What clothing for really wet and cold rides?
Discussion
I've just about warmed up after returning from a 3 hour road ride about 2 hours ago. The forecast was for cloudy with the possibility of light rain, but only towards the end of the ride. I wore Roubaix bibs, vest, short-sleeve jersey, arm warmers, 2 pair of thin socks and some decent overshoes. Stupidly I didn't take a jacket.
Unsurprisingly the forecast was inaccurate - light rain for the last hour turned out to be very heavy rain for the last 2 out of 3 hours. I was soaked to the skin after 30 minutes and the last hour and a half were grim! I couldn't stop shaking and was willing for more hills to generate some warmth. The worst part was my hands has almost seized up from the cold, making gear changes high on impossible. I had some thick gloves on which have some water resistance but these soaked through pretty quickly. Same with my overshoes.
Clearly a rain jacket would have helped, not only keeping my core warm but in turn keeping my extremities a little bit warmer.
So...what do you guys wear when riding in cold conditions with heavy rain? I've heard of those wetsuit material gloves which maintain warmth when soaking.
Unsurprisingly the forecast was inaccurate - light rain for the last hour turned out to be very heavy rain for the last 2 out of 3 hours. I was soaked to the skin after 30 minutes and the last hour and a half were grim! I couldn't stop shaking and was willing for more hills to generate some warmth. The worst part was my hands has almost seized up from the cold, making gear changes high on impossible. I had some thick gloves on which have some water resistance but these soaked through pretty quickly. Same with my overshoes.
Clearly a rain jacket would have helped, not only keeping my core warm but in turn keeping my extremities a little bit warmer.
So...what do you guys wear when riding in cold conditions with heavy rain? I've heard of those wetsuit material gloves which maintain warmth when soaking.
I generally dress to stay warm and have a thin light rain jacket (£20 from decathlon) to keep the water off. Proper waterproof cycling jerseys seem to aimed at commuters as they will get too hot at fast speeds because you will generate more heat than the breathable material can cope with. Today I'll have a long sleeve base layer and a long sleeve thermal cycling jersey on underneath, maybe a short sleeve jersey on top of that. From experience it's better to be warm and wet compared to cold and dry. It would take a lot of rain to get through to the base layer.
Overshoes are brilliant as most cycling shoes are well vented so they really help if you feet are wet as even at average speeds of 25kmh your feet will soon feel the effects of the wind. It's harder to keep hands warm and dry due to the seams in gloves, two pairs of gloves is cumbersome so it's worth spending money on a good pair that are water/wind proof. Consider a silk liner pair underneath if it's very cold, they are normally pretty cheap from the online outdoorsy places like fieldandtrek or gooutdoors.
Overshoes are brilliant as most cycling shoes are well vented so they really help if you feet are wet as even at average speeds of 25kmh your feet will soon feel the effects of the wind. It's harder to keep hands warm and dry due to the seams in gloves, two pairs of gloves is cumbersome so it's worth spending money on a good pair that are water/wind proof. Consider a silk liner pair underneath if it's very cold, they are normally pretty cheap from the online outdoorsy places like fieldandtrek or gooutdoors.
Did 2 hours up in the NY moors at 7am. I was in MTB shoes, sealskinz socks, 3/4 autumn bibs, a jersey, a softshell, and winter gloves.
It was horrible. Wish I'd had roubaix tights or even super roubaix. Not to put too fine a point on it, it was knob piercingly cold on the descents. Was glad of the climbs to warm up. Was with neighbour who isn't doing the miles I do. HR never really got going, which was part of the problem too.
It was horrible. Wish I'd had roubaix tights or even super roubaix. Not to put too fine a point on it, it was knob piercingly cold on the descents. Was glad of the climbs to warm up. Was with neighbour who isn't doing the miles I do. HR never really got going, which was part of the problem too.
Today I wore:
Nike sleeveless baselayer
Lomng sleeve jersery
'Hardshell' jacket
3/4 Roubaix knicks
Seal skin socks
Ski gloves!!!
Buff
It was 0 degrees when I left home, and the forecast said lights showers expected. It lashed it down for the last 90 minutes, but only my feet got cold. I think overshoes are a must when it's cold and wet. I'll be buying some soon.
Nike sleeveless baselayer
Lomng sleeve jersery
'Hardshell' jacket
3/4 Roubaix knicks
Seal skin socks
Ski gloves!!!
Buff
It was 0 degrees when I left home, and the forecast said lights showers expected. It lashed it down for the last 90 minutes, but only my feet got cold. I think overshoes are a must when it's cold and wet. I'll be buying some soon.
My clothing for todays 1 °C was, Altura shorts, Cuore bib tights, Endura base layer, Endura short sleeve jersey, Gore Phantom2 jacket, Lidl socks, Endura Equipe neoprene overshoes, Helly Hanson glove liners, Castelli Diluvio Deluxe neoprene gloves and Endura skull cap. Even through the downpour I was still warm enough. There was a couple of times my toes and finger tips were frozen but I think it's more a problem of poor circulation as I've been told I have Raynaulds Disease.
The Phantom2 was excellent for keeping the wind out and my body was nice and warm without overhearing, the overshoes managed to keep my shoes completely dry
The Phantom2 was excellent for keeping the wind out and my body was nice and warm without overhearing, the overshoes managed to keep my shoes completely dry
I commute year-round on a bike, often in heavy and freezing rain.
I layer non-cotton base and cycling-specific fleece layers.
For heavy rain, I use a Gore Bike Wear combo of Gore Tex Paclite jacket and trousers. I also use a cheap pair of hiking overshoes.
In lighter rain Gore Tex Windstopper suffices.
Glove-wise, FORGET any cycling gloves available in the UK. Overpriced and overrated, uou'd be better off with a pair of ski gloves fron Lidl for a fiver.
I use MEC Drencher gloves, brought over from Canada by a mate. These things are life-changeingly awesome:
http://www.mec.ca/product/5020-734/mec-drencher-gl...
I layer non-cotton base and cycling-specific fleece layers.
For heavy rain, I use a Gore Bike Wear combo of Gore Tex Paclite jacket and trousers. I also use a cheap pair of hiking overshoes.
In lighter rain Gore Tex Windstopper suffices.
Glove-wise, FORGET any cycling gloves available in the UK. Overpriced and overrated, uou'd be better off with a pair of ski gloves fron Lidl for a fiver.
I use MEC Drencher gloves, brought over from Canada by a mate. These things are life-changeingly awesome:
http://www.mec.ca/product/5020-734/mec-drencher-gl...
Jimbo. said:
Forget about staying dry: be it through rain or sweat, it won't happen. Keep the wind out and insulate. Your body heat and waterproof skin will take care of the rest.
This. I just had my coldgear base layer top and a wind/waterproof shell on top of that. About 7°c today here though. Down to zero I'd have a fleecy tube scarf to keep my neck warm. 
nammynake said:
I don't mind getting wet, it's the near-hypothermia that I'd rather avoid!
Stay warm then! With windproof kit on the outside, all gaps plugged and insulating, "warm-when-wet" kit on the inside, you're away.I always seem to run a little hot, but around about now - and colder - I usually get away with:
SS merino baselayer
SS jersey + armwarmers OR LS jersey
Windproof gilet (vented at the back)
Windproof gloves
Bibtights (OR bib shorts and windproof leg warmers)
Woolie-boolie socks
Summer shoes
Windproof overshoes (NOT neoprene, which is s
t)If it gets wet, then as long as I don't stop working, I stay warm enough.
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