TramsAm: Rainy days?

[BikeFreak]

Hi,

This summer I will be doing the TransAmerica Trail E-W starting in Virginia around June 1st. I need some information in terms of rain gear. I have a set of heavy duty Gore Tex (3 layer) rain gear but it takes up considerable space in the panniers. I have the possibility to aquire an extremely lightweight and low-volume rain gear set instead, however it is not designed for hard rain for many hours. It can be considered to be "showerproof", thus it will not repell water for a whole day.

Can those of you who did the trail, briefly describe something like:

1. How many rainy days on the entire trip?
2. How long did the rain usually last (once it started)?
3. Any other trips?

Basically it annoys me to bring such a heavy rain gear if it is only used for short moments. When I did the Northern Tier I only had very few rainy days and never rain for extended hours - however this route is far North.

Thanks in advance,

Lucas

[staehpj1]

I don't recall ever having a hard all day rain when on the Trans America.  We had a couple hard rains and got rained on for short periods quite a few times though.  We also got hailed on a couple times.

To the best of my memory we had:

• Some light rain near the west coast.
• A torrential downpour in WY when we were in camp.
• A real heavy and chilly soaking in Breckenridge CO for the last couple hours of our day.
• A deluge of epic proportions in Cassoday KS, but we were camped in a gazebo before it got too bad and waited until it was merely a medium hard rain late morning before breaking camp.  At that point the whole park had 2" of standing water.
• There were a number of either breif or very light rains here and there that didn't amount to much.

The bottom line is that my relatively cheap 7.5 ounce coated nylon windbreaker/raincoat in a tiny pouch was adequate.  A pair of coated nylon pants also 7.5 ounces and in a tiny pouch were nice to have, mostly in camp.  They are all the rain gear that I figure I need for most touring destinations and I could probably even get by without the waterproof pants, but I like them to put on in the evening in camp when it is cold.

[John Nelson]

My experiences are similar to Pete's, but of course the weather in a given year may not follow the pattern.

I took a rain jacket and pants, about 6 ounces each. They were important only a few times. It was 41 degrees Fahrenheit and raining on the Blue Ridge Parkway, with not much in the way of available shelter, which would have been pretty miserable without my rain gear. It was rainy and cool one day in Kansas, but I could have gotten through it without rain gear (admittedly with less comfort). It was 27 degrees but not raining at Current Creek Pass in Colorado, so the rain jacked served well as a wind breaker, as it did again when descending Hoosier Pass.

Another touring cyclist in Vesuvius, Virginia was sitting out the rain at Gertie's. My rain gear allowed me to continue on. Sometimes sitting out a rainstorm in some shelter or cafe gets very boring. I waited an hour in Hazard, Kentucky at a church for the rain to stop, but couldn't stand it any longer so continued on, which my rain gear allowed me to do in relative comfort.

Most of the worst rains were overnight when I was already safely in my tent. Daytime rains rarely lasted more than a few hours--I never had an all-day rain.

I would recommend taking at least a rain jacket, but it doesn't need to be expensive or heavy. Almost anything will do.

[staehpj1]

John's post reminded me that I did not mention that I find a windbreaker to be an absolute must have item and my light rain jacket fills that function as well.

[jamawani]

In every life some rain must fall.
That applies to bike touring as well.

One topic not discussed is the risk of riding in moderate to heavy rain.
A number of things happen when it is raining fairly hard.
Visibility is reduced - Stopping distances increase - For cars and bikes.
Also, drivers' and cyclists' moods change - and mood affects decisions.

That is why I usually opt NOT to ride when it is raining.
If it looks to be an all-day rain - that's a good day to take off.
Except for the coasts - most summer rain comes in squalls or storms.
So it clears up - you ride a while - and you chill when it starts up again.

From the Atlantic to eastern Kansas there are frequent towns.
In remote areas of the West, it tends to be dry with occasional big storms.
In western Oregon, summers tend to be quite dry, too.

I always tour with a decent jacket that has two purposes - warmth and water repellency.
(I also carry a synthetic long-sleeve turtleneck or fleece.)
I have never found an ideal jacket - I currently have a North Face Hyvent.
I sweat like a pig in totally waterproof jackets - which defeats the purpose, eh?
And repellent jackets will not keep you dry for hours in a downpour.
Gore-Tex (aka Leak-Tex) is way overrated in my book.
Also - bright colors are good for visibililty.

In addition, some kind of wind pants are important.
Again, these will be nice on cool/cold mornings in the West.
Like the jacket - 100% waterproof will mean you sweat.
Water repellent and breathable are the two parameters.
You can usually find discount prices at places like Campmor.

My rainwear/coldwear is significantly more robust than that described above.
However, most of my touring of late has been in the West, Canada, and Alaska.
I have opted for a compromise - both in weight and cost.
Not the cheapest and flimsiest - but nothing close to expedition quality.
Still, I like having the extra assurance against bad weather.

And when it really gets bad - - I hole up.

[Pat Lamb]

Starting mid-May in 2009, I had one day-long rain in Kansas, a couple days of intermittent showers in Kentucky, a downpour in Wyoming, and a few pop-up showers.  I didn't have (and don't want!) heavy rain gear, but a good cycling rain jacket is worth its weight and its cost, IMHO.  Look for two-way zipper on the front, pit zips and adjustable cuffs, and a rear vent to help with ventilation; a lining so you don't feel the rubber against your bare arms; and a comfortable collar.

I've never needed rain pants, but I've worn tights for some cooler showers (like the one mentioned above in Wyoming).  I rode through the rain bare-legged in the east, and was grateful for the free sweat.  If I'd had that sweat running down my rain pants, I suspect I've have been slightly upset.

I'll echo the suggestion to use a rain jacket as part of a layering strategy for cool weather.  My core was fine when we started out of Guffey with frost -- I just wish I'd had my winter gloves on!

[jwaynelee]

I did the Transam east to west in 2006, starting June 1st. I had about 2 hours of rain during the daytime over the entire 66 days. A woman I met (and who is now my wife) started riding the route in the same direction three weeks earlier, and she was rained on A LOT. My feeling, from living in Kentucky most of my life, is that there is much more rain earlier in the Spring in that part of the country than later.

I think it's worth taking a good rain jacket - I wouldn't bother with the pants, since in my experience they're not that helpful. I know that when I did the Northern Tier in 2008, I was glad to have the jacket.

[driftlessregion]

Nothing like trying to predict the weather. You mention lack of rain on the NT. The organized ACA NT in 2004 encountered lots of rain the first few weeks. I'd go with the statistical historical data on the ACA maps or various websites for the locale you are passing through.

[misterflask]

I rode for half a day on the C&O with booties but no rain pants in steadily increasing rain.  By nightfall my socks and shoes were soaked from water running down my legs.  I pull on rain pants now at the start of a shower. 
I have also taken the middle road on rain gear quality and the entire kit weighs in at a few ounces over 2lbs.  I don't mind carrying it for weeks without using it.
What I would really like to add to the kit are waterproof glove covers.  Does anyone use or know of any?  I find nothing on the market.

[John Nelson]

What I would really like to add to the kit are waterproof glove covers.  Does anyone use or know of any?  I find nothing on the market.

You can get SealSkinz gloves. I don't use SealSkinz gloves, but I do use SealSkinz socks. They felt really good on that long, cold, wet day on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Or, you can do what a lot of people do and just get some extra large dish-washing gloves (a lot cheaper). Some also put rubber bands around the cuffs to keep the water out.

No solution is ever perfect.

[webm8]

what about when it starts thunder and lightning and your stuck in the middle of no where with no cover?  or if there are trees about, but you know not to go under them.  What the heck do you do?  just keep peddling and hope for the best?!

I guess its hard to know what to take on your first tour, you don't want to carry too much, but you also don't want to be caught out and not have the right kit to keep you warm or dry.  Just drive across 

[Pat Lamb]

what about when it starts thunder and lightning and your stuck in the middle of no where with no cover?

You forgot hail.  Sounds like the storm we were caught in south of Walden.  About five miles down the road we saw a ranch a mile off to the left, but the edge of the thunderstorm was a mile forward, so we kept riding.

What the heck do you do?  just keep peddling and hope for the best?!

Pedal, hope, and pray.

Most places in the east you can find some kind of shelter.  Also, most thunderstorms come up later in the day, so most of the time you can ride early and take shelter late.  It's part of the adventure when you get caught in the storm, you can discuss it years later in touring forums! 

[RussSeaton]

Have not ridden the Trans America.  But have ridden in Europe and Colorado.  When it was raining, I rode.  I carried rain pants and jacket.  Cheap Performance brand ones.  Plastic/nylon kind.  Never used the pants.  I don't melt in the rain.  So getting wet never concerned me much.  Jacket was good for extra warmth if it was a cold rain.  Recall descending Red Mountain pass into Silverton in the rain.  I was happy to have the jacket.  Temps in the 30s.

[staehpj1]

what about when it starts thunder and lightning and your stuck in the middle of no where with no cover?  or if there are trees about, but you know not to go under them.  What the heck do you do?  just keep peddling and hope for the best?!

That happens.  I have had it happen to me quite a few times and yeah, if there was no place to take cover I just kept riding.  It might have been smarter to crouch down in a low spot, but I generally keep riding, probably taking cover the next available spot if it is really storming.  That said in the American west those places to take cover can be few and far between.

[John Nelson]

I got caught in a hail storm near Guffey, Colorado. When I heard the thunder approaching, I started looking for shelter. It was a few miles before a structure of any kind was even visible from the road. I pulled over, ditched my bike, climbed the long, long driveway up to the house, stood under the eaves next to the junk cars, and waited until the worst had passed. Then I was on my merry way. The residents, if any, never even knew I took shelter there.

When touring, you encounter problems to solve, and you do the best you can, although the solution is rarely perfect. There's a lot of innovation required when touring. Many people find this problem-solving a fun part of the tour.