What to wear in the rain

[okgo]

As above, today was the first day in a long time I didn¡¦t cycle in, mainly because I slept for 2 hours last night and it was raining. So what do you wear when riding in the rain...? I only have a short distance to go, but want to know what I can wear that will keep me dry and warm, while allowing me to cycle quickly ƒº

Any help appreciated

[ewenm]

Cycling shorts (baggies from Altura), a wicking long-sleeved running t-shirt and a Gore BikeWear jacket over the top. I don't worry about legs getting wet.

[J5]

HTH mate.

[Moose.]

ewenm said:

Cycling shorts (baggies from Altura), a wicking long-sleeved running t-shirt and a Gore BikeWear jacket over the top. I don't worry about legs getting wet.

Seconded.

[mackie1]

I bought an Endura Convert II jacket last week to keep me dry. Seems to do the job. Nice and light too. Endura Zyme shorts are very comfy too.

[deckster]

Rule no. 1 of cycling in the rain : You Will Get Wet

So don't fight it, wear a decent jacket to make sure you don't get cold and carry a full change of clothes.

[Parsnip]

deckster said:

Rule no. 1 of cycling in the rain : You Will Get Wet

So don't fight it, wear a decent jacket to make sure you don't get cold and carry a full change of clothes.

^^This

Windproof stuff is your friend - gloves and a hat will make you infinitely happier, even if they are soaked through. If the roads are manky/gritted, a pair of clear glasses too - you still won't be able to see anything, but at least your eyes won't be full of crap.

[okgo]

Right so lets get this wrapped up...

I rode in this morning 4 miles - soaking.

Stupidly wore my boxers and they are soaked.

So, can I get waterproof shorts? If not what are next best bet.. Couldn't find the ones ewen mentioned..

Jacket, I can sort that from the advice above, I should add I don't have mudguards, should I bother?

Bike is a Rockhopper with slicks..

[ewenm]

Crud guards are good (that's a brand name) and easy to fit as they clip to your seatpost and down tube.

I tend to wear padded cycling shorts with nothing underneath, so they do get wet but I have dry boxers for when I get to work.

[okgo]

Yeh but I don't want to wear wet shorts on the way home....

[john_p]

I stepped out the house today and wore a car

[ewenm]

okgo said:

Yeh but I don't want to wear wet shorts on the way home....

That's the problem with cycling to work in the rain. I have the same problem when running to work in the rain - my kit is wet for the run home again. Modern materials do dry quite quickly so I hang mine up during the day and they are usually pretty dry by the time I get changed to go home. Avoid cotton.

[okgo]

Fair enough.

Well I think I will be buying one of those jackets listed, or something similar, I don’t sweat on the ride as its not far, so normal t-shorts will suffice. And I think I will look at some of these Endura shorts or something (not paying £50 for shorts). And the main lesson.. Take a towel and puts your socks and boxers on when you get there!!

[angusc43]

ewenm said:

Cycling shorts (baggies from Altura), a wicking long-sleeved running t-shirt and a Gore BikeWear jacket over the top. I don't worry about legs getting wet.

Same for me, basically. I use Gore shorts, baggy. Plus Crud catchers front and rear. I do need to short my shoes, though. Regular (leather) trainers get wet and stay wet. I'm going to (a) get some Specialised bike shoes and (b) some Goretex over-shoe cover-things.

[Chris71]

What sort of eyewear do you use in the rain?

I don't know if it was the rain, some sort of spray off the road (diesel?) or simply my own sweat being washed into my eyes, but something stung like a bh last time I rode in heavy rain. I wear glasses so I had the problem of rain on both sides of the lenses, coupled with the fact I'm too short sighted to really get away with looking over the top of them. As it was I could see about the same with or without the soaked lenses and it was lethal on the faster sections.

[JQ]

What do people do with their feet? I have been wearing Gore-Tex trainers to ride in on, but when it's raining and I'm wearing my shorts the water just runs down my leg and into my socks, so the inside of the trainers end up soaked and can take days to dry. Do overshoes solve this problem or does the rain jst run inside the overshoe?

Cheers

[b2hbm]

JQ said:

What do people do with their feet? Do overshoes solve this problem or does the rain jst run inside the overshoe?

Cheers

yep. I wear overshoes and ride without mudguards. They'll keep your feet moderately dry in constant rain for 15-30mins and then your feet get damp, but not squelchy-wet. And the best thing is that even if they do get wet they stay warm because the overshoes cut out the wind-chill. Best thing I've ever bought for riding in poor weather.

[ewenm]

Chris71 said:

What sort of eyewear do you use in the rain?

I use Oakley Flak Jackets with dark or yellow lenses dependent on light levels. I don't wear spectacles though...

[okgo]

swerni said:

john_p said:

I stepped out the house today and wore a car

snap

tarts.

[okgo]

swerni said:

okgo said:

swerni said:

john_p said:

I stepped out the house today and wore a car

snap

tarts.

I don't want to make a mess of my hair

The only hair you will be messing up is your eyebrows