Originally Posted by
erig007
water is a better thermal conductor than air so if you care only about staying warm and not dry, you will start losing lots of heat when water will reach your skin through layers. You will then need to add layers to keep the heat the same.
So not staying dry result in getting cold at first when water reach your skin or overdress before you get wet in order to reach the right temperature when wet. Quite the same results than with waterproof garments
You should be shivering a bit before getting on the bike. Water doesn't lower your body temperature because it is trapped against the skin. The windproof jacket and tights limit the amount of water coming in to just enough to keep you from overheating. It's actually very comfortable. I'm more comfortable riding in the rain like that than in summer temperatures because it's easier to control body temperature. I've tried waterproof, but I overheat in about 3 miles. If your commute is less than 5 miles, waterproof is the way to go, but if you're out for a day ride, not so good.