Riding in Wet Weather

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, I have been to the Cape many, many times prior to my new addiction. I have to say, that this September trip was the best ever. The CCRT is fantastic! Fall is a great time to go, with fewer tourists around clogging the trails! The road hugging the ocean between Truro and Wellfleet provided breathtaking views.

Yes, we rode right along there, on the road by the dunes- so beautiful.
I can't imagine going in mid-season though- it was crowded enough as it was in late Sept!
I sure had some good LOBSTER though.

[bruiser]

This will be my third (or maybe it's the fourth...) season riding in the Pacific NW rain. One thing I have learned is that you don't always want a hardshell rain jacket. I rode all of last winter with one and found that I ended up being almost as damp on the inside as I was on the out. And this was the kind that is supposed to be "breathable" So this I week I went and bought a softshell from SportHill (a local company, but you can get them from REI and probably some other running/outdoor stores). It's a dream, and it keeps me warm and dry! I do plan on using my rain jacket when it dumps, though, as my new coat is technically only water resistant.

I would caution cars on the road. Besides spitting a bunch of road gunk on you as they pass, it seems they notice you even less when its mucky out. Give them pleeeeenty of room. I've almost been hit (or hit them, as is the case when they cut me off ) too many times. Try to anticipate their moves even more than you would in nicer weather. Use lots of reflective bands and lights, lights, lights! Constantly do brake-checks to keep your pads and rims dry, too.

After a few days, you'll be a pro!
~V

[Aggie_Ama]

Other than the other things said here.... Be mindful of the paint on the road. The stripes/lines are VERY slippery when wet. It can easily make you lose control if you turn wrong on it; similar to turning with gravel in the way. Unfortunately, I saw this happen at an organized ride this year and it was a nasty fall for the rider.

[RoadRaven]

Just reiterating what the opthers have said...

Stay away from paint on the roads, and slow down when cornering

[elk]

what's the difference between a hardshell rain jacket and a soft shell?

[KnottedYet]

what's the difference between a hardshell rain jacket and a soft shell?

In the general sense (and I'm sure someone will come along to correct me and give specifics) a hardshell is the good ol' rain jacket, often either a coating or a membrane to keep the wet out. A softshell is a dense weave that is more along the lines of water-resistant.

example of a hardshell: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=29971

I think this is an example of a softshell: http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=28496 but I could be wrong. The ones I've fondled at REI are a very tight, almost rubbery feeling weave. Reminds me of boiled wool.

I like wearing my dense wool weaves in the rain, with a rain jacket if it's really dumping. Fenders are my friends, and buddy flaps really do help keep the bike cleaner. www.buddyflaps.com (even with full fenders I was still spraying crud onto my bottom bracket)

[Eden]

That sounds like a pretty good description. I love my softshell, even for the hardest rain. Its very good at letting sweat out and I find I stay drier in it, than I would in a fully waterproof rain jacket.

I tend to generate a lot of heat when I ride..... (which is funny because when I am not moving I'm one of those people who is ALWAYS cold), so I boil in a standard waterproof/breathable jacket. I tried it out again the other day - went on an errand ride, which means no team kit, which is what I normally wear. It was probably a little over 50 out, overcast, but not raining any more than a few drops here and there. I wore only a camisol top underneath the rain jacket (started out with a sweater on, but only made it a few blocks before that was way to hot!). Even with the pit zips wide open I was frying.

Other things to love about softshells - no crunchy noises when ever you move. They can fit nice and close - so no flapping. They are not usually clammy when you are not riding. A little more fashionable when you are not on the bike.
The drawback - they are fairly bulky so rolling one up and sticking it in your back pocket can be hard.

One caveat about the buddyflap.com flaps - if you are putting them on because you are riding with other people, unless you have very long fenders, they tend to not be big enough. A bunch of our new gals put those on their bikes and they perfectly direct spray up into my face. I think they are unhappy that I've told them they need bigger/longer flaps, but I tend to be a mouth breather on the bike and I dislike eating road grit....

[TriMom217]

I think it's very cool that so many women here come to the Cape for vacation and to ride. And since l live here, you should definitely look me up next time!