Rain Gear???

[Technotart]

Looks like its gonna rain this weekend for the MS 150! How do you stay somewhat dry on a long ride without carrying a whole suitcase on the back? or if it isnt too cold and you can keep your seat and britches dry - would that be the way to go? Just get wet anyway?

I know Im gonna get wet...but the thought of a wet chamois and wet leather seat.....ick!

Any advice from you touring types?

[SadieKate]

There was the suggestion of this:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...?t=2253&page=2

I know, no help. I do have rain gear for cycling - pants and jacket - but somehow I've been very lucky on my tours. They could stay nicely tucked away in the duffel.

[CorsairMac]

I have the Zephyerr jacket from PI that is water-resistant and windproof. The jacket is long enough in back to help with the rooster tail (unless you have fenders). I also have rainpants but I use both during the colder months since ABQ just doesn't seem to have much rain. My preference would be to wear the jacket and keep my shorts dry, I'm like you - the thought of wet chamois is just ewwwww!!!!

[Veronica]

I love having fenders when it's raining.

I hate them when climbing Diablo.

V.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Riding in the rain is one of my least favorite things, but unfortunately sometimes it just can't be avoided. What I wear depends on the temperature. I have a tendency to wear a rain jacket but no extra layers on my legs. I've ridden in rain pants, and I found that I really really hate them. So if it's cold and raining and I absolutely have to ride, I'm more likely to wear tights than rain pants. I have rain covers for my shoes, and while they help in a light rain they definitely get wet in a downpour.

If you have a place to stash some newspaper where it will stay dry during the day (like in with your stash of clothing) - I find stuffing my shoes with newspaper and changing to dry paper a few times overnight gives me a fighting chance of starting with dry feet the next morning.

Hopefully you won't have rain for your ride - but if you do I hope you have some dry times too!

--- Denise

[KSH]

You are better than me!

If it rains... I am NOT riding. I do not want to get my shoes wet... my computer wet... and I am very fearful of those tiny tires hitting a patch of grease and bringing me down.

I hope it stays at 30% chance of rain... and that it stays in Dallas!

[Steph_in_TX]

Since the weekends are pretty much my only chance to ride, I'll do a non-rain dance and try to keep those storms out of this area!! It rained last year for the 150, too, but wasn't it also pretty cold?? Seems like it was the same weekend as the Beauty and the Beast in Tyler and we didn't go because of the cold, wet weather. Warm and wet are pretty tolerable...cold and wet are not! I've ridden in the rain (not heavy rain or storms) in rallies in those temps and haven't suffered too much. I just have a clear rain jacket...from Performance I think. The key is to keep the saddle dry before you start the ride...we use good ole Kroger bags if it's raining on our way to a ride. Once you are sitting on it, it doesn't get too wet, nor does your chamois. You will get the lovely brown streak up the back side of your shorts, but everyone will be sporting them. Not sure what to tell you about your shoes...in a one day event, it doesn't really matter that you have wet shoes at the end of the day.

Good luck!
Steph

[DeniseGoldberg]

You are better than me!

Hey KSH -
That's not true! Just because you don't ride in the rain doesn't make you a bad person! And I tend not to start out if it's pouring rain, but sometimes you just can't avoid getting caught in it - prepared or unprepared.

I remember getting caught in a couple of bad rainstorms on my tour of Washington & Oregon back in 1999. The first was scary because I think I was pretty close to hypothermia. I made it to the next town and a warm shower restored me, but if I had much further to ride to get into a town I would have been knocking on farmhouse doors! At least it was warmer during the second storm - but that rain came down so hard and so fast that I was totally soaked within 10 minutes. I must have been quite a sight because the desk clerk at the hotel I checked into gave me a suite with a kitchen at the same price as a regular room. And yes, I did fully clean my bike before I took my own shower!

--- Denise

[smurfalicious]

Yep, PI Zephyrr jacket rocks! My animals got me one for mothers day, and the thoughtful little buggers, they got a blue one that matches my bike! I wore it to my race Sunday not even knowing it was water resistant. Yay! It fits awesome, and packs down really nice. I've tried packing down a friend's rain/wind jacket before and it sucked!

As for shoes, I'm notorious for leaving them in the back of the pickup and forgetting them when it rains. I just take big old thick, long, overnight maxi pads and shove them in there. Works like a champ. Those also make good shin long road rash bandages!

[Technotart]

I have a pearl izumi waterproof jacket - I am gonna go get some rain pants I think though. I think grocery bags would probably work just fine for the shoes, and even as a helmet cover in a pinch! I just gotta keep the SHORTS dry!

If its thundering and lightening there will be no riding - pray for calm weather!!!!!

Now Im really WORRIED about it!!!!

[fixedgeargirl]

You can keep your feet, but not your shoes, dry by wearing bread bags over your socks . I keep them in my camelbak for mtb'ing. They pack down super small and keep your feet remarkably warm.

I'm doing the Shiner B.A.S.H this Saturday, chance of t-storms 20-30% I have my fingers crossed that they just stay away.