a semi-rigid awning that fits snugly over the handlebars to stop the fabric from flapping around, but its real party trick is that it unfolds like a pop-up tent.
When the rain stops, the poncho folds quickly and easily into a small and thin bag.
Win your own Boncho poncho
The Boncho is now available to buy here for around £45, but we have one to give away. Post a comment at the bottom of this page to share with us your best bit of advice for riding in the wet and we’ll pick a name next week.
Wet weather riding
Once in a while we cyclists get wet. It doesn’t happen as this current run of weather suggests, a fact that doesn’t stop designers coming up with imaginative – if not always effective – jackets, capes, ponchos and leg protectors. Modern waterproof fabrics do a good job of keeping you dry while allowing your skin to breath, but the low-tech and cheaper alternative is to make the most of the fact that you yourself are waterproof and embrace the occasional soaking – just don’t forget to carry a change of clothes.
It’s a more simple approach that trying to attach a roof to your bicycle. Frustrated at how often bad weather meant they left their bikes at home in favour of polluting transport, the designers of the LEAFXPRO drew inspiration from nature to create a leaf-like protective film. The aerodynamic performance of the wedge-shaped nose and air vents at the front, side and rear has been tested successfully in wind speeds of 80 kph.
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Ben Young
This looks just great, I’d really like a good quality cycling poncho. I bought one in the Netherlands but it fell apart very quickly.
Alison
To keep legs dry in cold weather I wear lined waterproof trousers – unlined ones only seem to be effective in a brief light shower – wouldn’t personally go for getting wet intentionally in our climate but good luck to those who do – hope you have strong immune systems. Would love to try Boncho!
Richard Scrase
Always carry your waterproof trousers in your high vis waterproof jacket pocket to be waterproof and visible in the rain. And if it’s really bad, wear plastic bags between your shoes and socks.
Alan Jones
The plastic bag notion is the only thing I haven’t tried!
Nick
Particularly useful considering the weather of late. No getting in a tangle either.
Stuart Lamb
Interesting design. Could be useful when you’re caught out
PAM
just enjoy the weather, keeps you in touch with the environment!
Graham Chadwick
Often wondered about getting an old fashioned bicycle cape but this looks like a better alternative
Sahil
I keep a Carradice Zipped Roll bag attached to my saddle in the winter with a thin waterproof top and trousers that compress down to fit in easily. As an added bonus, you can keep your chain lock in there too!
The fallback, of course, is getting soaked and then walking around the office in your gym shorts / boxers whilst your trousers dry on the radiator. Two days in a row now…
John Randall
Nice how it folds into a small package.
Nic Jones
Best tip would be to make a trade-off between completely waterproof vs breathability. Pointless to be shielded from rain, if it means you sweat more!
Terry steer
Although i do not ride a bike,this would be fantastic to wear on my mobility scooter,in the rain of course.
Jim Clark
Oh dear, nothing new under the sun yet again. In the 1950s when a bike was how most children got to school and most men (women didn’t in most cases) got to work we called them capes. Lots of people had them, including myself. Some were bright yellow oil skin, some ex army khaki, policemen wore them too in regulation navy blue. One day I expect to see the wheel invented on this site.
Bevan Craddock
As the Penkridge Town Crier for more years than I care to remember, I have recently started biking again when Sam, one of my grandsons, gave me his bike as he now uses public transport regularly. My Town Crier regalia and the sound of my bell usually tell people I am in the neighbourhood. However, in the rain, your poncho would be very useful indeed, not only keeping me dry, but would tell the public who is underneath it and that the latest news is on the way.
David Carroll
Advice for riding in the wet: DON’T! If that’s not possible, plan to set off 10 minutes earlier to give time to dress correctly, cycle safely and avoid any panic about being late at your destination.
Rachit Kinger
Here is a lesson I learnt one day when I was caught in a heavy rain on my way back from work. While I was carrying my waterproofs which I was quick to put on, I had a puncture and it was pouring quite heavily. Thankfully a friend with a car bailed me out. Inside his car I had the first hand experience of seeing how drivers see cyclists in the rain and it scared me to no limit. There were so many cyclists, even those with cycle lights and reflective clothing, that we struggled to see in the rain from inside a car. But then there were some who for added measure had two rear lights, fully reflective clothing and a few lights on their wheels. From then on I made it a point to first overcompensate for visibility and then think of waterproofing myself. I would really urge all cyclists to be as visible as you can, all the time but take extra care when its raining, and get two dependable lights + reflective stickers.
rupert kenna
Nice idea. My waterproofs are bulky to carry around and take time to put on. Ofteen by the time I’ve decided to put them on I’ve delayed too long and am already wet. By the time I have put them on invariably the rain has passed. The weather her is certainly unpredictable!
Stuart Coggins
I’ve been cycling in wellies in wet weather recently, which is both uncomfortable and unstylish, but it keeps my feet dry!
Dave Mann
Top honcho! What a poncho, Bonch!
Dave Mann
Top honcho! What a poncho, Boncho.
David Johnson
I wear a traditional cape and am fine with it – although I would try the boncho if you care to provide one. However the boncho does look shorter than the average cape so that one’s legs look likely to come in for a soaking. My only problem with the traditional cape is some difficulty with giving handsignals and it tends to obscure the front light if I’m not careful. I did once have a cape with a transparent plastic section to shine the light through, which seemed a good idea.
Graham Alsop
I love the cool blue but hi-visibilty yellow would make it attractive for serious road riders in addition to commuters. Lets have more colours for such a stylish garment
Ian Harvey
Great idea would love to have one. Important head and neck stay dry too. It’s a great little item to pull out when the big rain storms arrive.
Giorgio P.
Nice article, however in your tips you forget that even if we are “waterproof” the things we’re carrying with us are not. Main reason why I always use a large raincoat to cover my backpack as well, plus rain trousers and gore-tex shoes if it is really raining heavily.
I’m wondering if the Boncho would be able to cover one’s backpack as well!
Carol
I’d dare to wear. No problem 🙂
Jean Sinclair
Interesting concept.
Vicky Hirsch
I wore a sou’wester hat in the rain on a ride from Land’s End to John O’ Groats it was brilliant for cycling – didn’t blow off in severe wind and rain on the Glencoe Pass and the wide brim stopped the rain from blinding me. It was much better than a hood because you could easily turn your head to see behind…
Anna Shakoor-Green
Getting soaked (and drying out later) is fine in warm weather, but not so in the kind of temperatures we have in the UK most of the year. I use a waterproof jacket and rain legs, plus Sealskinz socks and gloves. A buff on my head stops it feeling cold in the rain. I think the Boncho is a great idea. It reminds me that cycle-tourer Josie Dew suggested that a bike poncho makes a great portaloo for women travellers
Rory Harkins
I’ll give it a shot. Just need to find a wet but not windy day.
Eric Ludlow
Tips for riding in the wet:
1. Get wet en route to destination
2. At destination, take off wet clothes
3. Put on dry clothes
4. Repeat for return journey
Neil Woolford
My advice is that puddles may be deeper than they look, and possibly hide dangerous potholes.
I know it is a kind of cycle cape (I used to have one of the yellow ones) but it is a very neat realisation of the concept. I don’t mind betting that there is a knack to getting it back into the bag after use though!
John
Sounds like a great idea. Would love to have one, especially on my long distance tours.
Helen Smith
Wear a shower cap to stop your hair getting wet. It gets lots of laughs from drivers (who are then more polite to you) and if you forget to take it off before entering your office, your colleagues will be cheered up too!
Sue Whitham
Looks like this addresses the problem of the Neck (drips down the back of) and also the Stuff in the bike basket, and also the handlebar gear- mine is an electric bike, so I am always having to cover things up. Ideal for the town cyclist , not the Lycra crowd.
James Russell
Spare pair of socks and underpants at work incase you get it very wrong one morning!
Actually, my best advice is to take a detour via the major roads for a short while, and see the car drivers in the queues, which are always much longer and slower when it rains.
Then, when you get home, set the stop watch for 10 minutes (or however much longer you think you would have been in the car), and see how much you can do in that time. Then, if you like, “welcome” yourself home!
Dario
It’s just a splash of water! Like swimming….with gears. Having said that I’d really like this poncho so, yes, keep your eyes shielded (helmet/peak/etc.) and watch the pot holes puddles and dry up quickly afterwards..
Anna Harpham Gist
Boncho looks cool! My top tip: under your lid, wear your buff over your head, ears and chin… when it’s really wet, if you wear your buff covering your mouth it is like being waterboarded.
Chris
Really handy!
Al N
Cool, the issue with ponchos is usually the unraveling, and this cures that neatly
My tip for cycling in the rain, accept you’ll get wet but ensure your change clothes are in a drysack
Mark
Transparent Ponchos and Bonchos would be very helpful. This would with:
Riding at night since the front light is obscured by a coloured one.
Reflective clothing would be visible and make the rider safer.
The rider could see their hands and make using the Poncho/Boncho easier.
A Boncho could well be an improvement over a Poncho when it is wet and windy, stopping the rain from reaching your clothes more effectively because the Boncho doesn’t cling to your body when the wind is blowing.
Matt Roff
Best advice for riding in the wet? Stay indoors! A turbo or one of the sufferfest-licensed studios are great for winter training, or even the velodrome for scoring dry miles.
If you have to go out in the rain (commuting etc), then my advice would be to keep your hands and feet dry. Waterproof socks and overshoes are an essential, as important as a good jacket. Also, mudguards. They ruin the lines and looks of a road bike, but if they help keep you dry, then who cares what it looks like! Above all, stay safe on the wet, slippery roads (particularly over drain covers and the suchlike) and use lights!!
Clare Sheridan
Good idea, looks like a wire round the bottom to keep it off the body.
Riding in the rain wear good waterproofs especially gloves and socks.
Biking in the woods when raining keeps some of the rain off you.
Dave Bundy
I wish I had one of those Boncho poncho’s I live in California and irs been raining more than ever and my bicycle is my only transportation. My advise for riding in the rain is ride slow and even tho it against the law to ride on the side walks I ride on the side walk people in California drive crazy on the rain and I’ve never gotten a ticket for it..
Su
That looks fun as well as practical!
Christopher Kenmore
Just the thing I need to city ride in Scotland
Rob
I would echo Matt’s advice about getting mudguards – they’re more or less essential in this country – and if the weather’s really bad I wear an old fashioned cape (but they’re hard to find these days). A helmet cover will keep your head dry and overshoes for your feet
dig
Yes, we’ve had them before. Not for a very windy day but I would stick a nice wide reflective stripe down the back and front and right round too I guess. For techies it should come with lights too
Paul
Someone suggested riding slow in the rain but if you can cycle fast enough you can evade the raindrops!
And since skin is waterproof why not cycle naked? (Well maybe not when it’s cold!)
Jude Da Silva
I’d LOVE one and wouldn’t feel sartorially challenged! I’m 75!
Francis Voon
Yes. I would like a popupcho!
Dick Willis
I used to wear a cycling cape all the time (when it rained!). Everyone did when I was younger, they’re really practical.
Giorgio P.
I posted a comment yesterday, is there a reason why it hasn’t been published still?
I want to join the boncho–contest as well!
Caroliza
Who dares, Wins! Great colour and will look great against my black beastie! 🙂
saz lockyer
If you’ve got the right gear on, then riding in the rain is almost as good as riding in the sunshine!
Paul Hanson
Simple but effective- a perfect example of Appropriate Technology. Schumacher would be proud of you!
Designer
Avoid oil slicks, mud… and clean your chain, brakes, gears especially (after) if you do have to ride in the wet. Make sure there are sufficient lights on your bike, and your lights are fully functioning (decreased visibility during rainfall means that cars, pedestrians and other vehicles will find it more difficult to see you) – make it easier for them to see you, and more safe for yourself. Have a horn or bell fitted to your bike, and make sure it is working… high rainfall will mean that the sound of your bike is virtually non existent, you will need to warn people and be patient to allow them to move. Have a rear fender fitted (you can even make one using an old softdrink bottle, look on ‘Instructables’ for a how-to guide). Wear comfortable, lightweight gear which will dry easily, and take an extra set of clothes if you will be at a meeting that requires them. Add a Boncho, and you’re all good to go. 🙂
Emily Clough
The Boncho looks worth trying, especially if you cycle in skirts and can’t wear rain trousers.
Darren C
This would at least stop the ‘boil in the bag’ effect of even so called breathable coats, if it’s not too windy!
Sarah Gilly
Invest in some overshoes – keep your feet warm and dry!
Don’t turn on man-hole covers – go straight over – take tram tracks at a perpendicular angle.
Go slowly through puddles – in case of sneaky sink holes (i live in Manchester)
There’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing – so get stuck in and enjoy!
Donald Smith
Get yourself seen! Wear hiviz clothing with plenty of lights front n back….stay safe!!!
Donald Smith
Make yourself visible to all other roadusers around you….hiviz clothing n lots of lights! Be seen be safe!:)
Giorgio P.
So who is the winner?!
[if there has been a winner…]
Mike Holtom
wow the boncho is just what I have been searching for, my sister is terminally I’ll and needs this awesome boncho so she can get out in winter on her mobility scooter……….
TheCyclist
Yes, please. This is just what I need to keep me dry on all my tours around the UK & Eu.
The People’s Poncho
Really interesting info, thanks for sharing.