My Burley shoe covers are now starting to wear out — I repaired both with duct tape this week — and unfortunately the company does not make them any more. I am starting to look for other options. Here are two:

Showers Pass. makes a cover similar to Burley’s. I can’t vouch for them, having never used them, but here’s someone else’s review.

J&G also makes a waterproof shoe cover. Theirs is a little cheaper, and comes in more sizes.

J&G also makes a waterproof shoe cover. Theirs is a little cheaper, and comes in more sizes.

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Hey, this is nice news. I’ve told you how much I love my Burley shoe covers — they are still keeping out rain after a couple of years of everyday-commuting use.

I have looked online for these shoe covers a couple of times and have found only odd sizes. So this is good news, from Go Bent Bikes:

“I was browsing the net to list our shoe covers on ebay. and i came across your site! Just wanted to let you know that WE still have Burley Shoe Covers! =D ( M, L, XL, XXL)”

I can’t vouch for the seller, but I CAN vouch for the shoe covers!

If there are more good sources out there for this great product, please let me know and I will pass them along.

Today, with wind, steady rain and a temperature of 32 degrees, I am guessing that there will be plenty of good spaces available. The Sears 3-speed will be there — it always is, I’m not sure anyone actually rides it — and that will be about it.

Speaking of wet weather, here’s an update on my O2 rain jacket and pants and my Burley shoe covers: They’re all still holding up great. I’ve been riding in some fairly serious rain this month, and there are no signs of leaks.

The O2 rain pants tore a bit after I caught them on my front derailer. I covered the tear with duct tape, applied from inside the pants, and it’s working fine.

You might remember that AOL phone call, when the rep simply refused to cancel a poor guy’s service. It was a PR disaster.

But then there are times when a company stands behind its product — no dissembling, no waffling, simply: We are better than that. We will prove it to you.

I’m happy to report a prime, praiseworthy example of the latter in the case of the leaking rain pants.

Last month I gave a favorable review to my O2 3Flow rain pants. Soon after that, they leaked on a couple of rides. I e-mailed company owner Adam Ziskin and informed him of the problem.

He e-mailed back and asked for a little more information.I provided it.

He asked for the size. I gave it.

I will put some pants in the mail, he said.

That was it! I got the pants a few days later.

There several things to note here, and all of them speak well of Ziskin.

First of all, he’s not afraid to put his own e-mail address on the company Web site.

Second, he responded within a few days of my original message. (You might be surprised at how few cycling-related companies answer their e-mail.)

Third, after I responded, he followed up.

Fourth, he kept after the problem until it was fixed (if you’re counting, he wrote me a total of four messages — at least two of them on the same day, within hours of each other).

Fifth, he made no excuses, and he didn’t blame the customer.

Look, nobody’s product is perfect. Even the best stuff is going to fail from time to time. Somewhere, someplace, somebody is going to screw up. Quality control is going to fail. The question is, how well will a company respond when that happens?

It’s about trust.

Will the company seize the chance to keep a customer, and defend its name?

I own four Rainshield garments. Three have been excellent. The fourth failed — but it was replaced with minimal hassle.

That means I can continue to recommend Rainshield, and I will continue to buy its products. And I will do both with confidence.

Mr. Ziskin, I applaud the way you do business, and I hope you succeed wildly.

Willing to give the manufacturer, Rainshield, a chance to stand by its product, I sent an e-mail to company president Adam Ziskin, which you can read here.

Since I don’t have Ziskin’s permission to reprint his e-mail verbatim, I will not quote from it directly. He asked for more information about the leak, and asked whether I had tried waterproofing the area in question myself.

He also said he did not want to make a customer unhappy over a small issue, and assured me that he supports the shop where I bought the pants, as well as its customers.

Here is what I sent in reply yesterday:

Mr. Ziskin, thanks for the gracious response. I did some checking after receiving your e-mail, and here is what I found out:

It turns out I overestimated how long I have owned the pants. I checked with Pedal the Planet, and the purchase date is May 1, 2006.

The only information I could find on the tag that might help you says “LT 07-05.” These are the black pants with the O2 logo on the left leg; a back zipper pocket and a smaller velcroed front pocket; and articulated legs with zippers at the bottoms.

There are no tears of any kind visible on the pants. They have never been through the washing machine, and they have spent no extended time in sunlight. In fact, the only time I wear them is during a half-hour bike commute, from home to work, and then from work to home.

As I prefer to wear your lighter-weight pants when it is warm or hot, the 3Flow pants have seen relatively little use and show virtually no sign of wear.

I offer this information in the spirit of continuing the dialogue about what might be done to rectify the situation. As I own your 3Flow jacket and the Cycling Series jacket and matching pants, all of which are excellent products that I recommend heartily, I know that my pants’ leaking after fairly light use does not meet your company’s standards.

Thanks again for your consideration!

To Mr. Ziskin’s credit, he responded yesterday with an offer to replace the pants, asking me the size and writing that he would send some right away.

So far, I am impressed. I will let you know the end of the story.

I am giving the company a chance to respond properly, and my continuing recommendation of the pants depends on their response.

Below I am reprinting the e-mail I just sent to Adam Ziskin, owner of Rainshield, which manufactures the pants.

I will let you know when I get a reply.

Dear Mr. Ziskin:

I have owned a pair of your 3Flow Performance Series rain pants for about two years. (I also own the 3Flow jacket, and the Cycling Series jacket and pants.)

I wear the pants as needed, over my work clothes, during my daily bicycle commute of 3 miles each way. They did their job well, until recently.

During several recent rides to work in rain, the pants leaked water through the right leg. My pants were wet behind the knee and down the calf.

For rain pants from a company as reputable as yours, with the relatively light use my pants have gotten, this might be considered less-than-desirable performance, and I am wondering what remedy RainShield might offer.

Thanks for considering my correspondence.

This is a review of the 3Flow Performance Series pants by Rainshield Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn.

PRICE: About $70 online (1, 2, 3). They’re listed for $55 here, which would be a great deal.

BACKGROUND: I have been wearing these for more than a year, as the weather demands, on my daily commute. The pants come in five sizes, small through XXL. I have a 33-inch inseam, and the Large fits me perfectly. (There is a sizing chart on the company Web page, look on the lower right-hand corner of each product description.) Rainshield says it makes these pants out of 3Flow Performance Series fabric; the tag on them says “Outershell: 100% Nylon.” The seams are sealed. They come in any color you want, as long as it’s black.

PROS: Let’s take ‘em from top to bottom:

• A drawstring lets you adjust the waist size.
• A zippered, full-size back pocket (pictured, bottom right) and a small velcroed front pocket (pictured second from bottom) give you places to stow little stuff.
• The pantlegs seem to have extra material around the knees; they are made to fit best when you are on the bike.
• Elasticized cuffs fit snugly around the ankles.
• Zippers at the bottom of the pantlegs make it easy to get the pants on and off while wearing shoes. And the cut is roomy enough that there is no problem putting these on over my work clothes.

I have ridden with these pants in heavy weather, and they have never failed to keep me dry. They can be rolled up tightly to fit into a pannier. And the material is substantial; it looks as if it could withstand lots of abuse. I’ve worn my pants quite a bit, and there’s not a blemish on them.

I frequently wear these on cold days when it’s not raining or snowing, just to provide a windproof outer layer for warmth.

CONS: I don’t recommend these pants for riding in warm/hot weather — when it gets over about 75 degrees, I switch over to my O2 Rainwear pants, which are lighter-weight and seem to breathe better. If you’re concerned about sweating, these pants just are not suitable for summer riding, in my experience — and I don’t usually mash the pedals or ride more than 3 miles at a time.

VERDICT: I don’t consider these pants to be year-rounders, but I wholeheartedly recommend them for what they do provide: Excellent protection from rain and cold; durability; a very comfortable fit; and every feature you could want.

[MORE REVIEWS OF CYCLING GEAR]

PRICE: $20.99-$26.99 online (1, 2)

BACKGROUND: Over the past two years or so, I have worn these mostly on warm or hot days with my O2 Cycling Series rain jacket. Check here to read about my daily ride to work. The pants come in six sizes, ranging from Small to XXL; there is a size chart on the manufacturer’s site (look to the right on the last line of each product description), but proceed with caution (see below).

PROS: I have never gotten wet wearing these pants, even in heavy rain. They pack tightly into a stuff sack that comes with them. A full cut makes the pants easy to put on over my work clothes. The material wears well: While it seems as if it might be fragile — and my O2 jacket, made out of the same material, has torn at the cuffs — I have not torn the pants.

CAUTION ABOUT FIT AND SIZING: The pantlegs ride up significantly when you get on the bike, and mine are too short. To keep my pants dry when wearing these rain pants, I have to tuck my pantlegs into my socks, or tuck them into my Burley shoe covers. If you’re buying these pants, make sure they bunch up on your shoetops. Mine just touch my shoes. I got the size Large, but I should have gotten the XL. (My inseam is 33 inches.) Bottom line: It would be OK with me if the waist were a little too big, in order for the legs to be the right length.

CONS: The dork factor. It doesn’t much matter to me how I look while riding, as long as I’m comfortable. But if you’re at all concerned about Fashion, take note: You WILL look like a dweeb when covered from head to toe in reflective yellow. If you care about this, buy some black rain pants to go with your yellow top. Also: There are no pockets. The pants’ durability might be a problem, although it hasn’t been for me. I advise against pulling hard on them, or jamming your shoes into the legs while putting them on.

VERDICT: As long as these pants fit you, I can’t think of a good reason not to buy them (leaving aside the dork factor). They could serve a purpose for just about any type of rider. I recommend them highly to those just getting into cycling and those who are just starting to commute. For everyday commuters, these are perfect for carrying in a bag just in case it rains, because they pack so well.

OTHERS’ REVIEWS: The only ones I have seen are written by walkers or backpackers. If you find another review by a cyclist, let me know and I will link to it.

LIST PRICE: $25.59-$34 online (1, 2, 3, 4).

BACKGROUND: I bought this jacket, along with the O2 Rainwear pants, about two years ago. I wear it during a commute of three miles, and about a half-hour, each way. I ride in the clothes I wear at work. This jacket comes in five sizes; there is a size chart on the company’s Web page (it’s on the lower right of each product description). I wear a size 42 suit jacket, and the XL fits me fine. The jacket relies on a laminate made with polypropylene. The company calls it “microporous film.”

PROS: I have worn the jacket in lots of rainstorms, and it has performed almost flawlessly. In very heavy rain — and I mean VERY heavy — I have gotten a little wet around the collar, because the collar is a bit loose for me. The jacket is lightweight (the manufacturer says it weighs 5 ounces). It packs tightly into a stuff sack that comes with it (below, next to an average-size Bible). The jacket generally breathes well. The color stands out well enough to provide visibility in traffic. The material feels a bit papery-roughish on the skin, but it’s not uncomfortable. The jacket is longer in back than in front, to keep you covered as you lean over the handlebars.

CONS: The jacket does not have a cinch at the waist, nor does it have pockets. It also has no hood, which I consider a benefit but others might not. Because the jacket is light, I tend to wear it only on warm/hot days. On cold days, I like to wear as few layers as possible, and I can get away with wearing a heavier rain jacket over a turtleneck (if I were to wear the 02 jacket, I would need another layer). The 02 jacket is prone to tearing; the material on my jacket has started to shred at the cuffs (see center photo at right).

VERDICT: This jacket provides excellent protection from the rain. As for comfort, it would be fine in the cold with enough layers under it, and it works great in warm-to-hot weather. I’m not saying you won’t sweat in this jacket, but it breathes well enough that you will be drier with it than without it during a slow to medium-paced commuting ride on a wet spring or summer day.

Since it can be rolled up tightly, it’s perfect for carrying in a bag every day. Under heavy use, durability could be a problem.

If you plan to carry it just in case, or wear it only on warm or hot days, both of which I do, I highly recommend it. I very highly recommend it if you are just getting into cycling, and you need something that will keep you dry at a reasonable cost.

In fact, I can hardly imagine that you will do better than this performance at this price. You can always buy a heavier-duty jacket (spending three to five times as much) later if you want to.

OTHER REVIEWS: Amazon.com; especially note Kent Peterson’s review, he says he does a lot of riding and recommends the jacket even more highly than I do. Here is a great discussion of this jacket and others.

It’s less fun to walk around the office in your socks, while your shoes sit under your desk stuffed with newspapers, because they dry quicker that way. (Yes, I KNOW this is goofy, but I have done it.)

I’ve tried hauling an extra pair of shoes and socks on my rear rack, double-bagged with plastic shopping bags. I’ve tried keeping a dry pair of shoes and socks at work as a backup. And I have tried riding with plastic bags over my feet.

All of these methods work, to a greater or lesser extent. But by far the best things I’ve done to keep the dogs dry is to buy a pair of shoe covers.

Mine are nylon, with a zipper up the side (that’s them in the picture). They are made by Burley, and they are great; unfortunately, Burley is no longer making raingear. (If you wear an extra-small, you might be in business — Lexington’s own Pedal the Planet and this site still list the Burley shoe covers in this size.)

However, there are other options. Check here for shoe covers that look similar to mine (I have never tried any of them, but if I were going to, I would pick this one), or Peter White sells rewaterproofable waxed cotton Carradice Duxback shoe covers (see a picture of them here).

Shoe covers generally cost $30 to $50. If I were buying the covers now, I would try the Carradice model. It costs $23 from Peter (shipping not included).

This is an essential piece of gear for everyday riding, especially if you want to wear your work shoes on the bike. A good pair of shoe covers will keep your feet completely dry. I have worn the Burleys in some torrential downpours over several years and they have not failed me yet.