Raingear

[Blackbear]

Any recommendations for state of the art raingear for ACA transam ride, Goretex? E-vent? etc?

[paddleboy17]

I have a 10 year old Gortex rain jacket that has served me well.  I hear eVent replaces Gortex, but having never used eVent I can't comment on eVent.

If you buy urethane coated nylon, you will probably regret it.

[Blackbear]

Thanks, Paddle boy.  I hear good things about e-Vent from REI.

[Pat Lamb]

The AC store carries Showers Pass touring jackets.  I replaced my old jacket with one of those (after I got home -- zipper was wearing out!).  Very nice, well thought out design with decent zippers!

FWIW, I don't use anything on my legs.  Never needed to on summer rides, and my winter rides in the rain are limited by getting to work or home.  Ordinary tights work well for limited cold weather, or much longer cool weather, and it's one less thing to carry.

[staehpj1]

None of the breathable stuff ever worked well for me.  I much prefer coated nylon.  I sweat way faster than breathable fabric can pass vapor if exercising.

Personally I like fairly inexpensive Sierra Designs packable jacket and pants that come in little stuff sacks.  I find that I can ventilate well enough using the front zipper, but I you really want to be dry pit zips and other vents are way more effective than breathable fabrics.  Me I just figure I will be wet when when I exercise rain or not.   So I expect my rain gear to keep me warm, not dry.

On a typical Trans America you will probably only have a few rainy days and some of them will be warm days so I would go with the lightest rain gear you can find.  I know that I really only used my rain gear a few times on the TA.  I did use the jacket a lot as a windbreaker. 

[Blackbear]

Thanks, st

[John Nelson]

I agree that you don't need much of anything special on a typical TransAm. Unless you get very unlucky, it won't rain on you all that much. I took a very lightweight GoLite jacket and pants, although I only used the pants once or twice.

[Grumpybear]

     What ever brand of rain gear you decide on getting I would consider making sure that it fits a little oversized. It has been my experience that on warmer days that rain, a jkt that has extra room ventilates better. On colder days you would want to have room for an insulating layer like a sweater or fleece.

[staehpj1]

FWIW, I don't use anything on my legs.  Never needed to on summer rides, and my winter rides in the rain are limited by getting to work or home.  Ordinary tights work well for limited cold weather, or much longer cool weather, and it's one less thing to carry.

I forgot to mention that I don't recall ever wearing my rain pants on the bike at all when on tour.  I was happy to have them in camp sometimes though.

[Blackbear]

Thanks to all re raingear.

[mucknort]

State of the art rain gear was higher on my shopping list during my free spending 20's, but not at this point.  On our last X/C tour I spent the big bucks on bikes, tent, and sleeping pads and bought gore-tex rain gear for cheap from TJ Maxx.

Here's some real world reviews of rain gear.

[Blackbear]

Thanks, Mucknort.

[bogiesan]

On our last X/C tour I spent the big bucks on bikes, tent, and sleeping pads and bought gore-tex rain gear for cheap from TJ Maxx.
Here's some real world reviews of rain gear.

Never thought of looking for rain gear at TJ Max, thanks for the tip!

David boise ID

[JimF]

Take a look at
http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Rain-Capes.html
I used it on a TA and on other tours and found it very effective at keeping the rain off while providing plenty of ventilation. Also cheap vs. the high-tech offerings.

[popeyespal]

I have only used it a few times but so far I am very pleased with the Fox Fluid Rain Jacket.