Product test
Does it all just make you sick? Pikosch removal powder review
by Martin Rupf
Dr. Dry by Dynamic Bike Care: silver bullet or white elephant?
24.10.2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
So autumn’s decided to show up after all. As a cyclist, I’m not happy about that. Why? Because the transition from summer to autumn also means rain. This, in turn, equals cold and wet bike tours. Maybe the alleged miracle spray by Dynamic Bike Care will help.
I realised this again recently, when I naively got on my gravel bike without checking my weather app first. The last time I checked it must’ve been about six months ago. It’s always been sunny anyway, right? Not this time. About fifteen minutes into my ride, the rain set in. Rain? What’s that, pray tell. In any case, it drove me home an hour later, drenched and freezing. Wet always equals cold when you’re on your bike.
Maybe I’ve lost my thick skin after cycling around in hot temperatures for half a year. In any case, I found twelve degrees Celsius combined with feeling damp extremely unpleasant.
Dr. Dry sounds like hip-hop
At home, I remembered a product that’s been sitting in the bike cellar for weeks waiting for some rain:
A silver bullet?
How to use it
The surface you want to spray must be clean and not washed with fabric softeners or other additives before you treat it with Dr. Dry. Apply generously, making sure you soak the surface completely with the spray. This is to ensure all fibres are covered with a protective layer. That way you’ll achieve the best results and increase the durability of the spray. Allow to dry for 24 hours after application.
According to the manufacturer, the effect of the coating decreases by about 20 per cent with every wash cycle. To maximise durability, wash with a mild detergent without fabric softener or other additives. Reapply after about five washes or sooner if needed.
Rain on my parade, please!
The next bout of rain was here soon. For once, I was really happy about it. I set off at 1 p.m., freshly sprayed with Dr. Dry. As predicted, the rain ensued just a few minutes later. Thank you, precise weather app. The scattered drops turned into one of those light drizzles. The kind that makes you think, «I don’t need an umbrella» before running home soaking wet half an hour later.
En route, I didn’t leave out a single puddle. I’d usually avoid those like the plague. Meanwhile, the light drizzle had turned into a gentle rainfall. And so, I made my way home again after an hour. Enough masochism for one day.
First impression: yes, but ...
Back home, it was time to draw a conclusion.
And now for the negatives. My feet got wet again. In spite of the fact that I sprayed both the shoes and socks with Dr. Dry. Biking with wet feet sucks. It seems there’s no way around wearing shoe covers. And before another heated discussion kicks off, here are the reasons why:
Lastly, there’s the bike pants with my behind in them. That got wet again, too. The spray seems to have worked a bit on the legs, but it was powerless against the spray from below, despite spraying about a quarter of the 300 millilitre bottle on the pants, socks, jacket and gloves.
According to the manufacturer, the product should be applied generously and the surface you’re treating needs to be completely soaked with the spray each time. But how much «generous» is, is always going to be a rough guess. As I already mentioned, I used about a quarter of the bottle. After five washes, I should repeat the process according to Dynamic Bike Care. In other words, the 300-millilitre bottle will last about 20 washes. Or a good two months in my case.
So my first impression of Dr. Dry by Dynamic Bike Care is mixed. While it definitely kept the damp out of my gloves and jacket, the bike pants were only protected to a certain extent and my shoes and socks weren’t kept dry at all. To be fair, I only tested the product once. I’ll certainly give it another chance this autumn.
PS: it’s time to switch from summer to winter clothes. And from Castelli to Assos. More on that shortly.
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
Outdoor
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Bike
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
