Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Buy some nikwax wash in (http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-gb/products/productdetail.php?productid=3), the rapha stuff is no better. i've found it doesn't really work without a tumble dryer, just make sure you dry it on a cool setting. it needs some warmth to make the reproof work, you can of course use an iron, but you're more likely to miss bits.

However I would say it's not worth it. Having reproofed the jacket it'll be waterproof for roughly 5 rides then will return to normal. The jacket's still waterproof enough when not reproofed, just not as waterproof (if that makes sense). It's not worth going through the effort for the 5 dry rides you'll get out of it

If you want a really waterproof Rapha garment then buy a hardshell

And sweat buckets.

Someone bought me some pro bibs as a I'm sorry for being so shit during exams and forgetting your birthday even though we're engaged and junk conciliation gift.
Will have to see if they're worth the hype by riding tmw, won't I.
The pink totally matches the bike too...

I've got two pairs of those, one L, one M. I swear the M is larger than the L. Very confusing.

They might be Long Medium and Regular Large...?

leg is the same length, straps are different. maybe I just wear the white ones in fat days. who knows.

leg is the same length, straps are different. maybe I just wear the white ones in fat days. who knows.

Soooooooo, that's every day then?

:|

at least I ride further to work than one side of waterloo bridge to the other.

ladies ladies

Mine are size small.
They're quite small.

They're really comfy.
Kinda surprised.

:|

at least I ride further to work than one side of waterloo bridge to the other.

Hehehe, so do I. A whopping 4 miles at the other end on tiny wheels! Though that will soon go down to 3.7 miles into deepest darkest Dalston.

They're really comfy.
Kinda surprised.

Why? They are designed for MAMILs after all*.

*like me.

When's your next sportive Andy? I hope you've glued your tubs and have your power zones accurately calculated from a recent ramp test?

Good luck - hope you get a gold star time.

So tomorrow I'm doing the Stratford Tempest and it's forecast for heavy rain and showers with temperatures around 16-19 degrees so it's fairly mild.

This is what I am planning on wearing:

For the top half, long sleeve merino base layer, long sleeve country jersey, pro team jacket with rain jacket for the rain. Debating whether I actually need to wear the country jersey or just go with a base layer underneath the PTJ. I'll probably pop on a winter collar aswell.

For the hands, I have either winter gloves, merino gloves or just go with no gloves. I normally ride without gloves but seeing as it's raining and I'm riding just under 100 miles would it be worth using the winter gloves just to keep my hands dry? Doubt the merino gloves would be useful because they'd just absorb the rain water.

For the bottom half, I am thinking either pro team thermal bibs with leg warmers, or pro team thermal bibs with winter tights over the top. I know it's going to rain but it's also fairly mild. I might go for the former option. I'll put some winter embro on aswell BUT not on the crotch area this time!

For footwear, I've got sealskinz socks and some waterproof overshoes.

Is this okay? I haven't had much experience on longer rides and this will be my first 'century' so any advice is most welcome.

16 degrees means you don't need knee coverage, normal bibs should be fine. I'd be wearing a short sleeve jersey, possibly a baselayer. Take a wind jacket or rain jacket if you have one. Maybe consider arm and knee warmers.

My pro team jacket goes into the wardrobe once temps rise above 10 degrees.

Sealskinz are rubbish for riding in, wear merino socks and overshoes.

I'm just worried if I spend 5-6 hours in constant rain, it might get slightly cold and I would rather be too hot than freezing.

I take sealskinz when I am teaching cycling, so if my shoes get soaked I can put them on and have dry feet once the rain has stopped. Wear sealskinz in the rain and the water runs down my legs and just fills them up.

The rain jacket will stop you losing too much heat. And ride harder if you get cold.

H that does sound like overkill with the layering...i would wear SS jersey over a mesh baselayer and a wind jacket/gilet with nano flex arm warmers...in 5-6hrs of constant rain its probably easier to simply let your shoes get wet as they will eventually anyway. no need for overshoes...as DJ says take a pair of sealskinz to swap into

Yeah you guys are probably right. You reckon just go without overshoes? Wouldn't they keep my feet dry for at least the first 30 ish miles? and wouldn't they protect from the windchill factor too? I'll take the skinz to change into though for sure.

If its heavy rain and you dont have mud guards (full) and your overshoes have seams, they will be soaked within 10-15 mins

It looks like it will rain all day, so I would not bother taking the sealskinz, wear merino socks and overshoes to stop the wind over cooling your wet feet.

The forecast is for it to be warm and wet, so I'd take the rain jacket to try to keep the water out for as long as it can, it will then double up as a wind jacket to stop too much heat being stripped from you.

The thing for me would be that I could well overheat with the jacket on, and being too warm has an adverse impact on my physiology.

if u are carrying a bag, just take dry clothes and change if u can...if not just the sealskinz

A bag? ffs it's a bike ride, not a camping expedition.