Just getting back into biking after a layoff of a few years due to some injuries. Looking to do some brevats and centuries next spring so I want to, and need to continue to ride over the winter here in Portland. Any advice as far as rain gear or riding in the rain? Appreciate any info, really glad I found this forum.

John

Ear warmers. Layers.

As far as breathable jackets, you will probably overwhelm any breathability in a jacket, so expect condensation on the inside.

My merino wool socks seem to work well when wet.

Winter riding rule: When it's not raining, you must ride.

Rim brakes are iffy unless you have chromed steel rims. If you have steel rims, your brakes won't be iffy, they'll be non-existent.

You can ride along in a perfectly straight line for quite a while without too much aggravation. As soon as you start a turn, your front wheel will pump cold water onto one or other of your feet.

Water will run uphill to get inside of your rain gear. If your rain gear is good enough to keep the rain out, it'll also be good enough to hold your sweat in. Take your pick.

Uh - we're doing this for fun - right?

Fenders.

Portlandia? The place young people go to retire? (maybe you will have to look up the TV show reference)

Having gone to high school in Seattle I can only give you a suggestion to how I dealt with the rain and how much easier it can be for you.

I had to look in a phone book for U-Haul and use a dial phone to rent a trailer to move to someplace where in only rains once in a while in the winter. You can simply use a cell phone. That way if you aren't retired you can still commute in conditions you wouldn't be ashamed of leaving your dog out to enjoy.

Out on the coast where the Squalls come ashore , but the traffic is Low at night .

I am Pleased with how well my cycle raincape , and mudguards and a Hubdynamo for lights, work .

Jackets just assume your hands will get wet, unless you wear Rubber Gloves ..
Rain pants will last a couple years . if riding thru the winter ..
There are shoe covers, Showers Pass is a Company in Portland [Importing ]

Me I Bought LL Bean rubber bottom boots and use platform pedals.

In the city you may need a lot of reflective stuff on you and blinkie lights and a lot more awareness
to cope with the much greater volume of people on the road with you.

rain cover on the bike helmet.

All of the above and.....................................



REI or Showers Pass rain jacket and pants, full fingered gloves and a helmet cover. I just let my feet get wet.

A dedicated rain bike is nice. Even an old MTB with street tires works great in the rain and over the winter.

Fenders, as already noted is a must. Even with fenders, shoes are going to get wet. So you'll need shoe covers or dedicated water proof shoes.

Helmet cover, check. I also prefer a helmet with a visor for wet rides. This helps shield some of the rain from the eyes.

Rain pants for heavy cold rain, yes. But sometimes I just ride in shorts if the weather isn't to cold or heavy. Also, I don't like rain pants next to the skin, the pants stick. Instead, use really thin light weight tights, so much more comfortable while wearing rain pants.

Jacket is a must, people have their favorites. My current favorite is made by Endura, also have Showers Pass and a couple others.

Gloves, you'll need something at least water resistant, if not water proof.

Lights are good on days with low light, both front and rear.

Next, is don't be a in a hurry, give plenty of time to where ever your going.

Fenders and high reflective gear. Rubberized gloves are a big help if it's colder than 75F.

No cotton. Make that a hard rule. You can choose between synthetic and wool layers. The difference is wool will wick and retain the moisture but will keep insulating. Synthetics won't retain the moisture. They will (for the most part) allow it to pass through. Both methods work but wool does not work so well if you have to stop and become inactive for a long period. Not typically a problem for a cyclist. Your inner layers should be synthetic and allow moisture to pass through (IMHO) and the outer layer windproof on the front and breathable on the back side. Your outer rain layer will indeed trap your perspiration. When you pay for better rain gear you pay for designs that allow controlled airflow and/or goretex type materials. There a many levels of quality between heavy pvc coats and hitech rain jackets.
I think rain booties are a big deal. I'm clipless all the time. Rain booties keep feet reasonably dry and warm until clipless has to be changed for boots and straps.
I don't ride in rain much. Winter means studded tires.

I agree wholeheartedly on wool socks.

Riding in the rain sucks. You will get wet. I avoid it.

Riding in the rain is fun. You will get wet(sometimes from condensation inside your clothes).
I avoid metal surfaces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jfcWEkSrI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeZhBw3cjI

The ONLY time I don't ride is in the rain. I'm on my second set of Nokia studded tires.

Here in Oregon, we have the best rain for riding. It's not so hot that one can't wear a rain coat. It's usually not so hard that it makes it difficult to see (this morning at 0400 excepted). Really, our liquid sunshine isn't any big deal. I do recommend finding a hand cover situation that will work for you, as well as something for your feet. I can't make any product recommendations since my hands and feet are too big for any commercial products (I make my own). Be sure to leave enough room in the gloves so that you don't affect circulation (which depends on being able to move the digits). It's hard to overdo the foot coverings. Warmer is better for the feet. As others have mentioned, wool works wonders. It still loses insulation value when wet, just not as much as other materials.

I also recommend that you have enough storage capacity that you can adjust to changing conditions. For instance, we rode out at 6:30 AM this morning in a steady rain that lasted the first three hours of our ride. Then we had several hours of dry and even some sunshine. Then we had another hour of rain on the way home. It was a great ride, but it would have been uncomfortable if I would have had to pick one set of clothes and stay with them all day without having anyplace to stow them as the day warmed up/dried out and then retrieve them when it got wet again. Oh, my primary stowage is a large pocket on the back of my reflective vest. Sanderson Safety sells them. https://www.thomasnet.com/profile/011...supply-co.html

Oh yeah, lights, lights, lights. Don't skimp on your lighting. The wet road will reflect any light sources out there, so your lights have to compete with those. For the rear, DiNotte. Expensive and worth it. Add some cheapies at varying heights, but have a bright flashing primary back there. In front, there are lots of choices at varying costs.

Was that a pleasure ride?

Speaking for myself, I can't get out the door that early, especially if it's raining.

In warm weather, I really don't need any rain gear. In cold weather, I just need something to keep the rain off of my skin. I bought a cheap nylon rain suit years ago and it has served me well. Since I love in Florida and our cool season is also our dry season, I don't really need anything more highend

PI poly skullcap under the helmet. Some people use a balaclava. Craft long-sleeve or short sleeve undershirt. Then a long-sleeve jersey of appropriate weight for the temp, maybe more than one, or a short-sleeve and arm warmers if it's warm, like 55. Sometimes I'll wear a long-sleeve Craft, short sleeve jersey, and arm warmers. That outfit has a wide temperature range. Then on top, a non-waterproof but windproof yellow jacket, for example the Performance Century jacket or PI Elite Barrier Convertible. The idea is that water will go in and out, but you'll stay warm by wearing the right amount of poly insulating clothing. I also bring along a wind vest or use the PI Convertible for between showers.

On the bottom, shorts and leg warmers for down to maybe 50, then tights with a pad like the PI Elite Thermal tight down to maybe 42, then regular shorts with a warmer tight over, like PI Elite AmFIB tights or Performance Triflex tights (what I use) that are good down to snowing.

In the shoes, wool socks. Over the shoes, for packable and mild weather, Sugoi Resistor Bike Booties. For cold weather, a lined neoprene bootie. However for cold weather I use Lake insulated MTB winter boots, like the MXZ303. Shimano and PI also make winter bike shoes. There is absolutely nothing like riding in the rain with something like my Lakes. Feet still warm and dry after 75 miles of 36° and raining the whole way. The trick is to buy dry suit leg seals and put them on your bare leg just above the boot top. Then there is never any water running down your legs and into the boots.

I forgot gloves. Best for the most severe weather are Gore Xenon Gore-Tex gloves. Nothing else comes close or even works. Going warmer, Performance Zonda, then PI Elite Softshell (amazing temp range) then short finger for 50-55 and warmer.

Well said! If we thought about it too much we would only ride 4 months out of the year

Pure pleasure. It was The Duncan Ride https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...d-Century-Plus
I'll get some video and a ride report onto that one-post thread sometime this week. 116 miles and only seven cars passed us all ride long. The only downside was that we didn't see any bears of cougars, which is rare in that neck of the woods. Perhaps the half-dozen large clear-cut operations on the route have caused the interesting critters to hang out elsewhere for a spell.