Over the years I’ve realised the following are all rubbish and a waste of money as they simply don’t keep you dry.
1) Any “waterproof” jacket that has a Durable Water Repellent (DWR). OK so when they are new for the first few uses most jackets are brilliant, but after a short while or a bit of use they start to “wet out”, where they need to be “re-proofed” again, and you will NEVER get them as good as new ever again.
2) Over shoes, don’t waste your money
3) Bear legs, water runs down your legs into your socks and fills your shoes in no time
4) Waterproof socks, useless after 2 or 3 rides* (but useful on my set up)
5) Thin mudguards, water gets everywhere
6) Riding fast, you sweat more and fill up from the inside, slow down and vent cooler air around your chest when leaning forward to keep the rain out.
7) I’m sure there’s loads more
My set up is temperature dependent, with winter and summer alternatives, your clothing layering is down you your own comfort levels.
Jacket
Colder weather – Columbia Outdry jacket – I have the Titanium, now called the Reign. A long term convert to this jacket
Warm weather - Gore R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry Hooded Jacket – R is for running, C is for Cycling, But the running one has the very useful hood, which stopped rain running down your back.
In the rain ride with your hood up under your helmet
.
Gloves
Any cycling gloves will do depending on the temperature, but wear engineering latex gloves underneath, the gloves will always soak out but the latex gloves keep your hands warm and dry (assuming that the over gloves are for the right temperatures. And make sure your long sleeves are fastened over the tops of these latex gloves so water can’t drain into them and fill them up.
.
Feet
Merino sock (thickness and length is temperature depending)
Over these wrap Turkey cooking bags (very loosely, so your toes don’t split them open at the front), Tape these up with electrical tape, then fit *Waterproof socks over these. Shoes wear what ever shoes you’d use for the time of year and conditions that you normally use.
The Turkey bag tip was pointed out to me by a good friend who says that some of the top long distance ultra riders use them, and after today’s ride they really do work as a great waterproof barrier without over heating
.
Legs
If only Columbia would make Outdry over trousers and Gore made Shakedry over trousers then I think I would have my perfect set up…. But they don’t.
So I use my Berghaus DWR “waterproof” walking over trousers, Although not as they have a DWR, but they are good enough as your jacket and riding position offers them a bit of cover.
I use electrical tape to tape the bottom of these up, to help keep them out of the drive train, but also to ensure that they overlap the turkey bags, so that water doesn’t not rundown inside them.
.
Cycling glasses.
Coat them with Rain-X to help them from steaming up and keep the water running off them.
It worked really well today*
* Apart from one turkey bag which I'd fitted a bit too tight and split near the toe, where water got it. The other was perfectly dry (apart from a bit of sweat) so I know that if fitted they work perfectly
I hope this was of some help
