Rain and kinda cold -- what would you wear??

[ny biker]

I'm a ride marshall for a fundraising ride tomorrow. It's been raining here for days, and the forecast for tomorrow is temps in the mid-50s to mid-60s and:

"Expect the possibility of more flooding rains to only last through tonight. By Saturday, rain begins to wind down to more light sprinkles/drizzle or isolated showers."

I'm trying to decide what to wear. My Showers Pass jacket should be more than warm enough for my torso. For my legs, I'm trying to decide between Ibex wool capris or shorts under Sugoi Midzero tights. I know that in general the wool would be a good choice, but I'm wondering if a few inches of exposed lower leg will be enough to doom my feet to being cold despite wool socks and toe covers.

I also have a brand new wool cap. I'm trying to decide if I want to wear it under my helmet or if that would be too warm. If it rains hard, I can wear the Showers Pass detachable hood that I bought with the jacket, but I don't think that will be necessary.

I do have notes on what outfits have been comfortable (or not) in various weather conditions on previous bike rides, but the capris and cap are new so I don't know yet what conditions they're good for.

This is the cap (super cozy, I just might sleep in it on cold nights!): http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodIB_852.html

These are the tights: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_40311F.html

The capris are from Ibex, and I don't see them on TE anymore so I guess they've sold out.

I don't know yet if I'll be riding the shorter route (28 miles) or the longer one (55 miles), but even with the shorter route I expect to it to be a long day. I'll probably be stopping to assist other cyclists and take shifts at various corners where we want to have a volunteer to direct the cyclists.

Thanks very much for any suggestions!!

[OakLeaf]

Conditions were similar on the Saturday I rode CFC, and I wound up borrowing someone's knee warmers because I'd neglected to bring my own. That made all the difference in the world - I was freezing without them, reasonably comfortable with them (or as comfortable as one can be on a hellishly difficult ride in cold rain). On my stubby legs, "knee warmers" pretty much cover everything. I'd wear the full length tights, myself, but I'm the kind of person who would much rather be too warm than too cold.

To me, the kicker is that you anticipate having to stop periodically. Chill sets in very quickly in those conditions (I'm reminded of the shivering teeth-chattering masses at Boston, and it was sunny and mid-50s that day.) Myself, I don't think I'd need the cap while riding, but I would very much want it any time I stopped.

I would even make sure you have a few reflective emergency blankets in your kit, in case someone winds up having to wait for the sag wagon.

[ny biker]

Good idea about the blankets. I think I have one, I'll go look for it.

I seem to have more trouble with cold as I get older. I've done long rides in these conditions in shorts or regular capris and a long sleeved jersey with a rain jacket and have been mostly okay. But these days, my feet are like ice more often than not. I love my wool Kneekers, but if I wore them with shorts my upper legs (above the Kneekers) would be cold. Another thing I think I need to consider is that the wool capris have a chamois, and I have no idea how comfortable it is for a long ride.

I just discovered that I have a Gore-Tex helmet cover. I got it years ago, never used it, forgot I had it, found it in the bottom of the "bad weather gear" drawer. Maybe I'll start off with that and have the wool cap in my pocket just in case.

[rebeccaC]

50’s is like a winter day here where I live.
I wear a sleeveless base layer/jersey, arm and leg warmers and a light rain jacket. 40's to 50's and I go for keeping my core warm adding fleece arm warmers and a windproof vest. Lightweight rain gear if needed.

[Seajay]

but I'm wondering if a few inches of exposed lower leg will be enough to doom my feet to being cold despite wool socks and toe covers.

The nice thing about the full tights is you can pull them OVER THE TOP of your shoe covers to minimize the water running down into your shoes.
The hat is smart, even if you just pull it on at stops.

[ny biker]

So, I got lucky. We had light rain on and off during the ride, but the heaviest rain passed south of where I rode today. I think my friends who rode the longer route were not so lucky.

I went with the Sugoi Midzero tights over a pair of cycling shorts, and they were just right. Maybe if I'd been soaked in a heavy rain they would have felt heavy and uncomfortable, but in light rain with temps in the low 60s they were good. I also wore Defeet Wooleator socks, Saran wrap inside my shoes on the front halves of my feet, and toe covers on the outside of the shoes. My feet were comfortable and the socks were dry enough to wear them home after the ride. The tights also dried by the time I had finished the post-ride snack, so I wore them home, too (after changing out of the shorts).

The Gore-Tex helmet cover also worked well. My helmet was wet inside, but I don't know if that was from rain or sweat. Anyway my head felt comfortable and by leaving the removable visor on the helmet and putting the cover over that, I was able to keep the rain out of my eyes.

The only problem was the Showers Pass jacket. I love how waterproof it is, but it's better suited to cooler temperatures. I wore a lightweight wool long-sleeve base layer and a sleeveless jersey underneath, and I was too warm. It might have been okay with only one layer underneath, or at least less uncomfortable.

I have a friend who recommends this jacket for rain in not-really-cold temperatures, so I think I will look into getting one.

http://o2rainwear.com/2011/03/original-cycling-jacket/

BTW I ended up not having to stop to help anyone with mechanical problems, and also did not have to take a turn standing and giving directions. I did stop twice to take a break, and the first time I stopped for a while, and was only a little bit chilly.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I will now update my "what to wear for bike rides when it's not summer" log.

[Crankin]

I agree about the Showers Pass jacket. When I rode in Vermont last month, the temperatures and conditions were similar on the last day. In fact, the temps were going down... I wore a short sleeved jersey with short sleeved base layer, arm warmers, and leg warmers that had a thermal inside. I didn't have tights with me, as the forecast didn't require them. Wool socks, toe covers. I did not have a helmet cover, and wore a regular beanie, lightly thermal.
Even with the pit zips open (the zipper is stuck on one side and is always open), I was sweating. I mean, it was 48 at the end of the 26 miserable miles that day, and it misted/rained for at least half of those miles. But, I was very glad I had the jacket, because I was dry!

[ny biker]

I agree about the Showers Pass jacket. When I rode in Vermont last month, the temperatures and conditions were similar on the last day. In fact, the temps were going down... I wore a short sleeved jersey with short sleeved base layer, arm warmers, and leg warmers that had a thermal inside. I didn't have tights with me, as the forecast didn't require them. Wool socks, toe covers. I did not have a helmet cover, and wore a regular beanie, lightly thermal.
Even with the pit zips open (the zipper is stuck on one side and is always open), I was sweating. I mean, it was 48 at the end of the 26 miserable miles that day, and it misted/rained for at least half of those miles. But, I was very glad I had the jacket, because I was dry!

Yes, I never considered taking the jacket off. I'd rather be a bit sweaty under a waterproof and windproof jacket. From now on I think I will stick to one layer under the jacket. I wore it once on a cloudy April day with temps on the high 40s, with a light wool l/s base layer and l/s jersey, and was too hot then, too. So I think for rainy days in the 60s I will wear one lightweight top under it, probably sleeveless, and for colder temps one short sleeve or long sleeve jersey.

That O2 jacket I linked to is sized for men -- I'm not sure even a size small will fit me. I will search their site to see if they have a women's version. Though the price is so low, it's worth gambling on a men's cut if needed.