When I saw a sewing pattern for this cape, I thought it might work very well for a cyclist, particularly because of the waist cinch, which should hold the cape in place effectively:
I’ve made it in a lightweight PUL material; it’s a coated poly knit that flows nicely, without a hint of stiffness, and is allegedly both waterproof and somewhat breathable. I’m not sure I’d like to cycle in a heavier, winter cape, but this one should be fine for rainy or misty days. Here’s the back view:
There’ aren’t any pockets, because I don’t want any extra weight to encumber either it or me.
I figured that smaller Brompton wheels should ensure that there’s no chance of a short cape like this getting tangled, but there’s plenty of rear coverage for a short person like me:
I made this before Basil arrived, and can report that it’s quite comfortable for cycling. Thanks to the belt, there’s no “wind sail” effect, and the “wings” are just large enough for the right amount of arm motion, but not so big that they flap, or contribute much of anything to slowing me down.
PUL is no Gore-Tex, but the open nature of this garment means that I get some of the benefits of a Gore-Tex-like fabric without the substantial expense. The cape is perfect for damp days when I don’t want to go the whole waterproofing route (as a recreational rider, that’s not going to be a huge part of my cycling life), and it might be an excellent top layer on wintry days, as well.
By the way, the cape is approximately the color of the old, glossy, Brompton yellow. You can see how different the new matte yellow is in the third picture above. The new yellow is really more consonant with the high viz green I’m wearing beneath the cape.