Originally Posted by
Machka
I read somewhere once, a long time ago, that if you can't lift your loaded bicycle and carry it all at least 20 or 30 steps, it's too heavy ... and either means taking up some bodybuilding to increase strength ... or lightening the load.

Machka, I checked some photos on your web page and saw that on some tours you had fenders and some you did not. Was this choice due to expected precipitation for the area and time of year, or did you ditch the fenders to save weight?
I have only done one short tour, with fenders, and pedaled in the rain only one day, for about 3 hours in 50 degree F temp. I was wearing a Frogg Togg rainsuit, but sweat soaked my torso from neck to thighs. I had my rain pants tied at the ankle so the legs didn't get caught on the chain ring, so the water ran into my socks and into my gore tex shoes. If I had had my gaiters or those fancy shoe covers, I might have made it with dry feet, but as it was, I was pretty well soaked; it was exhilarating but the thrill wore off by the time we got to a warm shelter.
So I am undecided and am asking your opinion about the fenders. They didn't seem to keep me any drier than I would have been without them, but I have read comments that they are indispensable. This is for paved road touring in Florida in January. Do I need a different rain suit?