Rain Gear for the ride
 

The time of year has arrived in which I need to trade out my casual riding attire for something a bit more appropriate for long commutes in the rain. I've done alright the last few winters with a two piece rain-suit from Costco, but I'd like to upgrade to a cycling specific setup.



Any recommendations on Jackets and pantaloons? Or anything else for that matter?

This should be a FAQ or sticky by now, but I'll bite anyhow.

I go with a Showers Pass Touring jacket. As my commute is only 10 miles, I don't worry about rain pants. If it's raining and cool, I'll wear tights, and push a bit to (a) stay warm and (b) get there faster.

I've also used Performance Century jackets until I wore them out. They worked well, but the SP is a step up.

I look for things like a two-way front zipper, pit zips, a comfortable collar, and adjustable wrist closure (or elastic that's not tight), and a liner of some sort. Rubber or plastic against my skin gives me creeps.

Rain Cape.. it keeps your hands dry too, and there is good ventilation.

J&G, Campmor a couple sources.. Carridice .. I got one by Grundens, fishers here wear their gear at sea.
Riv Bike sent them the design, and sells them .. lifetime durable..

Oh ,, Mudguards are required , or wheelspray undoes the benefits .

I have an O2 hoodless jacket, works well for commuting. It's not insulated, only a membrane layer... I'm sure it's not the best, but works pretty well, packs small and light, and is really cheap.

What's your distance and typical riding temperature?

What's your budget?

REI E1 jacket (no hood)

stearn rain pants

lycra shoe covers

I live in what I consider an incredibly moderate climate: i don't think it's ever been less than 55 degrees when I've ridden, and usually when it rains it is closer to the low 60s. I commute on average about 25 miles a day. On a busy (but usually fair-weathered day) i can push 50. I prefer layering, so i feel that thermal insulation isn't my priority. I've worn a nice (i believe it was an old Patagonia) shell on a few rides, which helped a bit- but I'm a bit on the tall, skinny side and ended up with a lot of water and grime sprayed up the back of my shirt and down my pants...

As for budget, I could probably ultimately fork out up to 200 bucks on a jacket, maybe 250. But jeez it better be nice.

I find that I sweat in whatever raingear I wear, even in cold temperatures.

I've experimented a couple of times with simply layering up on the wool, and will give it a go this season. Thin merino base layer, thick wool sweater over....

Of course, my commute isn't as long as yours, so less exposure.

On touring days where I've ridden in the rain all day I wore rain gear, still got wet underneath after hours and hours in the rain. The wool under helped me to stay warm even when wet.

I finally bit the bullet and threw down serious money for my rain gear. A Showers Pass jacket and Goretex cycling rain pants.

The jacket's great with regards the weatherproofing and quality of construction but for the money I have design issues with it. The hood is a separate, which I purchased for 25 bucks and have already lost or misplaced, I hate the sleeve width- they catch on my hybrid handlebars- yes, they have velcro to tighten them but they still catch and I've gone to signal a turn and almost pulled the bike 90〫off course. I don't like the slant cut to the pockets- I've forgotten to zip them shut and almost lost stuff. The Gore Tex pants are great in terms of water/weatherproofing but they are cut really tight. I'm a skinny guy and I got the xlarge and they're tight especially over jeans. And I hate the narrow velcro strips at an angle for the cuffs- simple!!! please!!!!

I like stuff more practically designed. This stuff feels a little over designed, as if to justify the high price tag.

Evidently Shower's Pass makes a more commuter friendly jacket than the one I bought. I'm not quite sure which one I've got but it's probably the more high end road riding jacket as a opposed to commuter/touring.

Get simple, basic rain gear. It'd be great if they made simple Gore Tex rain gear but I think when they use Gore Tex they feel obligated to make it all tricked out.

That makes a big difference. I've got an REI Stratos jacket that I like a lot, but if it's more than about 55 degrees out (coincidentally) I end up sweating like a pig on my 10-mile commute. This jacket has arm-pit vents, which help a lot, but in my experience waterproof and breathable only play together so much, no matter what the marketing says. I hear good things about other brands (Showers Pass, Gore), but I suspect they're still pretty warm in this temperature range. Below 50, my Stratos jacket is outstanding. Above 55, I'd be willing to use it on sub-5-mile rides. If it's over 55, I use a cheap Performance Century II jacket which isn't waterproof at all and soaks through in about 10 minutes, but it keeps me clean. If it's over 65, I just get wet and count on the sweat to wash away the grime.

If it is that warm I would stick with nickers and a nice breathable shell.

Add a fender and it will keep your butt dry and happy. REI sells a few tights that have water resistant front panels down to the knees.

Add a good pair of rain booties and your GTG.

In PDX the rain comes down and it is 40 deg or colder. So I wear a Mountain Hardware Dragon Jacket with an old pair of snow pants and a good set of booties. I throw some underarmor underneath and some running tights and ride captain ride. You will warm up. Does this keep my desert dry? No, but I am not soaked either. Yesterday we had a soaker. Rain drops the size of half dollars with pea sized hail. My bike shorts and underarmor shirt were dry, sweaty, but dry. My tights and socks were wet. I have a hole in my booties.

speaking of booties, that is the one thing i've yet to figure out....how to keep the feet dry. for now I just carry an extra pair of socks.

cold and wet are still my enemy for winter/rain/feet

wet is just fine

LL Bean boots Dry Feet thing great. I have their shortest.. 6" uppers.

well since i am under 55 i am not allowed to wear anything from LL Bean

My Northface shell and rain paints work great.

At those temps, prepare to sweat in any rain gear. 50 or above, a hat to keep the rain out of your eyes, and a waterproof pannier to keep your clothes dry in. You can either get wet in your shorts & shirt in the warm rain, or sweat up inside your showers pass (I have one) jacket and mtn hardware pants (got those too). Just my opinion.

two craft women's jackets that someone stuck on the men's rack at the LL Bean Outlet... :rolleyes:

rain pants that zip off down along both sides.

Shoes that I can take off.

Stuff in plastic bags in my mess bag

Clip the dorky visor back on to my helmet.

Or just ride in the rain and change out of track pants and a technical t once I get to work. Ca depende....

I have one of those too. You described it perfectly. Mine has started getting torn up at the cuffs, they're not durable against tearing. But for what I paid, it's far better than what it replaced (a clear plastic racer-style jacket). Unlike fabric coated with a water-repellent coating, it's remained waterproof, too.

The ability to pack the O2 jacket down small enough to stuff in a jersey pocket is nice when the weather's looking iffy but I want to go on a group ride or something.

Hmmmm... Santa Cruz, CA? I'd forget about a hard-shell jacket and stick to a light weight soft-shell for a top coat. Maybe even just a soft-shell vest. On all but the coldest of days, I'd stick to fleece or merino wool. On the coldest/wettest of days, throw on the soft-shell over top. You'll stay warm even if you're wet, and they should be dry by the time you leave.

If it was only 55 to 60 degrees on the coldest of days, and assuming a torrential down poor, I'd still wouldn't wear a hard shell. Personally, I'd wear a quick dry long sleeve shirt and perhaps a short sleeve quick dry shirt over top. I probably wouldn't even throw a vest on. And, I probably wouldn't wear anything over my legs (shorts only) with my regular shoes and wool socks.

I'm used to riding in the rain, I live in the Pacific Northwest.

If you wear a hard shell, you're going to be wet from the underside, as none breathe enough to evaporate all sweat during vigorous exercise.

Anyone ever use Frog Togs for riding? I've thought about using them since they're super light, super breathable. I'm not so sure the pants would hold up on a bike seat though.

I have a set of their motorcycle rain gear and they work great and are waterproof. On the motorcycle. But when I started training for my commute last December and was riding up the logging roads in the rain and snow, I tried them and they don't breath nearly well enough for riding a bicycle. I don't see where they make a model jacket with pit vents either, which seem to me to be a basic necessity. They make good stuff I just haven't seen anything that is sufficiently bicycle specific.

In the temperature range you're describing, I'd be pretty hesitant to use any rain gear at all. In sort of warm, rainy weather, I just wear a light wool sweater; I'd rather be wet via rain than sweat. If it's in the low 50's F range, I might wear a rain jacket and shorts. If it gets to the low 40s, then rain pants start looking pretty attractive.

I use Showers Pass pants and a North Face jacket. They're pricey, but I'm completely happy to pay for very good rain gear in an environment where rain is likely 9-10 months a year.

http://www.bicycleclothing.com

1) Bike specific clothing combats this by extending the back of jerseys and jackets well below one's waistline.

2) Got the WP/Breathable Jacket, pants and helmet cover. All for 200.00. W/o full coverage fenders, 'golf visor', neoprene gloves, neoprene shoe covers and w/p gaiters from REI, Campmor or STP they're WORTHLESS. :p Anything over 10 mph and you get soaked from the inside...pick your poison. :) The main thing is to try to keep your skin sweatness from reaching the outside wetness. That's when the purpose of 'rain gear' is defeated.

That being said the J&G stuff is very high quality. It does keep one as comfortable as one can be in 40F rain.