1st Sportive...In heavy rain!

AdrianStuart

I have my 1st ever sportive on Sunday. Its going to be 60 miles across the Surrey downs.

The forecast is horrendous!! http://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/kt22_0ee

Any seasoned pro's have tips/advice on how to best deal with the conditions.

I do not have a lightweight waterproof jacket but will be buying one on Saturday. Any recommendations?

johnnicebutdim

Hope it goes OK for you!

I'll be starting to do sportives in 2013, hoping to do one a month. The weather is always an issue in this country so to keep things light, I wear an Altura Pocket Rocket and some overshoes but if the rest gets wet....well, it gets wet!

Have fun, you never know, the forecast might be wrong!

johnnicebutdim

BTW, is it the Ibbo's sportive you're doing?

styxd

Lightweight (packable) waterproofs are next to useless if its hammering it down. You need something a bit more substantial. Although heavier jackets can just about fit in a jersey pocket if you roll them up tight enough.

The key is staying warm though, a decent base layer would probably help. And get some good gloves.

Dont do many sportive rides, but the weather on the Fred Whitton a couple of years ago was the worst Ive ridden one in. It was obscene. For near enough 112miles (well it brightened up climbing wrynose pass)

johnnicebutdim

styxd wrote:

The key is staying warm though, a decent base layer would probably help. And get some good gloves.

I agree! Good advice.

drlodge

AdrianStuart wrote:

I have my 1st ever sportive on Sunday. Its going to be 60 miles across the Surrey downs.

QEF Sportive by any chance?

Escher303

Take spare gloves too. Regardless of whether they say they are waterproof they will eventually be wet through and it'll be nice to have dry ones to put on, keep them in a plastic bag in your pocket and swap half way through. I did Le Terrier this year and it chucked it down and was very windy and cold. My hands went completely numb, I had to change gear with my opposite hand (by pulling the lever) as I couldn't do it with numb fingers. I took my gloves off to try and warm them up but they were so numb I then couldn't then get them back on. In fact i didnt get all the feeling back for several weeks as i must have damaged some nerves trying to change gear with no feeling. It was actually warmer with no gloves rather than wet ones. You will get wet through whatever you wear, as others say it is about keeping warm enough. Take a hat you can wear under your helmet, a hat will always help keep you warm. Make sure your core is well protecting from the wind as downhill will chill you very quickly if wet. Shivering isnt good, i kept inducing a speed wobble through uncontrollable shaking. Pray you have lots hills as they are the best way to keep warm, I absolutely froze on the flat. It was a fun day out!

And finally make sure you wet lube your chain. Dry lube will wash off pretty quickly. Have fun!

badly_dubbed

i did 115miles over Shap last week in torrential rain, 7+hrs in it....once your wet (and regardless you will get wet) its actually not that bad...keep cycling and dont stop too long or you get cold quick.

once your out, its ok actually. for me anyway

DHA987S

Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes. Wet feet suck when cycling.

Cleat Eastwood

badly_dubbed wrote:

....once your wet (and regardless you will get wet) its actually not that bad...keep cycling and dont stop too long or you get cold quick.

once your out, its ok actually. for me anyway

DHA987S wrote:

Overshoes, overshoes, overshoes. Wet feet suck when cycling.

both thems 2. I dont mind the rain but when you dry off soggy feet are urrrrgh

AdrianStuart

Cheers for the advice guys, luckily its over the Surrey Hills so plenty of hills to keep me warm.

Was thinking of a hat anyways as I don't want water dripping down my face. And overshoes seems like a great shout!

nickel

Wear a cycling cap to keep the rain out of your eyes, a gillet may be useful on descents if you're wet and descending at speed it can suck the heat out of you.

rolf_f

Assuming you are riding a road bike, I'd try and source some Crud Racer mudguards (Halfords and Evans both should do these) - I reckon overshoes are about 30% of keeping your feet vaguely dry in the wet and mudguards 70% - maybe more.

simona75

I'd also take extra inner tubes, much more likely to get punctures in heavy rain. At the moment the forecast is up
in the air for the south. Big low pressure down in the bay of biscay that may move up to the UK but it's not definite. Hope it stays ok for you

BlakeysFC

AdrianStuart wrote:

Cheers for the advice guys, luckily its over the Surrey Hills so plenty of hills to keep me warm.

Was thinking of a hat anyways as I don't want water dripping down my face. And overshoes seems like a great shout!

Is it the Ibbo's Cake Quest you're doing by any chance?

AdrianStuart

BlakeysFC wrote:

AdrianStuart wrote:

Cheers for the advice guys, luckily its over the Surrey Hills so plenty of hills to keep me warm.

Was thinking of a hat anyways as I don't want water dripping down my face. And overshoes seems like a great shout!

Is it the Ibbo's Cake Quest you're doing by any chance?

No it's the QEF Santini 60 Mile Sportive.

blackpoolkev

I worked with a bloke about 30 years ago,we cycled together on parts of our commute.He gve me a little gem of advice that I think works well-"The less you wear,the less there is to get wet"
I did the Lancashire Hot Pot Sportive on Sunday in torrential rain,I wore a merino base layer with an Altura waterproof jacket.The jacket kept me dry for a while but when the water gets in,extra layers are a hinderance.If you're feeling brave,shorts may well feel better than trying to keep your legs and feet dry.
At this time of year,a steady effort should keep you warm(ish).