MrCjolsen

Low fifties. Rain showers, heavy at times. 3 miles tailwind, then probably a good cross wind. 13 mile ride across the Yolo Causeway (where all weather is amplified)

I have the following clothes available for the ride home:

1 Performance illuminite "commuter jacket" that doesn't breathe that well.
2 long sleeve jerseys
1 base layer T shirt
1 short sleeve jersey
1 wind vest with a mesh back.
Shorts
Leg warmers
Lightweight shoes
neoprene toe covers
Cotton socks
Wool socks.

My bike has full fenders and a nice long mudflap in front. Anything I don't wear, I can pack in my pannier.

I'm going to post this on the roadie forum too, just to see if it differs.

noisebeam

Its all personal really.

For a 9mi commute in such conditions I would (and have) wear a long sleeve baselayer under a short sleeve jersey/shirt, shorts and a thin pair of wool socks. I'd be soaking wet, warm but prone to rapid cooling, after ride and most enjoy a hot shower. The extra 4mi could make leg warmers part of the package.

Al

caloso

I'll be riding in the same weather (although not as far as you), and I'll probably be wearing

cycling cap under the helmet
polypro baselayer
longsleeve jersey
bibs
knee warmers
cotton sox
neoprene toe covers
full finger gloves

I have a pair of tights but I don't think I'll need them. And I wish I had a pair of wool sox rather than cotton.

Cynikal 

While I rode in this morning in work clothes (albeit, not far. Land park to City Hall). I plan on dressing myself in a large square vehicle with a RT on the side for my ride home . More power to you brother. Sounds like you are well equipped, ave a good ride.

MrCjolsen

I wore most of what I listed on the ride in this morning minus the jacket and the short sleeve jersey. The jacket I mostly use to wear around the school when it's raining (I'm wearing it right now).

Here's my big question: Cycling gear - long sleeve jerseys, knee warmers, shorts -- does it retain it's warming properties when wet?

idcruiserman

I would wear a long sleeve jersey, vest, shorts, and wool socks. I would be more concerned about overheating with the jacket than getting wet without it.

dalmore

I think I tend to dress more warmly than most but I'd go:
base layer T shirt
long sleeve jersey
Shorts
Leg warmers
Lightweight shoes
neoprene toe covers
Cotton socks
Wool socks

Then either the vest or the jacket depending on whether the rain was warm or cold.

I'd also have some gloves there.

caloso

Not really, but it's only going to be in the 50s and I think if you layer up, you'll just be a soaked mess. (Now, if it drops down to the low 40s or 30s, then I'd probably just call for a ride. That's hypothermia weather.)

mmerner

I dream of low fifties. I would wear the shorts, the t-shirt and the jacket. no matter what you do, you're gonna get wet, so live it up

thdave

1 long sleeve jersey, wind vest, shorts, wool socks, toe covers, shoes, and leg warmers.

cccorlew

1 Performance illuminite "commuter jacket" that doesn't breathe that well. YES
wear the long sleeve jerse, unless it REALLY is +50 and there isn't a tom of wind.
wear the base layer T shirt -- if it isn't under armour get some. If it's cotton stop wearing it NOW
Shorts -- I wear shorts under my no-pad bib tights
Leg warmers -- OK... unless you get tights
Lightweight shoes
neoprene toe covers
Wool socks

I'd add rain pants, waterproof, or resistant gloves, a shull cap and maybe a helmet cover.
I'd wear the rain pants when it looked like rain, without the tights.
Some of this depends on how hard the wind blows.

caloso

I came in from lunch a little while ago and it felt a lot colder than the official NWS 46 F. In fact, it's getting colder. I doubt it will get above 50F.

So, I'm revising my recommendation to say go with the jacket.

SSfreak

Good luck Mr. C. It's raining pretty hard out there. Heading toward Davis is ALWAYS windy. Especially down the Causeway.

I can't advise you on what to wear, just stear clear from those crazy drivers driving home in the rain.

I road my bike today since it was so sunny this morning. I'm just taking the bus back home from Downtown to Elk Grove. I didn't even bring a rain jacket. So much for checking the weather.

MrCjolsen

I went with the jacket, base layer and a long sleeve jersey. From the waist up I was fine. But at 43 degrees and a driving headwind, the shorts and leg warmers didn't cut quite cut it. I was wishing for rain pants, which I don't own and haven't felt a need to buy before today.

Starting out it was nice. In W. Sac it looked like I was going to have a tailwind or at worse a crosswind. As I made my normal U-turn on West Capitol to go onto the causeway, suddenly the wind was going strait at me. As I went across the causeway it got worse, turning into a ugly headwind and a stinging rain.

When you get to the other side of the causeway, you head due north atop a levee for hundred yards. I could see that the wind was making the rain travel at about a 45 degree angle. And I still had 4 miles left to go.

Once I got to Davis, the rain lightened and the wind seemed to die as well. All I could say was %$#@ if I had left 45 minutes later I'd have had a much nicer ride.

But it was quite educational. I do know how wet and cold the weather can be and still be rideable for the trip home at least. I know now that my Performance "Commuter Jacket" is for temps below 45 degrees. And I just might keep my tires deflated to 100 psi. It felt good.

But my feet were soaked. Rather perplexing considering that I have mudflaps, and that I had plastic bags over my feet and also between my toe covers and my shoes. Just where in the hell was the water getting in.

Tomorrow, the weather.com is forcasting rain and a chance of SNOW. That's like freaky apocalypic weather for the Central valley.