kipibenkipod

Hi,
I don't have experience with riding in the rain, but I think this year I'm going to.
I'm talking about unsupported touring in rainy conditions.
I want to know what you all use or do in this categories:
1. Storm suit, poncho...
2. Shoes getting wet. What do you do next day? How do you dry them? Do you put a shoes rain cover?
3. Visibility gear.
4. Your down bag got a little wet, and the next day it also raining. How do you dry the beg? Can you keep your bag dry all the day of rain, with some procedures?
5. Will you consider spend a day staying in one place in order to dry the stuff? What would you do if not?
6. How do you take care of your drive train?
7. Helmet has holes. Don't the head get soaking wet? Do you cover your head?
8. Its rainy when you build the tent. How you take your bags inside the tent? Even if you wipe the water, eventually the bags will dampen the inside tent.
9. Condensation inside the tent. What to do to stay dry?
Please do add questions of your own and share your rain knowledge in this thread.
Thanks

cyclezealot

You find a way to keep your feet dry , let me know. They do make water proof socks. Adventure Cycling sells tons of equiptment for touring. Trying to get gear to dry out inside the tent is a chore. Take along some odor eaters for your shoes. I prefer to ride on tours in locations where rain is scarce. Places like Spain, the Mediterranean coast, California, Nevada.

Juha

There are tons of waterproof clothing, but not much of that is useful when riding. You find a waterproof jacket that is also breathable enough for touring, let me know too. My solution is to wear as little as possible (e.g. just sandals instead of socks/shoes) so there's less stuff to get wet. This only helps if the weather is reasonably warm.

Regarding panniers and tent, my tent has a small covered vestibule so I don't have to bring wet panniers in the same space where I sleep.

If there's a longer rainy spell, sleep indoors every now and then to get your gear dry.

--J

znomit

Chaffing seems to be much worse in the wet.
Still suffering from 208 mostly wet km last Tuesday.

Losligato

1. Storm suit, poncho...

For the last few months Amanda has used a very thin plastic-bag-style poncho with hood and has found it the most useful. It works great for light rain and we find shelter for the downpours.

2. Shoes getting wet. What do you do next day? How do you dry them? Do you put a shoes rain cover?

We have shoes designed to get wet. Hang socks overnight.

3. Visibility gear.

Reflective vest. Lights.

4. Your down bag got a little wet, and the next day it also raining. How do you dry the beg? Can you keep your bag dry all the day of rain, with some procedures?

We just throw them in a dryer if we can find one during the ride the next day. If not, we might use a chamois to soak up as much of the water as possible. It's surprising how much water a chamois can soak.

5. Will you consider spend a day staying in one place in order to dry the stuff? What would you do if not?

Yes! Quality of life is more important than getting there today.

6. How do you take care of your drive train?

A waxy lubricant like white lightning will shed water.

7. Helmet has holes. Don't the head get soaking wet? Do you cover your head?

We have helmet covers but didn't use them as much as I thought we might.

8. Its rainy when you build the tent. How you take your bags inside the tent? Even if you wipe the water, eventually the bags will dampen the inside tent.

Wait until the serious downpour passes. Build the tent. Keep the sleeping bags in their waterproof storage until you sleep. Use a chamois (one of those imitation types) to dry everything. They work great.

9. Condensation inside the tent. What to do to stay dry?

Chamois

staehpj1

My best advice is to forget about keeping dry and to use clothes that are comfortable when wet. How cold is it likely to be where you will be riding?

Edit:
I forgot to mention that I really like Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor shorts in part because the dry fast and in part because they are comfortable wet or dry.

brotherdan

As the others have said, there's no way to stay dry when touring in rainy conditions. I've biked for entire days in the rain. Any waterproof material, even those that are labeled as breathable, are not going to allow enough sweat to evaporate when you are riding a bicycle in temperatures that are above freezing. That means that you will end up getting just as wet underneath your clothes, due to sweating, as you would if you were to ride without waterproof gear.

I don't use a down sleeping bag for warm weather camping because of the risk of getting it wet. I always use a synthetic bag for bicycle touring. But I put a plastic bag inside of my stuff sack to keep it from getting wet when I'm on the road, and I make sure to dry off before bedding down for the night to avoid getting it too wet, as a wet synthetic bag isn't very comfortable, even if it is warmer than a wet down bag. I've never had a problem with my bag getting wet when I set up my tent for the night. If it's really rainy when I'm setting up camp, I keep my sleeping bag in the plastic lined stuff sack until I get it inside the tent.

I always carry a waterproof coat that I can put on after I get off my bike. While I'm willing to accept being wet on the road as one of the things that you have to deal with when touring, I like to be comfortable in the camp site at the end of the day.

There are several companies that make completely waterproof panniers. I don't own any, due to the expense, but they are supposed to be nice. As a cheap alternative, you can put your clothes and other things that need to stay dry inside garbage bags, inside of your panniers.

The drive train is going to get messy on a tour. Stuff is going to get gunked up in your chain when it gets wet. You could try to degrease and reapply lubricant on a regular basis if you encounter rainy conditions, but I would just ignore the problem, and accept that your chain and cassette are going to wear a little faster under touring conditions.

I usually have lights with me that I can use for night riding. I turn these on when I ride in really nasty conditions. Otherwise, I don't worry about visibility in the rain. Some people wear bright orange safety vest over the course of their entire tour. These might come in handy in really bad conditions, but I've never used one.

I often experience condensation in my tent. But most well designed tents are designed to shed condensation outside of the tent, which will keep you relatively dry, or at worst a little damp, inside of the tent.

I've never taken a whole day off to dry my gear, or avoid rain, but you could certainly do this if you wanted to.

Raven Stands Al

Take lots of socks in little plastic bags. Learn to recognize a laundromat. (they have driers) Keep in mind that it is only water and you won't melt if you get wet.

gregw

I treat touring in rain in a 4 tier method;

1. Avoid it all together. I always keep track of the weather forecast and plan accordingly. If I know it's supposed to rain at the end of the week, I'll put in extra miles so I can take the day, whole or part, off and miss the rain. Set destination goals so that a rain day might fall in a town with a library or something. I also budget in motel days for nasty weather or if I'm just feeling wimpy.

2. Warm weather rain; No rain gear except maybe sandals, which I wear anyway. Just get wet, it's warm.

3. Cool weather rain; Here I'm going to still get very wet, but need to stay warm. Top to bottom; Helmet cover in heavy rain, nothing in light rain, wind breaker vest over wool t-shirt, poly-arm and leg warmers, (wool if you can find it) and gortex socks, leg warmers overlap socks. The arm and leg warmers act as second skin and keep me warm, though still wet. Maybe full finger glove liners depending.

4. Cold weather rain; Assuming it can't be avoided, I use full waterproof rain gear, helmet cover, gortex jacket and leggings that overlap gortex socks. In this weather I really slow way down and modulate my effort with my warmth / sweat level. I might only average 6-7 miles per hour to keep from sweating and therefore get cold inside the waterproofs.

kipibenkipod

We want a lot of things
As I see it now, we will start with short trips in Israel, and then Europe. When in Europe I guess it will rain.
I want to be prepared for the rain in order to enjoy the trip even in the rain.

Shemp

For now, a cheap rain jacket with a mesh-like liner that is slightly better than just a plain rain jacket. My legs just get wet.

A good pair of quick drying MTB shoes or biking sandals become valuable here. That, or you have to find a dryer. You can always stuff newspaper inside to help dry them out if you get desperate.

The yellow rain jacket and yellow pannier covers take care of that.

Don't let it get wet in the first place. Keep it in a dry bag within a pannier/trailer.


I'd stay in the tent longer or wait for a break before packing up, but I'd not let rain stop me entirely. If you're just feeling miserable and it's an electrical storm, then by all means, stay put.


I tak lube and a red rag on all my trips.


Between wearing a head sweat and moving forward, it doesn't bother me too much. I suppose a cold rain might make me feel different, but my wife's work only allows for summer tours.

Panniers in the vestibule inside the pannier covers worked for us.

Don't buy a cheap tent that isn't ventilated well. Can't prevent everything though, short of an extension cord and dehumidifier.

You're going to get wet, and if you just accept it, it's not a big concern. We had no issues riding several days in a row in rain just using pannier covers. The only problem was our shoes, and we both have cloth all terrain SPD shoes which soaked up the water. I would just ride the next day without socks until the shoes dried out. I'll probably buy leather/pleather/plastic mtb shoes next time around. Oh, and some body powder wouldn't hurt so you can dry yourself out overnight to help with the chafing someone else noted (and I did have issues with). You can wear all the rain gear you want, but between humidity and temps, you could easily end up just as wet, but bathed in your own sweat instead of rain water. Just my 2 cents.

Machka 

I have way too much experience riding in the rain.


I want to know what you all use or do in this categories:
1. Storm suit, poncho... -- good quality rain jacket, helmet cover, booties, and gloves or mitts. If it is going to be really bad, maybe rain pants.

2. Shoes getting wet. What do you do next day? How do you dry them? Do you put a shoes rain cover? -- wear booties while riding which will reduce the quantity of water getting into/onto your shoes, and then just leave them in your tent's vestibule to dry (and hope for the best). Some people stuff newspapers in them in the hopes that will absorb the water. I'm not sure how well that works.

3. Visibility gear. -- Bright yellow. My rain jacket and the rain covers on my panniers are all bright yellow. I also carry a reflective vest which adds to the brightness factor.

4. Your down bag got a little wet, and the next day it also raining. How do you dry the beg? Can you keep your bag dry all the day of rain, with some procedures? -- My down (or synthetic) bag doesn't get a little wet. It is kept inside a plastic bag which is kept inside my pannier liner (another plastic bag) which is inside my pannier, which is covered with a bright yellow rain cover. No problem.

5. Will you consider spend a day staying in one place in order to dry the stuff? What would you do if not? -- Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If not, just pack everything up the way I normally do and keep moving.

6. How do you take care of your drive train? -- Oil it periodically. Perhaps clean it now and then.

7. Helmet has holes. Don't the head get soaking wet? Do you cover your head? -- I wear a helmet cover with a bill.

8. Its rainy when you build the tent. How you take your bags inside the tent? Even if you wipe the water, eventually the bags will dampen the inside tent. -- Put up the tent with the bags sitting outside still in their rain covers. Carry the bags into the vestibule, remove rain covers, put bags in tent.

9. Condensation inside the tent. What to do to stay dry? -- Double layer tent with lots of ventilation + towel.


Additional advice - when you are packing for your trip, bring clothes that dry quickly ... nothing heavy and bulky which tends to hold water. That way, if you get wet while riding, or if your stuff happens to get wet in the panniers (which it shouldn't) it will dry overnight.

Also, bring a tube of some sort of lotion - a fairly thick lotion. Various people will suggest chamois buttr, etc., but any decent thick lotion will do ... check the baby department for diaper lotions (but nothing with zinc). Because riding in wet weather causes extra chafing, a lotion can add a protective layer to your skin. Then, after the ride, if you have a rash, a zinc ointment (check baby department again) will clear that right up for you.

Old Hammer Boy

I have one simple comment about rain; "In any given period of time, any one individual can only get so wet."

StephenH

So what if you wear glasses and can't see without 'em? Is the helmet cover with bill adequate for that? (I've not seen one at stores, but hadn't though to look, either).

Bekologist

I tour year round and regardless of the weather here in the Pacific Northwest, so wind up on a fair bit of wet weather tours.

I find packing a silnylon tarp (or two- they are small and light) to string up in addition to the tent is quite nice for keeping dry at camp. string one over where you're going to eat (picnic table?) and one up over the tent to keep the tent dry(er)!

having one pitched up over the tent and a spot in front of the tent works well for keeping things quite dry while packing up, in/out of tent!

but on extended trips, taking a day off in a hotel, with a way to dry out gear, dry sleeping bags at the laundromat, etc. is a very nice way to go.

and on the bike, rain booties, helemt cover, raincoat all necessary but YOU WILL STILL GET WET. there is no way, I repeat, NO way, to stay 100 percent dry riding all day long on tour in a downpour.

Waterproof panniers are nice. Chain? just lube regularily. and heavy rain works well as a chain lube

i like the idea of packing a chamois, I've heard of people packing sponges. I think I'm going to pack a tent towel on my next wet weather tour.

visibility gear? planet bike superflash, running it pretty much every gray/rainy day, and a waterproof front flasher, and a high viz vest. be aware, in heavy rain, that driver's visibility may be greatly reduced as well as their stopping distance.

I was riding down I-5 south for a stretch this summer in heavy rain on one extended weekend tour, and there was so much spray tossed up by the vehicles that there was maybe 80-100 feet of visibility. Being on a wide interstate shoulder was the only thing that made riding in that type of condition possible.

I'm always willing to take a day off the road if things get too rough out there.

SEAcarlessTTLE

I find a cycling cap under the helmet works great to keep water off my glasses.

Machka 

If the rain is absolutely torrential and especially if it is accompanied by a strong wind so it is blowing sideways, I can tell you from experience that the bill doesn't help at all.

However, if it is a light to moderate rain, and coming down relatively vertically, then it does help quite a bit.

StephenH

Okay, doing some googling around here. The cycling hats I see look like they have a brim a bit smaller than a standard gimme cap, and it looks like most of the helmet covers don't have a bill at all. So I see room for improvement there. The thought had struck me, at craft stores they sell this soft foamy board that's about a 1/16" thick that might work pretty well if just velcroed to the helmet.

Also I find mention of a "cyclist's rain cape", similar to a poncho, but has loops to hold it down over your hands and handlebars. Anyone know where to actually buy such a thing? (This appears to be a European item, and I'm in Texas).

By the way, I'm not touring in the rain, just scheming how not to be housebound when the weather's not so hot.

Bekologist

rain on the glasses? you learn to look thru the drops. Machka has it right, in blowing, windy rainy conditions (or the aforementioned car 'fog' put up by heavy traffic,) no brim or bill keeps ones' glasses from getting wet.

You learn to look thru the haze and drops on the glasses.

I have a Louis Garneau "Western" helmet cover- has a front brim AND a rear cape to keep rain from running into the collar of your jacket. Best helemt cover I've found.

znomit

I find the rain only a problem when climbing. Get really fogged up.
I use a bell "slant" which has a peak.

Oh, and the rain stings at 60kph, but you can always slow down!

Newspaperguy

Riding in the rain isn't that bad most of the time. With proper lights, visibility gear and the right clothing, it can be a pleasant experience. But there are also times to get off the bike and wait out a storm.

Start with a positive mental attitude. By this I mean take the time to appreciate everything about the rain — the cooler temperatures, the way the air feels clean and the fresh smells all around. That alone will do a lot to get you through rain.

At the same time, learn to read the sky just a little or keep up with the weather forecasts. If you know rain is coming, you can prepare yourself for it. If a heavy rainfall is on the way, it's time to find a dry shelter.

It pays to study maps while you're on your trip. If the rain is too heavy, there's no disgrace in taking a motel room. You'll sleep better and wake up much more comfortable than if you can't properly dry off in your tent. There's also nothing wrong with spending a day or part of a day off the bike in order to dry out and warm up.

For clothing, I'd also like to mention the importance of good waterproof gloves or mittens in a cold rain. If it's cold and rainy, unprotected hands can easily become numb, which makes it much more difficult to grab the brakes.

ricohman

I have found that I will be getting wet eventually, no matter what.
Since accepting this fact I concentrate on keeping things dry that I am not wearing.
I also have a pair of lightweight cheapo nylon shoes that are only for wet weather.
This dedicated footwear thing works well for single day rain but gets old fast after more than three days of wet feet.

StephenH

I also found this post helpful:
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/165902-rain-cape-north-america.html

Shemp

https://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/st...berId=12500226

kipibenkipod

Louis Garneau "Western" helmet cover at Nashbar