Shower proofing - jacket vs gilet

powenb

Hi all

I'm after some on advice.

A 60 mile ride, it's 12/13 degrees, warm enough to get away with wearing my windproof base layer, short sleeve jersey with arm warmers, and shorts with knee warmers. The forecast is showers.

I did buy a Gore Oxygen jacket which is an amazing waterproof but (in my eyes) not packable enough to be squashed down into already quite full jersey pockets.
I've also bought a DHB Cosmo jacket and a DHB Wisp gilet
The question is which do I send back, and which do I keep?

I'm thinking the Gore is excellent but more of an all day in the rain jacket, it's also frickin' expensive!!
The Cosmo is meant to be almost as breathable as the Gore and rolls up pretty small, but feels to me like it might get quite sweaty.
The Wisp is water resistant and will obviously be very breathable.

Please let me know your thoughts as I want to keep my wardrobe choices quite simple.

Thanks

slowbike

If you're working hard you will generate heat.

A full waterproof jacket will make you sweat - so you'll get wet if you wear it - unless it's really cold and you only have a light base layer on underneath - but then you'll be cold ..

Rain soaks into clothing - your body heat heats the water, the wind on the clothing cools the water and you lose heat quickly.

We did the Etape Loch Ness this year - Gore were lending out jackets and I picked up an Oxygen - we had a bit of rain, but nothing substantial. As I was riding with Mrs SB, most of the time I was cruising easily - but when I did put the effort in (stopped to change camera battery) I got sweaty quite quickly. Had I been on a solo or fast group ride then this jacket would've been far too hot.

I've also done a ride in the rain in my (old) normal gear - once my arms got wet they got cold quite quickly - that was horrible - especially as the arms weren't tight so were cooling down far more than my arms. I purchased Sportful No Rain Arm warmers as a result - these fit tight against the arm - I've not fully tested the waterproofness of them, but they've got damp and keep my arms a lot warmer than the normal long arm jersey sleeves.

So you've got a decision to make - 60 miles with showers is possible with any of the kit and I wouldn't want to be spending £xxx on clothing just to suit that ride, however, that may be typical of the rides you're intending to undertake.

goonz

The wind proof will do a decent enough job of keeping you dryish and keep the wind off while you dry up. Not really worth buying anything else IMO.

drlodge

The gilet is an excellent piece of kit, it will keep the wind of your chest and the worst of any rain. Getting wet isn't so much of an issue as getting cold.

I bought a rain/wind proof jacket and have yet to wear it, the gilet does a much better job and its far more flexible.

powenb

Thanks.
I'm now thinking the gilet will be the most versatile piece, and ideal unless it's cold.

I might keep the DHB jacket as well for rides in prolonged rain. The fit is not as good as the Gore but I can buy both DHB items and still save £100!

kingofthetailwind

Gilet. I'd only wear a full rainproof jacket in torrential rain, in winter.

drlodge

KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

Gilet. I'd only wear a full rainproof jacket in torrential rain, in winter.

Ditto. And if its torrential rain in winter I won't be riding ergo I don't need my jacket!

Slo Mo Jones

I wouldn't recommend riding your bike in the shower in the first place. Soap can damage the bearings.

Bozman

Gilet and Sportful No Rain arm warmers.

Miles253

Bozman wrote:

Gilet and Sportful No Rain arm warmers.

Yeah this, much more versatile for changing conditions though. I like a softshell, but only during winter, and only when my ride buddies are waiting for me.

ctc

I got caught in a torrential thunderstorm that turned to hail half way through last night on the commute home.
Had no-rain arm & knee warmers on, and a fold up gilet in my pocket.
Arms and legs got wet but were warm. For some really dumb reason I thought I would only catch the edge so didn't put the gilet on... Was wearing a merino base layer and a torm sportwool jersey. Again was wet but warm.

That amount of rain in that time was pretty unusual. I just find even though I've bought jackets I never wear them. Gilet and arm warmers are so much better for sweaty b'stards

cougie

I'd go for the gilet and I'd also get a small foldable cheap rain jacket. Aldi do them for a tenner or so. Fits in the back pocket and you can bring it out for a full top cover if it gets really wet or cold or you have a mechanical.

powenb

So I'm definitely going the gilet route for these situations.

But for a waterproof jacket when the whole ride is likely to be in the rain, do you have a lightweight one or a heavier lined one?

drlodge

powenb wrote:

So I'm definitely going the gilet route for these situations.

But for a waterproof jacket when the whole ride is likely to be in the rain, do you have a lightweight one or a heavier lined one?

I have a lightweight one, you want it to keep the worst of the rain out rather than add insulation - you'll boil in it anyway and get soaked from the inside. That said, I have never, and have no intention of doing a long ride all in the rain. I'm not that hard.

ai_1

They do different jobs. A full waterproof jacket is great in winter but I don't think I've ever used mine once the temperature gets above 7 or 8 degrees C. For mixed conditions I stick a lightweight windstopper in my back pocket. That's enough for light showers or if it gets a bit cooler than expected. A windproof gilet is great for keeping your torso warm and I suppose it will protect you from a little rain. I think gilets work best as a very compact item you can put on or take off during a ride to adjust warmth - not so much as rain protection.
In general providing you're working relatively hard, water resistant or waterproof clothing will not keep you dry. You'll just get wet from sweat instead. However, they will keep you warm.

stueys

Slo Mo Jones wrote:

I wouldn't recommend riding your bike in the shower in the first place. Soap can damage the bearings.

I laughed