wet weather cycling

Xxthreelionsxx

hope some can help i have just been out and got caught in a really enjoyable downpour and after getting soaking wet i have decided to buy some waterproof gear and was wondering what you guys and girls use to keep dry any ideas would be appreciated

Rich Hcp

What's wet weather riding?

bompington

Rich Hcp wrote:

What's wet weather riding?

You mean there's another sort of riding?

prawny

Just get wet, unless it's really cold. Then I've got a Gore Path jacket.

Spring and summer rain, I use arm warmers knee warmers and a gilet to keep the chill of cold bits.

Scrumple

race cape / decent gilet in summer, tucked in the pocket. Arm warmers.

If it is terrible, you just get soaked. If you know it is going to be terrible, then gore shoes/socks, and a decent but £££ jacket like gore/event.

DO NOT buy a thick waterproof as you can't carry them anywhere and you'll never use it. I have a Gore Oxygen (not the softshell) and it hardly ever gets used as it hardly ever rains hard enough - and when it does I drive.

willbevan

last winter I wandered into a local bike shop that had a sale on assos kit with the intentino of getting a good winter assos jacket... 40% off you see!

Didn't have one in my size, but they had mavic kit, bought a MAvic Inferno jacket (for when its very cold) and a Mavic Hydro jacket for when its tipping it down.

Been very impressed by it, add in a cyclone buff (some goretex stuff in it), some seal skin socks and overshoes and some semi water proof gloves (I carry two pairs, to swap half way round) and hey presto 60 miles later in a down poor I get home, loved the ride, kept my fitness and never fear the rain again....

Won't go out in the ice mind you, I fear the ice! Turbo then, not worth the risk of coming off (I have in the past and been off the bike for a couple of weeks)

Think I am going to buy some assos winter gloves (the glove system) and the mavic hydro tights in the next couple of weeks to get prepared.

small_bloke

previous reply from Scrumple is right. Don't buy a thick jacket, you'll hardly get any use.

I bought an Altura Ergo fit jacket in Jan 2010 and only used it 2 days in the last 7 months. No lining but material is slightly thicker and not ultra-packable. It was slightly too thick for packing in your jersey pocket and didn't bother if the chance of rain was going to be 50/50. If there is a chance of rain in the summer then I just used a cheap waterproof £10 cycling jacket from Lidl. Its so thin it packs into nothing. Again only used it 2 days in last 4 months.

I keep a keen eye on weather reports and work from home if I know 100% chance of heavy rain. If I definately have to travel in the rain then I take the waterproof jacket in a small backpack along with overshoes. Put the mudguards on bike night before.

In summer it isn't that bad when you get a little wet. But is horrible in the winter.

I read a statistic somewhere you'll only ever get caught cycling in the rain 6 days a year. I didn't believe it first? However its starting to become true in my case.

In my opinion, for summer, buy a cheap waterproof for a tenner that fits tight and packs really small. Agreed not breathable, but who cares for a 30min journey. Who cares how it looks, your only going to get wet in it. Nothing looks good on a bike when its pouring down with rain. I regret spending £80 on a waterproof jacket thats not used.

I would definately buy a windstopper jacket though. This gets used 5 months of the year in winter and resists light rain. No good for summer though.

i don't have anything for legs. Haven't decided on that one yet.

rick_chasey

Cotton cap is a must for me for when it's wet.

prawny

Rick Chasey wrote:

Cotton cap is a must for me for when it's wet.

+1 the only essential wet weather item for me. Everything else I can live without but I really notice not having a cap on.

1_reaper

If it's raining i ain't training :oops:

gavintc

I used to cycle in the wet when I lived in Scotland and like others I learnt to use a lightweight waterproof. I do not think you will find one that really is fully breathable when you are working hard. In addition, I used overshoes. But, the rest of me - just got wet.

Over here in Italy, I tried cycling in the wet, but the dangers of riding into water filled and covered potholes make it unwise . So I will only cycle back from a ride when the rain starts mid ride, or in light rain.

father_jack

If it's warm and rainy I don't bother with putting on the waterproofs, except for the overshoes and waterproof gloves (for grip in the wet). But if it's cold as well or really heavy (which will cool you down a lot) then jacket then maybe a non windproof jacket underneath, waterproof gloves, trousers, overshoes. Baseball cap to block out the rain from my eyes.

SBezza

I got caught in a downpour at the weekend, luckily it was still warmish, as I only had a short sleeved jersey on. I just got wet, but proper cycle clothes dry out really quickly when the rain stops, with the exception of the socks, these I just had to grin and bear it.

Thing is, unless you are going to take all the waterproof items with you, sometimes you will just have to accept getting wet.

If it is raining before a ride, then try and keep as dry as possible, but make sure the clothing is light, and layer up if it is cold.

rick_chasey

A few thin layers is always more useful on a bike than one or two thick ones.

Arm warmers, cotton cap, windbreaker vest thing are musts for me - very flexible, useful in many conditions.

A lightweight, foldable thin rain jacket, one that you can roll up into the size of a golfball is also handy - will suffice for all but the toughest rain, and no hassle to bring along.

Dancing Bear

if its wet - stay indoors! wait until it stops

I realise that wont help you Northern types.... but thats just fate - bad luck !