Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech

I can't speak for back-east year round, but Northern California's
edition of foul weather suits a goretex parka fairly well.  We're
getting rain (15 days continuous so far, but who's counting? :-)
and temperatures ranging from the (very) low '40s to roughly 60 during
the day.

I'm using an REI goretex parka for the upper shell.  I'll use the usual
sets of layers underneath, and make liberal use of the adjustable
armpit vents.  Like all goretex, it's pretty breathable, though it
can be overloaded (like this morning, with temps in the low '50s
and me wearing too heavy a layer in the middle.  Gotta dump the fleece
sweater...).  It hasn't leaked on me while I'm on a bike, though
I've had it dump water in when I've used it while walking.  It has
a full hood, which I find a hindrance for a bike.  

I use a solid cloth cover for my helmet (currently a Pearl Izumi
light cover over a V1 Pro, though I also have a Fez with reflective
tape.)  If it's cold and dry, I'll use a fleece balaclava, sometimes
folded like a toque.  When it's raining like hell, I have a cloth
widebrimmed hat that gives me a bit of a visor effect.  It does cut
down my visibility, so I'm looking for something better.

I also have a Hind urethane coated Transition shell that I'll carry along
if it *might* rain, and the distance will be short, or if it's going to
be so cold that I'm not too likely to have condensation.  This is OK within its
limitations.  Pretty cheap from Nashbar.

As far as lower body, I tried a few things:

Urethane coated rain pants; waterproof for water from the outside, but
all condensation won't go anywhere, either.
Nylon tight weave wind pants; neither water tight, nor terribly breathable.
Might be useful in dry, cold (sub-freezing) weather.
Haven't tried goretex; I suspect it would be like a water-tight version of
the wind pants, so not breathable enough for our conditions.

For the best winter solution for me, I've settled on wool tights over
bicycle shorts.  I'm using the Performance superwash woolies, with no
extra padding.  Work OK, and are plenty warm, even in moderately cold
weather.  BTW, I'm riding 14 miles in daylight, and 20-30 in the evening
right now.  the only time I got cold in the legs was during a nasty
storm, with a daily high of 41 F, and some 40-50mph winds.  Not one of
my favorite bike-riding days.

I'm still looking for a good shoe solution; I prefer clipless pedals, and
like my Sidi Revolution shoes, but staying warm in them is tough.  The
best solution so far is wool ragg socks, occasionally neoprene socks over
(troublesome for me; I can't find neoprene sox big enoough for my size 14s)
and over the shoes, Belweather booties.  These, frankly, suck.  they
will stop mimimal moisture, don't insulate terribly well, have worn
through at the toe where I have to put my foot down at some of the interminable
lights (I'm not willing to try to learn to trackstand for a fully loaded
commuter bike...).  If I went without clipless, I'd use some form of
foul weather boot.  I've been thinking of trying to mount Look cleats on
an old pair of hiking boots.  :-)  (BTW, more sins for the Bellweather booties;
you cannot dry them in the dryer, and they will not dry overnight unless you
park them over a heating vent.)  (BBTW, I have spenco pads in the shoes; help
give a little bit of insulation, and they block off the sole vent.)

For gloves, I've settled on a few options.  Most weather works pretty well
with Nashbar's Storm Shelter glove.  This has a Darlexx (sp?) backing and
a thin neoprene pad.  Not too thrilled with the leather fingers, though.
They skipped leather for the #3 and 4 fingers, so you have to be very careful 
when wiping glass off the tires.  If it gets a little colder, I have
thermax glove liners.

If it gets really cold, I'll haul out the Solar Alpha gloves.
Goretex lined, though it's tough to get the cuffs *under* the
parka.  Very bulky glove, so it's a bear to work the controls.  I have
to anticipate braking well in advance.  If it's in traffic, I'll
keep my fingers over the break levers on my mountain bike/commuter.
I've used ragg mittens, but they need a wind shell for really cold weather.
Outdoor research sells a goretex overmit for skiing, but these were out of
stock when I was looking for them after Christmas.

Hope this helps.

Pete Brooks
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech