UNDER-COVER / The Bike Umbrella

  • December 5, 2021

The problem

Which passionate cyclist doesn't look longingly towards the car when it rains: the annoying dance with rain pants - shouldn't I pack a change of T-shirt, because you're usually sweaty even after short journeys. Or the near-accidents when the cape gets tangled up on the handlebars and what to do with the wet rag when you get there halfway dry? In short: rain and cycling, there is no really satisfactory solution.

The solution

That was the initial situation that kept me thinking about an alternative. What does a running person do when it rains? That's right, he usually uses an umbrella, a portable roof that can be folded compactly and has been tried and tested for more than a thousand years. And some daring people even use the umbrella while cycling: the umbrella in one hand, far above their head. So it becomes a risky balancing act that offers no real protection against the rain, which usually comes diagonally from the front. But how about an umbrella roof that is stretched in front of the body and extends back over the shoulders, attached to the bicycle frame? And you also have to be able to look, the screen would have to be transparent. Plastic material wetted with water doesn't really offer good visibility; a windshield wiper would be needed... The solution: The umbrella has a recess through which the head is inserted. There is a clear all-round view. A sewn-on, well-sized hood and you're almost done. A few more construction details: A holder that fits standard bicycle frames and to which the umbrella can be attached with just one hand. And a telescopic mechanism for the long umbrella poles, which reach almost one and a half meters back over the shoulders. The umbrella can be pushed and folded to approx. 70 cm. Stored in a case and attached to the bike frame, it is available and ready for use at any time.

The advantages

The protected design is characterized by:

  • Cycling in the rain in everyday clothes
  • Universal bracket enables attachment to almost all bicycle frames
  • The distance between the canopy and the body offers freedom of movement and prevents excessive sweating as with normal rainwear
  • Head position above the canopy ensures an unrestricted view
  • Easy to use and quick to set up in less than a minute
  • Compact storage in a case thanks to the folding and telescopic mechanism
  • The umbrella in the sleeve can be attached to the frame with Velcro straps and is therefore always available

Further information on www.under-cover.biz