Best waterproof proposition

okgo

Money no object, you want to stay dry, but also go fast and potentially far, what do you buy?

So:

Jacket?
Tights?
Socks?
Overshoes?
Gloves?

I intend to buy the proper set up for next winter as I did the whole of this one in 3/4 and it didn't really rain much, so what is the best stuff out there do we think?

team47b

"Money no object"

Move.

okgo

Haha, I may be able to find a few hundred quid for kit, I certainly can't up sticks to Tuscany just yet.

ajb72

Love my Rapha waterproof jacket. Never let me down even in the worst weather and the lining keeps it from getting too sweaty.

graeme_s-2

I remember one of the first articles I read about commuting by bike had a very accurate sentence about cycling in the rain:

"If it rains you will, ultimately, get wet - it's just a matter of how wet, how quickly"

estampida

as far as I am aware skin is waterproof :roll:

graeme_s-2

estampida wrote:

as far as I am aware skin is waterproof :roll:

This is also true. Unless you're the Wicked Witch of the West I'd concentrate on keeping warm once you're wet (merino wool is your friend).

ajb72

Graeme_S wrote:

estampida wrote:

as far as I am aware skin is waterproof :roll:

This is also true. Unless you're the Wicked Witch of the West I'd concentrate on keeping warm once you're wet (merino wool is your friend).

I find this attitude a bit odd. Skin may be waterproof but it's no fun getting soaked to the skin then riding for hours waiting for hypothermia to set in. As for merino wool, it will wick up to a point but once soaked holds water like a sponge next to the skin.

graeme_s-2

ajb72 wrote:

Graeme_S wrote:

Unless you're the Wicked Witch of the West I'd concentrate on keeping warm once you're wet (merino wool is your friend).

I find this attitude a bit odd. Skin may be waterproof but it's no fun getting soaked to the skin then riding for hours waiting for hypothermia to set in. As for merino wool, it will wick up to a point but once soaked holds water like a sponge next to the skin.

Merino does hold water (although it dries quickly once the rain passes), but it will keep you warm when it's wet. It actually has better heat retention properties when wet than it does when dry. When doing early Spring open water swim training I often wear a merino base layer or vest under my wet suit.

ajb72

Fair point re merino. My confusion is more as to why someone would deliberately not wear a waterproof in the current conditions.

graeme_s-2

I find with the current conditions I can be a bit prone to overheating with a water proof. It's hard to find the right balance between insulation, breathability and water proofness. I've been riding to work and back mostly in my Rapha soft shell, but unless it's really battering it down with rain I prefer along sleeved merino/nylon blend winter jersey with a merino base layer underneath. Sometimes I get wet, but I stay warm.

Hoopdriver

I like my Rapha softshell for most occasions. Breathable and water resistant to a surprising degree.

I do a fair bit of touring and if I am going to be out in the pouring rain all day without a let-up I take a Gore Fusion jacket. They are pricey and MBT-cut so perhaps not what you are looking for if you want a race-style jacket, but it is waterproof and with the pit-zips open comes as near to breathable as any waterproof jacket I've come across yet. Much above 12C-15C you might find it warmish, though.

okgo

And what about tights and overshoes?

Seems no matter what happens my overshoes don't keep it out...

DesB3rd

"My confusion is more as to why someone would deliberately not wear a waterproof in the current conditions."

Unless I'm going out the door into a downpour (i.e. never) I wouldn't do waterproofs, I find the experience beading up from the inside more unpleasant that getting damp from without. As others have noted wet isn't the problem, cold is, a windproof outer keeps the rate of saturation down and mitigates heat losses from evaporative cooling, thus achieves the desired effect and unlike a full WP won't stop your gear drying if/when the rain stops. However I still find windproofs too hot most of the time...

nevman

Begs the question then,what is the best windproof top to wear-guess this question is on most of our minds at present?Got a windtex but it also just acts as a sponge in the rain?

sturmey

'fraid most windproofs are just not going to keep you dry in steady rain unless it's just a 15 minute commute.

Ber Nard

Bought this Mavic jacket a couple of weeks ago and I've had ample opportunity to test it since.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mav ... t-ec035905

I was of the mentality that staying warm was all that mattered and waterproofs were expensive and unnecessary. I've changed my mind now.The jacket is properly waterproof, surprisingly breathable and well vented including a clever double zip set up on the front and effective vents on the forearms.

Worth every penny at the price Evans is selling them at.

Rob

kangarouge

Though it is getting nearer to summer andgenerally getting warmer, I'd recommend some neoprene over boots. That way you will be ready for the autumn and winter.

They're the best thing since sliced ......

Heavy duty BBB work for me.

Bordersroadie

Today I did a 4 hour ride in properly pissing-down rain and a strong northerly wind, 6 degrees C, minus the windchill.

I opted for the boil-in-the bag approach, non-breathing waterproof Altura jacket with a few wicking layers under, which soon started filling with condensed sweat, but the windproofness of the shell kept me warm. It was a bit like wearing a wetsuit, with a thin layer of body-temp water (God knows how much it all weighed!) and I knew it would rain the entire route so drying out was not a need to be considered.

I had overshoes on, underneath which I had plastic bags over my shoes, duct-taped to my skin to avoid the trickle effect. Crude, but surprisingly effective, my feet were bone dry and not cold after 4 hours of constant rain. I'd not tried it before and have ALWAYS ended up with cold, wet feet in these conditions.

Oh, and mudguards, with a proper long flap on the front. Makes a huge difference.

mr_eddy

for feet, 2 x thin socks then 2 x shopping bags then put tights/trousers over top. Tuck plastic bags into shoes.

Best waterproof system I have found.

Monty Dog

Just accept nothing is going to keep you dry - it'll either come from the outside or you'll just sweat-up from the inside. The key thing is to keep warm and the thermal properties of a thin, hardshell jacket are zilch - better off with a thermal jacket with a degree of showerproofness and keeping your core-body and upper arms warm - keep moving and your leg muscles generate enough heat to not worry about the legs, but most importantly keeping your hands, and feet warm by clothing them in neoprene. One thing I've learn from experience is that I start feeling the cold on my thighs, it's time to head for shelter / home. I've had many a salutory lesson like riding in the Alps and Ardennes in the pouring rain - when your teeth start chattering, your arms trembling on downhills making it hard to steer and hold the brakes mid-way through a 200km ride you know the day is going to be 'epic'.

klep

Monty Dog wrote:

when your teeth start chattering, your arms trembling on downhills making it hard to steer and hold the brakes mid-way through a 200km ride you know the day is going to be 'epic'.

I had such day yetserday when I decided to take a train back homa after 110km... I was wearing a short sleeved jersey, short bibs with leg warmers and mitts. No overshoes at all. I was freezing my all-soaked toes and everytime I had to hit the brakes I had to look if my fingers were positioned correctly cause I couldnt feel them anymore. It felt lame to take a train but at some point it's just not fun anymore...

So now I am also looking for tips on some closed gloves, arm warmers and shoe covers.
The info I've read so far hels alot since I was thinking of going full waterproof at first. But it seems staying warm is the best way to go.

Any suggestions on arm warmers, gloves and overshoes? Unline okgo I do have a limited budget...

godders1

Armwarmers:

http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... 43&ID=2078

Shoe covers:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CLP ... _overshoes

samsbike

Gosh cycling is more of a faff then motorcycling

Sam