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Gear Talk / What's your rain riding plan?
« on: April 02, 2024, 04:51:25 pm »
This topic has been discussed before and is understandably subjective due to varying tolerance levels of personal discomfort. Right now, the weather is the typical Midwestern springtime nastiness; meaning lots of cold rain and wind. So, in preparation for my first West to East TransAm ride starting in May, it's the perfect backyard testing ground for my tent and riding kit.
Decades ago, when riding in rain I'd whip out the race cape and call it good. I'd sweat inside the non-breathable plastic material and get soaked everywhere else. In my 20's, I was able to endure a higher level of discomfort. Fast-forward to modern times, I avoid riding in rain to the point I didn't have much much modern riding rain gear. On tour, especially in the late springs of the Pacific-Northwest, cold rain is inevitable and unavoidable. In my backyard testing thus far, I've discovered that some of my old rain gear is no longer waterproof and some of my newer items, despite "waterproof" claims proudly displayed on the label, are not waterproof. I'm of the opinion that waterproof claims are more of a sliding scale and not an either/or in reality. The better gear may well prolong the soaking, but true riding waterproof gear in a downpour is a big ask.
I'm a little unorthodox in my clothing gear choices because I'm generally repulsed by the high cost and mediocre performance of much specialty cycling clothing, especially in the rain and cold gear categories. I've found some very good alternatives in other outdoor industries such as Scorpion convertible motorcycle jackets, Columbia PFG fishing pants, Rooster sailing-specific headgear, along with waterproof gloves from the cycling-focused brand Endura.
One rain riding area I'm still struggling with is shoe coverage. My old "waterproof" Pearl Izumi booties are not, or no longer waterproof; a big disappointment fortunately discovered through my backyard testing. They limit the shoes I can use because of the snug-fit design intended for road shoes. I had bought some way-too-expensive Assos waterproof socks, and they lasted one rain ride before holes in both toes breached the hulls of the waterproof membrane and flooded my feet like the Titanic. Before that, I had some VeloToze rubberized waterproof shoe covers; they were impossibility tight to get on and off and soon split rendering them them useless. Also, they were only for road shoes and provided no cold insolation.
If you were on tour and the forecast called for days of 45-50 degrees (7-10 celsius), wind, and constant moderate-to-heavy rain, describe your riding rain plan.
Decades ago, when riding in rain I'd whip out the race cape and call it good. I'd sweat inside the non-breathable plastic material and get soaked everywhere else. In my 20's, I was able to endure a higher level of discomfort. Fast-forward to modern times, I avoid riding in rain to the point I didn't have much much modern riding rain gear. On tour, especially in the late springs of the Pacific-Northwest, cold rain is inevitable and unavoidable. In my backyard testing thus far, I've discovered that some of my old rain gear is no longer waterproof and some of my newer items, despite "waterproof" claims proudly displayed on the label, are not waterproof. I'm of the opinion that waterproof claims are more of a sliding scale and not an either/or in reality. The better gear may well prolong the soaking, but true riding waterproof gear in a downpour is a big ask.
I'm a little unorthodox in my clothing gear choices because I'm generally repulsed by the high cost and mediocre performance of much specialty cycling clothing, especially in the rain and cold gear categories. I've found some very good alternatives in other outdoor industries such as Scorpion convertible motorcycle jackets, Columbia PFG fishing pants, Rooster sailing-specific headgear, along with waterproof gloves from the cycling-focused brand Endura.
One rain riding area I'm still struggling with is shoe coverage. My old "waterproof" Pearl Izumi booties are not, or no longer waterproof; a big disappointment fortunately discovered through my backyard testing. They limit the shoes I can use because of the snug-fit design intended for road shoes. I had bought some way-too-expensive Assos waterproof socks, and they lasted one rain ride before holes in both toes breached the hulls of the waterproof membrane and flooded my feet like the Titanic. Before that, I had some VeloToze rubberized waterproof shoe covers; they were impossibility tight to get on and off and soon split rendering them them useless. Also, they were only for road shoes and provided no cold insolation.
If you were on tour and the forecast called for days of 45-50 degrees (7-10 celsius), wind, and constant moderate-to-heavy rain, describe your riding rain plan.