Kit for wet but warm/hot weather

Hmmzis

This is something of a puzzle for me. Going for the Raid Pyrenean in 10 days and the long term forecast is something one would rarely encounter here in Ireland - 20-26 degrees and lashing rain. We would usually get about 10 degrees less with large amounts of rain.

So my question is, how does one dress for weather like that when it's going to be 8-10h on the bike? I don't think any of my winter wet gear is going to cut it as I'll just most likely get stewed in it. I do have a pair of light overshoes and a thin rain/wind stopper but after that I'm into leg and arm warmers, thermal jerseys and thermal bib tights. The going up the climbs is probably going to be fine in shorts and short sleeves, the descents might be an entirely different story.

I know I won't stay dry, but how to make it more 'survivable' without freezing solid on the descents and not coocking alive on the climbs?

cdaly_

SPD sandals (I wore the Shimanos for PBP (90 hours end to end, day, night, rain)) and Rainlegs (I used these on the Eoin McLove 600 last may).

Cee-Jay-Cee

I was caught in a monstrous downpour in July, it lasted approx 30minutes and I was utterly soaked from head to toe. I soon dried out as temperature was approx 18/19 degrees but the biggest fault I made (as I knew heavy rain was likely) was wearing overshoes and a pair of non vented shoes. Had I wore the vented shoes, the half litre of water in each shoe would have drained out and my feet would have gradually dried out but I had to Stop to pour out the water and I left the overshoes off as my feet were overheating.

I know yours is a different predicament but if temps are 20+ then
(1) you are not going to get cold
(2) you won't be descending as fast as you would in the dry if it's very wet and
(3) It's unlikely to rain solidly for 10hrs so you WILL dry out if you wear regular shorts and SS jerseys.

Hmmzis

Thanks for the sugestions, I'll have a look into those rain legs they might come in handy after the raid as well.
Thankfully my road shoes are vented, if it stays warm as in the forecast I might just get away with most of the summer stuff I have already.

2 Wheels Good

For the Etape last year it was awful on the Tourmalet. Whatever about the temperature down low, it was 4 degrees with a wind chill at the top so you should double check the temperature forecasts.
We were warned about it so were some bit ready for it. I wore regular short sleeves/bib shorts and brought a light waterproof jacket, arm warmers, full finger gloves and a bandana. Doing it again I'd consider bringing leg warmers and a second bandana for the next/face to keep warm and shoe covers. Maybe look at decent socks as well.
It's an experience! The climb was ok, just wet. The descent was nasty, max 30kph and trying to get the balance between "get me down!" and the quicker you go the colder it gets. Once we got in the valley it was ok, just tough having to face it again climbing the Hautacam.

ROK ON

Hmmiz

Best of luck on the Raid. You will pass through some beautiful areas. Enjoy.
In hot wet weather you will get away with a gilet and armwarmers. But might be useful to bring a tight fitting wind proof light jacket.

For the rain wear a cycling cap. Invaluable in the wet.
I would consider cutting guards to the bike such as race blades or crud guards.

The days will be long - 10hours plus. If it's raining all day mudguards make cycling significantly easier.

Also in the wet I would tend to use Vaseline or sudocream on my butt.
Have great tyres. I recommend Vittoria Open Pave. Great in the wet.

lennymc

think it only rained once when we did it - at the botom of a descent. I waited under a tree.