What to Wear?

markos1963

100 mile ride on sunday(Norwich 100) and the forecast says RAIN But what do I wear? Its going to be relatively warm and I hate getting too hot. Do I bite the bullet and not wear a waterproof as I'm going to get hot and sweaty or am I risking a chill and poor performance by not wearing it? I cerrtainly won't bother wearing longs as I don't have mudguards on the bike I'm using but will be wearing overshoes as I hate wet feet.

father_jack

warm + wet = just the lycra. cold + wet = waterproofs. I would not bike in heavy rain without mudguards.

Anonymous

Rapha stowaway in case it gets a little chilly.

BMX Bear

It'll be shorts and a jersey for me, possibly wear a base layer, I won't wear a waterproof, I don't have an ultra lightweight one and don't fancy boiling in the bag

nolf

Gilet is the best compromise. Won't keep you dry but if it turns chilly then it will keep you warm when you are wet, or when you're stopped at feed stations etc. Also smaller than a coat and easily fits in a back pocket.

fnegroni

When I commute and it rains all the way, I put a Polaris Aqualite waterproof lightweight jacket on top of my jersey, and overshoes.
As long as it gets wet, this particular jacket does not make me overheat, as the rain seems to cool down the jacket which in turn cools me down. This is as long as I wear a short sleeve jersey and base layer underneath.
I have an 80 mile training ride on Sunday too, and that's what I am going to wear.
And I don't have mudguards, yet no spray on my back. The rain gets me wet enough everywhere else though, including my hair.
The aqualite packs in its own back pocket, and easily fits in my jersey's middle pocket.

markos1963 wrote:

100 mile ride on sunday(Norwich 100) and the forecast says RAIN But what do I wear? Its going to be relatively warm and I hate getting too hot. Do I bite the bullet and not wear a waterproof as I'm going to get hot and sweaty or am I risking a chill and poor performance by not wearing it? I cerrtainly won't bother wearing longs as I don't have mudguards on the bike I'm using but will be wearing overshoes as I hate wet feet.

If you are going to give it some, I think you would be ok without the waterproof.
Just make sure you get changed and dry off as soon as you stop: it is the cooling down afterwards that gets you ill.

whyamihere

Get one of the tiny little packable waterproof jackets and stick it into your jersey packet. They go down to about the size of an apple, so you won't even notice you have it unless you need it.

markos1963

Probabaly gonna go with a long sleeve jersey and a gilet and overshoes with my bib shorts. However if its really bad I'll wear a jacket and hope for the best.