Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

I used to do a lot of rain rides. They're fine. Feels nasty to start, but one warms up quickly. It feels rather like one is in a cocoon if your clothing is right. It's easy to dress too warmly. One wants to be comfy at the 3-mile mark. Feet are the only real trick. Go to a dive shop and buy a pair of ankle seals - they're rubber rings that deflect the water off one's skin. Put them on your bare skin so they cover the tops of the waterproof booties you wear over your shoes. No wet feet - solves the major source of discomfort. Gloves are another problem. Just plain heavy knit wool gloves see a lot of use. So what if your hands get wet - they'll still be warm. I don't wear anything that's waterproof. I need a little water to reach the layer that's next to my skin - otherwise I'd overheat. Oddly, getting rid of heat is still an issue. Of course that depends on how hard one rides. I ride at about the same pace I ride in the dry.