GhostRider62

Two choices. Warm and wet or Cooled and wet. In cold rain, retention of heat is my priority and goretex top and bottom over layers of natural fibres (yak, cashmere, alpaca, merino) with full fenders down close to the pavement with the flat.

There is a tricky temperature where heat retention can be a problem. Low 60's like in Palo Alto recently would qualify as tricky. All that crap I listed above would kill me in a moderate ride.....way too hot. But somewhere around 45F, that is what I need. In between 45-60F, I just make sure I bring extra clothing in the bag and adjust as needed. Yes, a bag is essential riding in crap.

terrymorse 

No offense taken. Topeak makes well-engineered gadgets that tickle my designer bone.

JohnDThompson 

Those seatpost-mounted mudguards don't work well when things get really wet. For that, you want full-length mudguards front and rear, and a spray flap on the front to keep water off your feet. My old touring bike:

genejockey 

Previous years I've avoided riding on rainy days entirely, but this year it's that, or permanent exile to Zwift for months. So I got a "showerproof" jacket and "Aqua Zero" thermal jersey to go with AmFib bib tights and I ride anyway. So far, my rainy Sunday rides have been no worse than showers interspersed with heavier rain, rather than the frogstranglers some of our storms have been. When the temps were 40s-50s, the jacket plus a long sleeve baselayer kept me warm - well, warm enough - for 3-4 hour rides in the wet. Above about 55, the jersey, with or without a thin baselayer, works as well.

But the thing is, they don't keep you completely dry. They slowly become soaked, but still keep me warm. Like someone said above REALLY waterproof clothing ends up wetter on the inside than the outside for me, from the sweat. So, that's MY experience.

Regarding full fenders vs the various clamp on types - we Bay Areans aren't used to rain that comes every day for a week or more at a time, like we've had this year. Last year, there was almost no rain after New Years. Even outside of drought years, we usually get a stormy day then a week or more of dry before the next one. This year even when it hasn't rained for a couple days you'll STILL find a number of places where water streams across the road, or pools along the shoulder. This is the one year in the last decade when having a dedicated rain bike with full fenders would have been sensible.

bikemig 

Which model Trek is this?

+ 1 on this suggestion. Find an older road bike with room for fenders. I have a 1982 Trek 720 with fenders for this reason.

downtube42

The clip on fenders help; they prevent a stream of water from directly entering the butt/seat interface area.

If that's all you're after, it's a hassle free setup.

I have full coverage fenders on all my bikes except my MTB, because I live in Portland and ride year round. Even on bikes with clearance and mounts for fenders, they are a pain. Worth it for me, but still a pain.

terrymorse 

My most recent adaptation to the weather, given the atmospheric river that's hitting us for 5 days straight.

Notice the rear fender is attached, in case of virtual rain.

JohnDThompson 

It's a pre-production Trek 720.

fooferdoggie 

I had to drop showers pass and upgrade to real high end gore-tex it could not take my frequent rides in the rain it was always wet.

genejockey 

This afternoon the sun was shining here in San Mateo. And yet I ended up Zwifting, too.

Maelochs

For the very rare (around here) cold rain ( I mean somewhere between painful and extending into "frostbite danger") I have always opted to lose a gallon of water to sweat rather than risk hypothermia. I used to use (in commuting days---now I can choose when to ride) my boating suit---waterproof jacket and pants meant for rafting and kayaking, neoprene booties (which Overheating was a possibility but I could afford t to slow down a little because I would be warm regardless.

I have a good rain vest with sleeves---good venting and all--for mid-temp rain, but I mostly appreciate that the vest is very wind-proof. I will be wet, from sweat, rain, or both, but the wind-chill is the issue. I used to make wind guards out of visqueen, sometimes backed by cloth, and I made a visqueen head cover which looked like a pharaoh's head-dress to keep the rain from chilling my head and running down my neck. I looked idiotic, but on the cold, rainy days, I certainly didn't care.

I am glad I don't have to ride in serious chilly rain year 'round. As with cold weather, it is the first 20-30 minutes which really suck .... but with wet cold the rest of thre ride can be just as unpleasant.

Carbonfiberboy 

Fenders . . .I've had 2 sets of fancy aluminum fenders fatigue and fail at the seatstay attachment point. Plastic fenders don't fatigue, though they don't look as cool. In the PNW you ride in the rain a lot or you don't ride outside much.

If you're cold and wet, you just aren't wearing enough insulation topside. Add a 100 fleece jacket if you don't have a warm jersey. Or a 200. It shouldn't be any big deal to spend hours in the rain. I rather enjoy it. OTOH, encountering unexpected rain can be quite unpleasant if one is not somewhat prepared. It helps a lot of you have a decent sized saddle bag so you can carry extra stuff. The jersey pockets only look has some severe limitations. I hate jackets with zip-off sleeves. Carry a wind vest and a windshell. I've often worn the shell over the vest.

ussprinceton

if its too wet, I stay indoors

rsbob 

Palo Alto or Los Altos foothills. Page Mill Road?

rsbob 

I have one of the European blade/wings like yours and it is mediocre at best in real downpours and the bike gets filthy. What you need is what I have on my old iron are full fenders with little mud flaps at the bottom. Showers Pass sells waterproof socks, or wear some good booties, and a waterproof jacket. I also wear a cycling cap under my helmet to keep my head warm. Cycling glasses become useless. I break out the wing when the roads are sopping wet but it’s not raining.

genejockey 

Close. Deer Creek, between Page Mill and Arastradero.

rsbob 

Damn, so close. Used to live in Menlo Park many moons ago and did a bit of riding. Love that area and surrounding areas. Also grew up in Santa Cruz.

IcySwan1 

I recently picked up a "rain bike" that belonged to a Salem, Oregon rider. His nice day bike was a Mondonico. The rain day bike is a Bianchi CDI with SKS fenders. I added a triple crank to it. Now I have fenders, something the Oregon guys have done all along.

Mike

jsigone

$25 a$$ savers fender mounted on rear stays works pretty dang good. Leaves plenty of room to mount rapha/apridura saddle bag as used on Solvang Double century last Saturday

scottfsmith

I think the clip on fenders are perfect for California, there is not enough rain there to warrant the full ones. I have some SKS front and back clip ons and have ridden through downpours and came out fine. The problem is when I forget to mount them..

I bought some rain specific clothes for colder rain riding:

Castelli Idro 3 jacket with Gore-Tex Shakedry

Assos Mille GT Thermal Rain Shell pants

Assos RSR Thermo Rain Shell Glove

plus I have some waterproof shoe covers. Lots of money spent but I stay reasonably dry. As someone said above the new rain gear has improved things quite a bit. Shake dry works very well, the pants keep my legs dry enough, and the glove shells keep all water out so you only get your sweat inside.

sjlversurfer

I was thinking about moving to Vancouver, WA, and I spoke to a shop owner up there who was originally from a town near me in Orange County CA. He said fenders and the right clothing and you can ride with no issues. He did say their group wouldn't go out if it was heavy rain or if visibility/safety was an issue, but noted that they ride through the PNW winters without much hassle. Here in OC, when we have 300 days of sun, if it's raining, I'll wait another day before I go ride, even if that's extra days with the relentless weather this year. I spent too many years cleaning other people's bikes and now I hate to clean my own.

alxsmlv

Rear fender is a must if it's a group ride, I usually don't bother if riding solo in wet conditions