The Bike Kid

This winter, I'll be training through the "winter" in SoCal. Believe it or not, we do get temps down in the low 30's and some cold rain to boot. What I was wondering is, what do you guys wear to train in temps down in the 30's and in the pouring rain? Price is of secondary consideration to warmth and waterproof-ness.

These are from head to toe (chest/legs is from outer to inner):
Rain Setup:

Helmet
Cycling Cap
Rain Jacket (Showers Pass Elite 2.0)
Standard Cycling Jacket (Mine is a Capo)
Long/Short Sleve Jersey
Long Sleve Base Layer
Gloves (Capo Wind Glove)
Rain Pants (I was thinking either Showers Pass Roadie or eVent Pants)
Bibs/Bib Tights
Booties (Not sure on brand/model yet)
Shoes
Winter Socks

The pieces I'm most interested in criticism regarding are the rain jacket (showers pass elite 2.0), the gloves (Capo Wind Glove, will it be enough for heavy rain?; if not, what gloves are good), Rain Pants (Showers Pass eVent?), and Booties.
Does my layering seem ok?
Keep in mind that I am a 110 lb, 3% body fat, climber. I get cold, really easily, and I'll be up high this winter.

waterrockets 

I hate rain jackets. I'll wear six jerseys before a jacket. In Colorado, I'd only wear a shell if it dropped below 20F.

I like to layer it up and just deal with the fact that I'm going to be wet. Last year I did a couple weeks in 34F rain, and I did just fine with leg warmers, tights, toe covers, shoe covers, bibs, up to two ss jerseys, arm warmers, ls jersey, headband, skull cap, and either fleece gloves or lobsters (I'd bring both and rotate as needed).

X-LinkedRider

Under armor underwear or underpants (cold or all purpose gear) depending on temperature and similar top with jacket. A hat or hoodie under my helmet, and full fingered gloves if it cold. The less clothes to absorb liquid the better. Keep pedaling, and once you are wet your wet, so don't waste too much time avoiding it.

It rains/Snows/Sleets all the time here.

https://alphabluetech.com/kj2/cyclinghome.php
Go there and scroll all the way down and click play on the very last video.

Here is a video from some of the rain on tour. Some of it was ice cold, the downhill was sleet as you can see and hail in KC. Not too mention tornadoes and standard rainstorms.

ZeCanon

Unless you plan on having it stop raining mid-ride, and want to be a little bit dry in that event, leave the waterproof stuff at home, except for gloves, booties and maybe a vest. Rain pants will just turn you into a sweat factory, as will a full jacket if it's over 40.

Layer up, expect your arms and legs to get wet. It won't matter once you're warmed up anyway. Just keep your core, hands and feet warm and you'll be good to go.

LT Intolerant

Just wait a day and ride when its not raining. That's what everyone else does in SCal. Hell we have Santa Barbarians that won't even ride when it's misting.

Hida Yanra

I commute on a bike every day through my city's climate - I also train in this climate.

For commuting, I could give you a list of stuff that will keep you largely dry and warm.
For training, listen to Z and the others... you simply aren't going stay dry if it is raining, so focus on keeping the important bits warm.

NomadVW 

I wear the Shower's Pass Pro jacket, which is comfortably cool in sub 50°F temps, while keeping you dry - as well as race/close fitting. Took forever to get one, but really glad I did for this winter's muck.

I've used Sealskinz socks for the last year. You have to be smart about the way you wear them though because if water gets inside them... it doesn't come out, and you end up wearing socks full of water. They are waterproof both directions, for sure.

botto 

slippers and a sweater. no way in hell would i chose to train in "pouring rain" when it was in the low 30s.

substructure

^^ agreed.
I went out last Saturday in the low 60s and pouring rain and when I got home felt like T-total-shart. I couldn't imagine doing it in the 30s.

I won't mix rain with cold and rain with dark. I don't even want to think about training in the cold, rainy, dark.

ldesfor1@ithaca

just got these, the actually work. super fred, too!

https://www.rainlegs.co.uk/

keep quads knees warm, breath well. I mate them with thermal leg warmers and standard bib shorts.

substructure

Assless chaps for cyclists.
All you'll need is a pair of padded undies and pasties to cover your nipples. Maybe some gloves with tassels too.

waterrockets 

kensuf

cold is one thing, cold and wet is another. I'm a wuss, if it's raining outside and 30, I'll be on the trainer.

bdcheung

I see no reason to risk my health by training in the "pouring rain" if temps are anywhere near or below freezing.

It's not like I'm getting paid to do this.

waterrockets 

Naw, cold rain is kind of fun.

It's a nice opportunity to pull out the gear I have from my cold-climate days. There's a suburban neighborhood across the street from my office that has a moderately hilly 3-mile loop, so I can ride at lunch, in a downpour, without much traffic, and really close to the same speed as the traffic.

FWIW: it's really rare for it to rain below freezing...

I've also snowshoe backpacked at night at -5F above timberline, and pitched camp on a 15' snowpack, so I may not be wired correctly. I guess I also head out for lunch rides in the 110F sunshine....

botto 

i ride in the rain all of the time.

i ride in cold rain quite often (especially on my city bike).

i see no fun in riding in "pouring rain" when it's below 50° and i'm not racing.

Bob Dopolina 

The you'd better get to the emergency room quick! Better yet call 911 and just lie down.


For clothes I'd also skip the waterproof pants. If you're at any kind of altitude I would use a waterproof jacket, though. Descending while wet and cold is a recipe for illness. At the very least I'd use a windproof vest.

No matter what you wear you will be wet whether from rain or sweat. The trick is to also stay warm while wet.

Don't scrimp on gloves or booties. Seriously.


And get to a hospital.

substructure

I wish I was up real high

waterrockets 

Kinda like a cloud.

Doggus

Add me to the list of those who don't train in the pouring rain|cold|dark (pick any two). It's not worth the risk of getting killed or crashing out.

5 minute intervals in the dark - spooky.

The only thing I can't do on the trainer is sprint intervals. I did 1.5 hours of warmup/cooldown and mixed type intervals for 100 TSS last night on the trainer. No way I would have done the intensity or duration muddling around on desolate roads in the rain and dark with only my headlight.

Besides, I noticed coming out of last season, learning how to stick it out on the trainer for months leads to some awesome mental gains on the road.

substructure

A pretty pink cloud.

Matt2.8NJ

Low 30's + rain? Buy yourself a really good indoor trainer. I recommend a Computrainer from Racermate. For me, the reason to pony up the dough vs a decent trainer (diff is $1000+) is the boredeom factor that the Computrainer alleviates.

ericm979

How high is "up high"? It makes a difference. There's real mountains in SoCal.

I'm with Botto on this.... if it's cold and pouring rain, I don't ride. Light rain, ok. Not too cold, ok. But both? I have a used spin bike in the guest room for that. I don't ride if it's snowing at my house either.

Where I am in NorCal, we get about 50 inches of rain a year. Even if you're in the SoCal mountains you get what, 15? 20? There's not going to be that many rainy days. If you pay attention to the weather you can have some of your rest days coincide with rain days. (unless you guys get that thing we get sometimes where it only rains on the weekends).

When you do ride in the wet, fenders are great.

kensuf

When I w- We lived in Arizona, and the skies always had little fluffy clouds in 'em, and, uh... they were long... and clear and... there were lots of stars at night. And, uh, when it would rain, it would all turn - it- They were beautiful, the most beautiful skies as a matter of fact. Um, the sunsets were purple and red and yellow and on fire, and the clouds would catch the colors everywhere. That's uh, neat cause I used to look at them all the time, when I was little. You don't see that. You might still see them in the desert.

JohnKScott

I usually wear my oldest, ill-fitting cycling shorts and go shirtless.






























































On the trainer. I won't ride in weather like that. Can't make me. Nope.