Juha

Why?

Burton

Because this is the time of year the west coast recieves the highest precipation - otherwise known as the 'rainy season'. In the tropics these could be called monsoons and combined with cold temperatures - probably isn't what most people would call an 'unforgettable experience'.

https://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/researc...s/Page1539.htm

https://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/englis...ation/precip/1

crazy cheste

Check out the website " bicycle touring pro" He has a great website with lot's of useful info. He also does a lot of winter touring.

valygrl

Because it rains like a m'er-f'er on the coast when there is a storm - a deluge of cold soaking rain, often accompanied by high south winds. It's not "spring" in February and March it is still "winter."

I grew up in San Diego and lived in Berkeley and Santa Cruz for 20 years, so I'm not pulling this out of my ass.

Edit to add: sure he might not get a storm.... but it's likely he will, and even when it's not storming it is still winter.

And since he is trying to do this on the cheap, the opportunity to bail into a motel multiple times on the trip to escape bad weather is probably not there. I'm an experienced camper with the highest quality camping equipment and I wouldn't camp for a month on the coast in winter if you paid me to.

OP, If you want to go ahead and do it, go ahead and do it, but do not be surprised if the weather is awful. Debating hat vs headband is the kind of minor detail that might make you not notice the big picture.

Juha

Thanks, I'm aware of that. With proper gear, OP doesn't have to be wet, cold and miserable. There's plenty of good advice in this thread alone. So, my question was, why should he suffer if he can gear up and enjoy?

--J

Bekologist

why do you think there's a sag wagon, or indoor accommodations? I can't think of a charity worth their salt that would try to organize a winter fundraising ride down the west coast. I'm betting 'independent effort' and limited support.

even if the ride were 100 percent supported and four star, a hat'll be nice on cold days.

but let's not bicker, shall we? I was wearing my puffy, mountaineering parka to the grocery store the other day with the hood up in 30 below windchill, and could only smile at those in baseball jackets and caps. It's easier to admire other's clothing choices when yours is the only adequate choice.

I still think the rider can go, and have a good time doing it if they are the adventurous type and goes prepared. bringing a tarp for example, (even two!) would be an excellent idea if camping out.

Machka 

It would be nice to hear from the OP again ... a few more details, and maybe a bit of conversation, can be helpful to those of us who are trying to provide advice.

LeeG

I lived in the Bay Area from '74 to '98 and owned a small bike shop in Mendocino from '80 to '86. You pretty much nailed it. It might not storm, it might only be a few days of rain, it might be clear and chilly, it might also be a deluge washing out the road from the hills on the left and sea foam from the ocean 1/4mile on the right driven by 45mph gale. The Pacific isn't. Last thing a person should do is push through insane conditions to meet a schedule.

LeeG

First off warm and dry for what conditions? Is this supported or unsupported?
Given your limited budget I'd say no but you can be warm and wet. Warm and dry riding for a few days in nonstop rain is hard to achieve even with specialized rain gear and goretex socks. For a budget I'd go for warm above all. Wool cap, gloves, sweater, tights, waterproof jacket and pants, plastic bags for feet, and nonstop food intake to keep the heat machine going. Riding in the rain can suck a lot of heat away.

These are the best deal, you should be able to find them anywhere.

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/71324...pmd_google_pla

Other folks mentioned a tarp, that'll be very important so you have a safe dry place to fire up hot liquids, get gear out of panniers and change clothes without getting your sleeping area wet.

Burton

Wow! And just 2 days ago you were a 16 year old with no personal experience! Lots can happen in a couple days I see!

I've done a fair bit of winter camping myself - cold is actually reasonably easy to deal with.
I've also done a fair amount of wet weather traveling in Colombia were the lots of people don't even bother with raingear.

But cold AND wet is a different story.
Best case scenerio - you have a miserable time.
Worst case scenerio - you end up dead.

LeeG

Seattle average high for Feb. 50F average low 37F Precip. 3.4" I rode for a day nonstop hard rain in Seattle wearing goretex socks, Kokatat pants, coated pull over Kokatat rain jacket, wool top to bottom. Hands were prunish but I was having fun. There was probably a pint of water and sweat in all my "dry" layers.

Crescent City Ca. Average high 55 average low 42 Precip. 9.25"


Fort Bragg Ca. Feb. average high 54 average low 41 Precip. 7"





So if you look at the stats some cities on the north coast get as much rain in one month as San Diego does in a year, cold rain. If I was on a budget I'd pack a dozen big garbage bags to wear was ponchos and stop in laundromats to dry as needed.

Machka 

Still no response from the OP?

LeeG

Oh heck let's play "what if?"

What would you pack for a trip where the first two weeks will have 40degree mornings and three hours of riding in the rain every few days, occasional downpours and two day storms that shut down highway 1 where you may have to walk off road to get around mud slides?

Not that it would happen but given the season it's not improbable and it would be very poor judgement to not prepare for it.

I'd want rain pants, rain coat, headgear, and waterproof sock coverings and shoes that are good for walking through squishy wet ground then sleeping system and spare set of clothes that can never be allowed to get wet.

You can do all that without spending $400 on e-vent and goretex gear. Just get the cheap rain suit packages made out of plastic for $30 with garbage bag backups. It'll be torn up at the end of the trip but a lot cheaper that coated materials or used jackets that you'll still sweat in.

fietsbob

I found Insulated Dry shoe covers.. home sewn, they since quit wished the sole were more Durable,
but on the bike I didnt put my foot down that often, it turned out..

crazy cheste

[QUOTE=Burton;15191371]Wow! And just 2 days ago you were a 16 year old with no personal experience! Lots can happen in a couple days I see!

Knowledge and experience are two different things. I have alot of knowledge about bicycle touring, but I have very little experience.
The most I have done so far is a couple one night trips to the nearest state park.

indyfabz

I am confused. On 1/21 you posted that you still need panniers. And while you expressed an intention to tour, you gave no indication that you have actually done any touring, including taking overnight trips.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...icycle-touring

tom cotter

I disagree with this, sorta. The problem with biking is the sweat factor. Because we sweat we're going to be wet no matter what. So the thinking is why put out for expensive technical fabrics that can keep us dry? The key is breathability. The high priced fabrics, even if they don't keep you completely dry, will wick the sweat off the base layer keeping you drier. Maybe clamy but still warm enough not to have to find shelter. If you trap that moisture you are going to be soaked in your own sweat. Even at ten miles an hour, with the cold wind moving around your body, you aren't going to get very far before the cold dictates your schedule. If you don't wick that moisture away you are going to have problem. Likewise if you go cheap. On the road in real conditions is not the place to find out that, that Walmart poly tee shirt isn't worth the $2.88 you paid for it.

There are a lot of variables, riding in sustained cold wet conditions is a challenge. But for as much as i curse my Goretex outer shell, imo I know I'd be much worse off without it.

Burton

Polar fleece is an excellent choice as an insulator for sports like hiking in cold weather where activity is low enough that you don't work up a sweat. They're poor choices for bicycling because they don't wick well and trap perspiration inside - so even the effectiveness of an outer layer is dependent on whats underneath it.

LeeG

My advice came from the perspective that Jacque didn't have the money for top end breathable gear and that he may find himself in a COLD rain or downpour in which case trapping sweat in poly/wool layers under coated nylon is preferable to COLD rain streaming right through your clothes. If I was on the side of the road and it's 48 degree rain and there was no option to take shelter but ride and the choice was cold rain on my wool sweater or a garbage bag with holes for head and arms over the sweater i'd wear the garbage bag over the sweater.
I have an e-vent jacket and pants, goretex socks and they work great. I heartily recommend them. I haven't found lower cost coated fabrics advertised as breathable to be breathable. Money no object I'd recommend Jaque go to town with event jacket and pants from showers pass. Maybe fabrics have changed or there's an especially functional rainwear for his price range

There's a temperature range and amount of rain one can tolerate just wearing wool and synthetics but once it gets cold and wet the heat loss is too fast to be healthy. I rode up the coast in May and it was drizzly in the 50's and 75 and sunny inland. Middle February will be cold and damp on the coast.

crazy cheste

"I am confused. On 1/21 you posted that you still need panniers. And while you expressed an intention to tour, you gave no indication that you have actually done any touring, including taking overnight trips."


I've taken several overnight trips but I borrowed a B.O.B. trailer from the local bike shop. I don't own any touring panniers but plan on buying a set of Lone peaks in the spring when I get back to work.
P.S. Can someone explain how to past someone's post into my post?

tom cotter

THX for clearing that up. I missunderstood your POV.