40 degrees and raining sideways. Really pretty much as fast as you can pour water out of the sky.

I take off in my latest and greatest, hi-tech rain gear for some miles.

45 minutes into my loop, everything simultaneously gives way. Even with neoprene booties, my feet are wet, my hands are wet, my torso is wet. I ride it our for another 45 minutes, making myself feel better with the thought of the European Spring Classics and imagine being out in this stuff for another 4 hours.

The only thing that worked really well is my Performance neoprene tights.

So, any good stay dry/warm tips that work on a white trash budget.

-Z

No reason to stay dry. Just stay warm. Many knit layers. I'd run a silk base layer, arm warmers, ss jersey, and LS jersey to stay warm down to about 20 degerees (or 32 raining). Same thing with leg warmers and 2 pairs of tights if needed. Calientoes under booties are magical in really cold or wet weather.

I can't stand wearing a shell unless 15F or less.

You can't stay dry cycling in the rain. Period.

Work on staying warm.

Almost the same problem climbing in the summer. Can't stay dry, so you work on keeping hydrated and trying to stay cool.

Bike ride = wet, smelly and grimy. If you want to be clean and dry get in your car.

Rain is wet...

Riding in the rain will get you wet...

Riding in the cold rain can be miserable...

Stay warm and wet and it is less miserable.....

You can keep feeling at least a little less comfortable than "soggy wet":

1. plastic bags over shoes, under booties, don't punch holes for cleats - should be fine although you should check first. For Looks they are fine for 10-20 clip/unclips. They'll keep your feet DRY for an hour, then condensation will make them wet.

For booties and the bag, put duct tape around the top (ankle area). If you shave your legs it won't hurt, and it'll keep water from running into your shoes.

2. Those clear plastic rainshells work wonders for keeping me warm even when the condensation inside makes me damp.

3. On a rainy 40 deg day I wear as little as possible on my legs to keep the waterlog factor down. So I'd wear knickers vs tights.

4. I put some tape over the vents (front and top ones) on the helmet to keep warmer and less wet.

I've still to figure out a comfortable glove and leg strategy. But my feet, torso, and head are okay for 2+ hours at a time.

cdr

I bought an expensive waterproof breathable Jacket a few weeks ago. First ride out i was soaked. Baffled and pissed off i performed a little test of my own. Cupped water with the jacket and let it sit for 10 minutes. Bone dry inside. So obviously i was soaked with sweat. After some searching i find out the "breathable" fabrics can rarely keep up with heavy physical demands, even with pit zip's open.

But i did maintain a comfortable temperature and the wind is also kept out

What was the piece of high tech cycling jacket you wore that didnt work ?

Under no circumstances will I be ridding around with a plastic bag on my foot. But if one insisted on doing so, why wouldn't you put it on over your sock and then put it in the shoe?

sweat will collect inside the bag and then your feet will be wet anyway, not to mention that the collected fluid will not drain out.

Good golly almighty that's a lotta work. If i have to do all that, I'll just stay home. Cycling is supposed to be fun - doing all that to gear up takes al the fun otta it

Hey Jarery you live in my hood. Overtime Sports down on Schoolhouse across from theater have these on for 100$, sweet deal https://www.activagear.com/outerwear/...sku=455836.jpg

some nice features stretchy, zip up tail and hood. Good for every day use here in Vancouver.

Original Poster......i am convinced you were just soaked with sweat.

Turn your neoprene booties inside out and paint the insides with tool dip. It will create a waterproof rubbery layer.

WOOL.

Seriously. I don't want to sound too Rivendell-y, but it's the best for the wet and cold. Like everybody's already said, nothing's going to keep you dry in real, pounding rain. Wool will keep you warm.

Many years ago I bought a Goretex Cycling specific jacket. That is waterproof and the only problem I have is judging the number of layers to put underneath it. Too many and you sweat- Too few in cold weather and you freeze. Judge the layers right and Goretex Rules. Extremities are my problem. Feet cured with SealSkinz socks- They are waterproof and keep the feet dry and they stay warm. Ski mask- in horizontal rain and it takes the sting and cold away. Problem still with the hands but going for SealSkinz gloves. And Legs- Just a pair of Knickers to cover the knees and I am fine.

Nah, it was from the outside in. The outer layers were wet. Good theory though.

I picked up some gloves at Performance today that are neoprene. Can always take 'em back if they don't work.

Still working on a fix for the feet. Let you know how it all pans out. I will probably pick up a jacket at Performance to replace the (very) old PI one that is not so waterproof anymore.

-Z

Ahhh i see, to bad we couldn't shift some of this weather south.

They are burning up(literaly) and we are swimming to work. Snow here this weekend. Yuck

Note: I wear a bootie over the baggie so you can only see it when I unclip or you're peeking at my heel (there's an opening there).

True on the foot being wet after a while. However, if you're doing a crit (1 hour) your feet will be reasonably dry at the end. If it's cold and raining, you'll stay relatively dry for longer. I have a couple sets of wool DeFeet socks and they're great when it's cold and/or wet and work well under the baggie.

What you *don't* get is the bone chilling "icicle down your bootie" feeling 10 or so minutes into the ride as water trickles down your previously dry ankle.

If you're doing a long ride (my last ride in the rain was 2 hours or so) the shoes are damp but not soggy. It was as if I'd ridden in a mist or something, not the torrential downpour that made the road white with bouncing water. And my feet felt warm the whole time. Beats soggy shoes that are stretching every which way (one reason for bag outside shoe).

Second reason for bag outside shoe is you have the same sock/shoe interface. A while ago Cannondale came out with a waterproof sock thing (basically a high tech version of a plastic baggie) that you wore over your socks but inside your shoe. Worked pretty well except it made you feel move around just a bit in the shoe, especially the heel.

Third reason is the little bit of air between the baggy and the shoe and your sock creates an insulating layer. It's warmer than having the bag compressed against your sock (inside your shoe). The bootie has more room around the shoe than your shoe does around your sock.

What I hate is how heavy my gear gets when it's wet, esp the long stuff (tights, jacket) and thick stuff (booties, gloves). When someone can solve that I'll be happy. In the meantime I'll stick with my low-tech rain jacket, baggies, and knickers.

cdr

Actually im a proud owner of a www.showerspass.com elite jacket made from event. I arrive at work fine and dry as long as its 50's F and below when its pouring rain. Thats why I asked what the OP was wearing .

Light rain I use a windshirt

This. In cold, wet weather, the only things you should be concerned with are your toes, fingers, and ass. Two might frostbite and the last will have saddle sores.