dennis336

If you do decide to do the ride and the rain forecast holds, just be prepared for the worst in terms of clothes/layers.

Several years ago, I did a ride that started intending to be following the 85 mile route but switched to the metric century as the weather soured.

The forecast the morning I started on the ride was chilly with a chance of brief showers but expected to clear up and get warmer soon after the 7:00/7:30 start. Well, it never got warmer and the rain came down throughout the ride with only brief breaks. I had dressed fairly light ... base layer long-sleeve shirt, cycling jersey over that, and a rain jacket. If the original forecast held, that would have been fine and I could have taken the rain jacket off not long after the start. I ride in the winter so I'm comfortable being in the cold if I've got enough layers on. But I have never been more cold and uncomfortable on a ride as this one - although it ends up being the one I talk about the most! As an aside, this ride is known for its baked potatoes at one of the last rest stops. I will say that a nice hot baked potato with all the fixings NEVER tasted as good as the one I ate that day.

Full transparency, this ride was mid-October in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts so the risk of much colder weather was likely much higher than you'll experience in MD this time of year (and throw in slick, wet roads with fresh-fallen leaves on long descents!).

I'm not a fan of riding in the rain but do be prepared for the worst case if you do the ride!

GhostRider62

I'll be doing six of those metric centuries that day and not too far from Md weatherwise. I'm planning high temps in 60's and lows in the high 40's with some wet. OP should plan on low 50's to start. Hypothermia is a modest risk for OP

Wool SS jersey, arm warmers, Goretex rain jacket and pants, wool socks, leg warmers, helmet cover or hat inside at an absolute minimum if rain and in low 50's. An extra supply of sugar in case you get cold, shivering requires glucose (type 2 muscles do the job of shivering). If I ever find rain booties that are waterproofy and work with midsole cleat placement, I would bring those in heavier rain. Fenders are nice but you will get wet with them too. Oh, I found heavy content lanolin to work best and last long time in the rain (on one's derriere)

t2p

I’ve ridden in temps below freezing - but the coldest and most uncomfortable I’ve been on a bike was during a road ride in the low 40’s in rain

nasty ... cold ... my ears were reddish purple and swollen

was probably one of the more uncomfortable things I’ve done during the winter - and to put it into perspective ... I rode off-road MTB year round and was also an avid snowmobiler and year-round dirt biker (we rode studded tires during winter)

and that 35 or so mile road ride ride basically consumed what life remained of the RX100 components on a ‘winter bike’

rumrunn6

+1
wet hands can be pretty painful

rutan74

You've stated that you don't ride in the rain or have not. I would be more worried about riding in the rain than getting wet. I have done my share of riding in the rain from metric's to a century and believe me, riding in the rain is way different than dry riding. As others have said, there is no way to stay dry, period. Your feet will be absolutely soaked. Go with shorts too as it is easier to stay warmer if your legs are exposed because they do not hold water like long bike shorts. I would concentrate to try and keep my core warm/dry. Apart from that, you will be soaked.

As for riding, again, I highly recommend you move off a line from following directly behind because that spray from the rear wheel is like getting hit with a hose. Braking is another big issue in the wet as is turning. Take your turns much slower or you will find it quite easy for your wheels to slip out and you will go down. Glasses? Avoid them if possible because they will get very blurry with rain hitting them. I take mine off and pocket them because it is easier to see without them in the rain. Pocket them for later because in my experiences, you usually will run out of or into the rain. Rarely does it rain the entire ride or at least for me, I have yet to ride an entire MC in total rain. So, you could ride in and out of rain. If you are in the 60's you should be OK with a jacket of some sort. Remember, your core is still going to warm up, so you should not be that cold. You will be miserable though and very dirty at the end. Riding in the rain does take some added cautions from you but you must also be extra diligent of the riders around you. No quick lane changes or passes, go slower around turns, add in some additional distance for braking. Mostly all the same stuff you would do driving a car.

Ohh, make sure you bring plenty of dry clothes to change into after the ride. That is when I usually got the coldest was after the ride and changed. Most of all have some fun and realize you are going to get wet and everyone else is suffering too.

john

GhostRider62

I would not ride a paceline unless you know the other riders well and the sport fenders with an effective flap.

The weather forecast has improved dramatically. GL on the ride.

indyfabz

There is something special about changing out of wet clothes after a long ride. I even change after dry rides. Don’t understand how people can hang out in their riding clothes.

eljayski 

I've noted that too . . . just hope it doesn't change back to unfavorable. Thanks for the kind wish!

veganbikes

Rain sucks. I have done an event near me and it was in winter in the rain a couple times and was brutal I was stupid and didn't bring extra clothes because I thought I would just be riding back and didn't want to carry extra stuff and all these stupid excuses because I didn't know what the plans would be. In the end I regret those decisions highly. I did wear waterproof gear and ended up still getting soaked. I recommend good layering with plenty of moisture wicking layers and stuff to help block the wind as others have suggested. I would probably go for waterproof socks and maybe some rain covers for the shoes and probably a helmet cover though but rain wear elsewhere may or may not be what you want.

Also those fenders are going to be real nice. I didn't not have them on my rain rides on my road bike and wish I did. I guess one year on one of the longer rides I did I had a rear clip on fender which was nice but yeah still soaked.

Also some sort of chamois stuff is good. I love Bike Glide from Body Glide but they make a small stick of Body Glide that is easy to take with you if you find you tend to need it. Me personally I just stick with the BG and do fine for the day but in some heavy rain it might not be a bad thing to have a little extra. I chafe easily so coating up with that is nice and it is easy to apply just like a deodorant stick for your privates and if I am doing a longer ride I will usually run a lighter or torch over it when I am done when I have to bring up the rear if you catch my drift just so I don't contaminate but if you keep things nice and clean it is less of an issue but still worth being careful.

The biggest thing which I touched on earlier is have extra dry clothes either with you or better yet with your gear or SAG or whatever in a safe dry place you will want it and having to carry it would have been worth it for me on those rides I mentioned earlier as in the end we were tabling at the event so I could have just shoved it into our trailer or vehicle and had them take it there and back.

shelbyfv

I like this stuff but would sometimes get a stick that was dried out and flaky. I discovered a similar product from Gold Bond. It's less expensive and readily available (Walmart.) Maybe the turn over is better at WM than the bike shop, I haven't bought one that wasn't OK.

GhostRider62

You guys that chafe, are you riding in cycling bibs? You know the skin tight black spandex with chamois-type pad? In rainy conditions, the private area will eventually get wet and you want a viscous lube that prevents your skin from getting raw. Many lubes lose their luster in a couple of hours and you need to re-apply. Or just use a lube that withstands the rain.

I carry glide when backpacking if hiking in regular shorts because they make the inner thighs and private areas more susceptible to chafing or at least for me. Generally I hike in crew shorts that are very similar to cycling spandex shorts but w/o a pad. The abrasion is thus transferred to the spandex and I almost never need to use glide. If I wear regular shorts, the abrasion is on my skin and glide is essential. That is kind of a key reason for tight cycling kit on the legs. Assos took it even further in how they designed the pad to move.

Anyhow, OP is going to have a lovely day with temps 55F at the start and 68F at the finish with no rain.

Jughed

So, your forecast has improved greatly...

Sat @ 8am = 54deg, clear skies and zero wind.

The coastal storm is tracking south - for now.

bbbean 

600km = 372 miles? That's a big day in the saddle!

Freerojo

Don’t forget Ski Goggles. If it rains you want to see and they’ll be plenty of water in your face from other riders as well.

genejockey 

It looks like you're reprieved! But just in case you want to ride on a day when it DOES rain, a rear fender can make the difference between a long, wet ride being an adventure, and it being a miserable death march. I use one that clamps on to the seatpost, and it makes a HUGE difference.

LarrySellerz

Going without a shirt in the rain is like a cheat code, so simple so obvious, but it works

tomato coupe

You're trying too hard. Be subtle.

MikeWMass

I was in that same ride (GRR); started out to do the century, but bailed out when I couldn't stop shivering at the church with the potatoes.
I remember seeing someone taking off from there to finish the century wearing a long sleeve T-shirt, shorts and cycling sandals!
Just shook my head.

Vowed never to ride in the rain again if I could avoid it.

dennis336

Yes, the Great River Ride! Normally, a really great course but that day was the hardest of my cycling life! My wife actually texted me to see how I was doing. She never does that even when she thinks I may be getting in over my head on a ride. But, she had a sense this day was not going well weather-wise. I just texted back "I'm cold and I'm wet ... 8 more miles to go").

Good decision by you to stop at that time - sounds like you were close to hypothermia ... I did switch to the metric century course which included a long, steep descent not long after leaving the church ... cold and wet, and with the road slick with leaves on the road - quite terrifying!

So someone did the century course with a long-sleeve T-shirt!?!?! Wow, just WOW! A different genetic structure than I have!

And, me too ... now, if there's a chance of rain, I'll generally just say "No, thank you"!

eljayski 

Pleased to report that today's weather turned out to be perfect, sunny and cool with minimal wind. Thanks to all who offered their suggestions and insights!

rsbob 

obviously you didn’t ride far enough. That’s when the accumulated muddy water on your back runs down between your cheeks and soaks your chamois. Now that was a good time. Not. And that was a one day double.

the worst was descending a mountain pass in a downpour becoming hypothermic with teeth chattering and soaked to the bone and having a flat 20 miles from the finish (a century ride). Besides grit in my bike shorts and cramped hands, I would rate the ride a 1 out of 10.

after that I vowed no more long rides in the rain. Btdt