Wet Sportive Clothing

[DaveK]

My first sportive is this Sunday Tour O The Borders 70miles and the forecast looks, well, pish! Heavy rain most of the day and 20mph+ wind speed with 45mph gusts!! Temperature is to be between 8 and 10degrees.

Having never ridden a sportive before and never ridden for any length of time in the rain before, I would appreciate any recommendations for clothing for the day.

I have an Altura Pocket Rocket waterproof jacket which should keep most of the rain off, but mainly my concern is whether to wear plenty of layers under the jacket to keep warm should the jacket fail, or whether less layers will be better to dry out quicker in any breaks from the rain.

My plan is to wear a base layer and long sleeve jersey (fairly thick) + waterproof jacket, bib shorts + over tights. I have full finger (hopefully waterproof) gloves and windproof (not waterproof) overshoes. Oh, I have no mudguards and no time to get them now.

I use this combo of clothing for rides of up to 5 degrees and dry, and it keeps me toasty.

Cheers for any replies.
Dave

 

[Kestevan]

Doesn't matter what you wear, you're going to get wet..... base your clothing on keeping warm despite this. Personally I tend to run warm anyway and I find that a couple of thin layers beneath a wind-proof is fine for me - YMMV.

Hands and feet will suffer most in my experience. Mudguards/winter boots/overshoes are essential - for me at least.

Oh and remember, if you have to stop for any length of time (i.e. to change a tube), especially where you're exposed to the elements, your core temp can drop very quickly when you're wet.

 

[GIOS]

The Castelli Gabba jersey would be an ideal choice here.

 

[RedMG]

I'm also riding in this event, and its my first too. Weather now looking dreadful so resigned to getting wet, but at 10 degrees its as lot warmer than recent.

Plan to wear short sleeve baselayer, arm warmers, merino long sleeve jersey, and then will use a lightweight waterproof jacket. Got toe warmers and waterproof overshoes, and I'll either go with bib shorts and leg warmers or Roubaix longs, can't decide on that one really.

Just took my mudguards off a few weeks ago and I'm not putting them back on as I reckon I'll be wet anyway. Taking all this into account, I'm still looking forward to it and hopeful the forecast won't be so accurate.

 

[Hacienda71]

Try to keep your hands and feet warm, good overshoes or winterboots. Your legs to a certain extent will create their own heat but the extremities can get very cold. Windproof top over a long sleeve jersey and a merino base should keep your torso warm enough.

This is gong to sound patronising although it is not nmean't to be, but if you are cold pedal harder.

Have a good ride guys.

 

[Albert]

You are going to be cold, wet and miserable - Enjoy!

 

[DaveK]

Cheers for the replies. Seems my original clothing combo will do the job. I have accepted im going to get wet, so its not really a problem.