Essential winter clothing?

First commute in the PX cheap bib tights today. Pretty good all round, not as snug as the rapha ones and maybe not quite as thick and fleecy but very comfortable and preferred the extra freedom of movement. Only complaint is the foot strap at the bottom which I always hate but this one can't be cut off as it's part of the lycra, not a strap addition.

It's the time of the year again to bump this thread.
I'm commuting by bike and it's about 6 miles/ 9 km one way. Not enough to put on a cycling kit but enough to get completely soaked when it rains. Normally I just ride in my jeans, would it be a good idea to buy a rain suit? Any recommendations for something not too sweaty?
Thanks!!

Me I'd wear rain trouser and either tights or shorts under and cycle slow. Then change into jeans at work. Make sure the trousers come up to belly button or so, otherwise they won't be high enough when cycling.
Plus sacrificial shoes and waterproof socks or waterproof shows (doesn't exist).

Unless you spend big money waterproofs aren't that breathable. So just get something cheap from decathlon and cycle slow to stop sweat. Mudguards essential.

I used to use Rainlegs and full length mudguards with flaps to cycle to work in 'normal' clothes. Worked pretty well.

I have a similar commute and I just wear a jacket and thin waterproof climbing overtrousers (pertex, almost tent fly material) over my normal clothes when it rains. Have spare shoes and socks at work for when they get soaked. Mudguards and slow is essential.

You could try Rainlegs, it covers only the important bits and is pretty airy, with jeans you might still sweat under the covered parts though.

Huge advocate of waterproof over shorts.

Easy on / off, keep your parts dry, doesn't get sweaty, easy to clean legs / dry etc. Packable so easy to keep on the bike for the return ride etc. Shins don't really get cold in my experience.

Can you shower at work? That makes it all a lot easier.

Imo you need multiple layers of redundancy.

Even if it doesn't look like it's going to rain, try and wear clothes that will dry quickly or won't be a problem if they get wet. Generally that means synthetics and or wool. I would never ride in jeans because the cotton soaks up water and dried horribly. Always bring a hat and gloves, they help make rain a lot easier to deal with.

If it's raining when you leave the house or is forecast to rain on the way home you need some waterproofing, everyone seems to have their own opinion on what's best. I like a poncho when it's warm or a waterproof jacket and trousers when it's cold enough to wear them without getting too hot.

Full length guards will help a lot. As will having some kind of luggage system for carrying spare waterproofing etc

Lastly can you leave spare clothes/shoes at work? Can you leave a spare rain jacket for the day to forget to bring one and it rains on the way home?

Thanks guys, that's solid advise

Final thing I forgot is if you do get rained on and your shoes get wet, take them off and fill them will paper towels to help dry them, swap the paper towels out at lunch time

Normally I just ride in my jeans, would it be a good idea to buy a rain suit? Any recommendations for something not too sweaty?

A pair of waterproof overtrousers and a waterproof jacket.

Final thing I forgot is if you do get rained on and your shoes get wet, take them off and fill them will paper towels to help dry them, swap the paper towels out at lunch time

I keep spare shoes and socks at work. CBA to dry out too much stuff at work. If you get a pair of waterproof socks, keep them in your bag for the ride home so your wet shoes don't feel as bad.

Spare socks at work is a definite. I do keep spare shoes but not everyone can. The paper towels trick is always worth it though..shoes can take days to dry otherwise

The paper towels trick is always worth it though..shoes can take days to dry otherwise

Otherwise, screwed up pages from copies of the Metro or Evening Standard can have their uses…

I used to do this with sodden football boots and rugby boots and it worked a treat (if you swap a couple of times as above). Newsprint is surprisingly absorbent.

Netherlands, right?
Vaude drop pants II, a decent made rain trouser which is not a “hobbezak”.

I have used the rain legs, but these only help when there is a drizzle. Not for a full rain shower. In the end I threw my rain legs away. When there is a small drizzle, I do not need any protective gear. When I do need to protect my jeans from rain, there is such an amount of water that the rain legs are useless.

And while you are at it, buy a set of Vaude overshoes as well. Otherwise your shoes and socks will get wet twice as fast as all water from your rain pants runs into your shoes. I’m using the bike gaiter short. Just for keeping the water out during my commute.

+1 for waterproof shorts..

Yep!
Thank you! Already didn't really see the point of those rainlegs. I'll check out the vaude stuff!

To answer some questions, I can shower at work but I prefer not to after only riding for 25 minutes. I'll put some dry shoes there, that's a good idea.

Any specific ones you would recommend?

Can you dry clothes at work? I commute in full dorky cycling clobber but if you don't want to do that, just wear anything that's relatively quick drying and warm enough for the weather. I wouldn't mind getting wet for 25 minutes as long as I could get changed at work and warm/dry my wet clothes for the ride home in the evening.
Waterproof socks are great as well, keep your feet nice and dry and toasty.

Its possible for me to dry clothes at work, I'll look into some relatively quick drying clothes, maybe some long MTB trousers or so.
I'm already 'drying' my Vans shoes for 3 days now and they are still wet.
I ordered these and also some mudguards so it's going in the right direction:)

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When I worked as a bike courier I just wore some cheap tracksuit trousers when it was wet (the shiny kind of material, not the jersey kind.) They dried super quickly once it stopped raining. You don't necessarily need something pricey and bike specific.
Are you stuffing newspaper in your shoes to help dry them out? Makes a massive difference!

Did one ride with those gripgrab dry feet things and I already love them. They are a bit insulated too. And they have many sizes, up to uk14 which is what I need.

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Fuck, they're sexy.