Riding in the rain

[Renn Sport]

So its supposedly going to belt it down in London tomorrow. I really need to ride my 28 miles tomorrow. Just got to ride.

So should I just brave it in my t-shirt or would I be better off in a cheapo peter-storm foldable rain mack to keep the worst off? I may boil in the bag however.

Lights on?

[TwistingMyMelon]

Focus on staying warm, not dry , the coldest i've ever been has been on a 60 mile club ride in the Summer. Torrential downpour on way home and I got soaked and so so so cold, although that was epic rain, I was in shorts and short sleeve jersey

I find any exposed skin in the rain gets cold quickly, If it was me I would just wear a gilet and arm warmers, maybe a long sleeve winter top ive got that is not water proof but a but water resistant

Ive got a couple of waterproof cycle jackets, never worn them, as you say i'd end up wetter on inside than outside

Showery type of weather is where more hi-tech/expensive tops come in to their own like the Castelli Gabba and its alternatives

[Renn Sport]

I may just wear my commuting jacket to keep the worst off as its bright and make a call on how bad the rain is on the way back. Hopefully the jacket would sufficiently dried hanging up.

I'll wear my winter boots also as they are goretex and will keep the old toes warm and dry.

Friday's are usually better days in London for traffic so hopefully it might be ok. I just have to ride.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Watch out for man hole covers as well!

[greenamex2]

Lights on? I ride with lights on ALL the time, just varying the pattern depending on how dark it is.

I have proper Gore bike wear Gore-Tex jackets. You still end up boiling inside them. An extra layer helps to stop them sticking to you, but them you just get hotter!

Now if it is warmish outside I just rely on my normal kit if it isn't actually raining when I leave in the morning. I sometime take a thinner Gore-Tex lined jacket in the rucksack just in case I get too cold/wet.

I do have Gore-Tex boots, but slowly going off them for out of winter use. They are too warm and I just end end up with boil in the bag feet. Still thinking about that one.


And, of course, full length mudguards. Had a good example of just how effective they are in the last couple of days when the bottom of the rear one became misaligned in a crash...my rucksack had a brown streak. Fixing it and ZERO brown streak (I ride on a lot of mud, if water is hitting me off the wheels, it is brown).

[Dannbodge]

I'm going out tonight and it's raining.

I'll be in my normal dry kit (left my thin rain jacket at home) so I'll just deal with getting wet.

It's about 15degC here so I won't get cold.
The only thing I will be wearing is my Velotoze shoe covers as I hate getting wet feet.

I was out last week and got caught in a torrential downpour, and because it was sunny before I was in shorts and short sleeves.

[GrantD5]

I went home in shorts, gilet, t shirt and arm warmers tonight. Bit of a mismatch of odds bits laying around at work I had.

[idiotgap]

I wore long sleeve Jersey, gilet and shorts tonight. I was comfortable enough on the bike, less so waiting on the train platform afterwards and on the train. Mitts are in the airing cupboard and shoes on the bathroom radiator hoping to dry them for the morning which will be wet again anyway.