Winter Cycling - wetsuit/drysuit

Okay I'm probably not the first to think this so I'll just ask. Has anyone worn a wet suit or dry suit in the rain. I'm figuring you either get wet from sweat or wet from rain and all I'd want to do is stay warm. Surrender to the wet, enjoy it and stay warm. Or maybe there are off the rack clothes that would perform just as well. Determined not to let rain keep me from riding if at all possible. Thanks all

I don't know anyone who has tried this but I suspect it would work for moderate temperatures. The problem is that in near freezing temperatures the wetsuit probably won't be warm enough. And you will get thoroughly soaked from your own sweat which will chill you.

Also, it would likely be very uncomfortable in a wet suit for pedaling. The good breathable waterproof jackets work just fine. Since you can't stay completely dry either way, why not be damp and warm rather than soaked and warm which is what you will be in a wetsuit.

Also you would look hilarious and possibly scare the wee children... depending on what you're going for here i'd also suggest a rain-jacket paired with a light wool jersey. It might not be as all-out as a dry suit down main st but at least your cucumber won't get bent outta shape by all that chaffing.

I have spent a lot of years in a wetsuit whitewater kayaking, and merely the 3 mm neoprene, not the diving 1/4", and can attest they aren't all that bendy. Cutting out the backs of the knees would probably be required at the very least. Chafing is going to be a big problem. I do plan to try my neoprene gloves though, when the nasty weather really hits.

+1 ^^
I had a friend back in the 80's that lent me his wetsuit gloves for riding one winter. I will attest that my hands at least stayed warm but they were so tired from trying to grip the bars it wasn't worth it. Wetsuit stuff is warm but forget about bending and being comfortable.

Go Wool !!!

Thanks, like the idea of scaring the wee children (and dogs) though : - )

@canopus
My gloves are paddler-specific, and have a built-in curl to the fingers. Not rigid enough that they interfere with brake levers, but also just comfortably fit around the grips. The surface is sticky too, works great for wet paddle shafts and wet handlebars. But, really they are just overkill unless it's seriously wet out.

@canopus
My gloves are paddler-specific, and have a built-in curl to the fingers. Not rigid enough that they interfere with brake levers, but also just comfortably fit around the grips. The surface is sticky too, works great for wet paddle shafts and wet handlebars. But, really they are just overkill unless it's seriously wet out.

I had some thoughts along those lines myself today. I live in Seattle and riding in the cold and rain go together for a lot of the year. When it got really cold last winter, I started having problems with my stomach getting really cold. I solved that by wearing a neoprene band that is normally used to get your back warm and supported. It's fairly thin and it works great for keeping my stomach warm. I also have a thin neoprene hood that I got for open water swimming in triathlons that I've used under my helmet for cold wet days. Neoprene works really well. So as I got soaked today, I was thinking of a neoprene t-shirt like surfers wear that is fairly thin and flexible as an under layer. My problem is that I tend to do hills so I tend to sweat and then can never dry out. So I have had the same thoughts which is to quit fighting getting wet and use a product that is designed to keep you warm while you're wet.

"a product that is designed to keep you warm while you're wet."

Piece of trivia: Willard Bascom was an oceanographer studying beaches and surf erosion starting back in the 40's. According to his memoir they experimented with a better system than the old rubber drysuit. Using the relatively new neoprene it was supposed to be a 'dry' suit, but they couldn't get it to work, and after a while noticed that Hey! It's warm anyway, let's just let it be wet! A nice accident, it's really useful stuff. For the bike I haven't used anything more than the gloves but the hat is an idea worth trying. Using it boating I notice my hearing is really compromised, so that could be a problem on the road.

It seems to me like a wetsuit would be way too hot. I'm basing that on winter surfing in Maine where the water is almost freezing. Maybe a drysuit would work though?

You do not mention this being used for a triathlon .. After a dive I find even a light weight suit- bulky, hot , awkard, hard to move.. They are comfortable and effective underwater... Even cyclists doing triathlons seem to remove them after a swim... They do make water resistant lycra for rain rides.. I'd suggest that is the better route... Water resistant lycra is for cycling. And it breathes.. Wet suits for water sports and iis then comfortable because of the water cushion .