What to wear

[Nigelnaturist]

Just for the record.

 

[mjr]

You tried riding in a summer downpour with approx 2" of rain an hour, in trousers, seems to me you haven't ridden in anything very heavy in terms of rain, nothing is 100% in that sort of rain. The worst I have record for is a rate of 4" an hour even though it didn't last that long you get pretty wet pretty quick.

No, sure, in a complete deluge, nothing will save you... but shorts and non-waterproof shoes in the rain!!!

At the risk of this becoming another "four yorkshireman", I've ridden in the sort of deluge where the roads became rivers, with water coming back up out of the drains, plunging my foot ankle-deep on each turn of the cranks... and even waterproof trousers and boots won't work for that. I would've needed waders!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@mjray skin dries pretty quick as do shorts, having said all this, in 18,000 miles I have only had soaked feet probably less than 1/2 dozen times, so I usually get the clothing right, its just sometimes................

I did go out in this

 

[MichaelW2]

For that kind of commute you don't need specialist cycle clothing.
I usually raid Go-Outdoors for generic hiking gear: polycotton hiking trousers or shorts, wicking Tshirt, light fleece pullover(s).
Your outer shell layer is critical, breathable waterproof for wet, more breathable windproof for dry.
W/p trousers are useful in cold rain and heavy rain but not warm summer rain.
Neck tubes, wool socks and decent gloves help in winter. Sealskinz or w/p footwear are useful. Sleeveles fleece gillet is useful for extra insulation under or over shell.