Does Lance Train, Race and Ride in the Rain?

That’s a silly question. Of course he does.

I thought of this question as I rode this morning in cold (41 degrees), windy, rainy conditions.  Lance gets up, looks out the window to decide the proper clothing to wear, gets dressed and gets on his bike. If I asked you that same question, how would you answer it? The correct answer is “yes.”   

Of course, riding in the rain (or other inclement weather) isn’t as pleasant as riding on a 72 degree day with a tailwind. But since that never happens, we ride when we can. The key, of course, is to dress properly. My friend Scott McCabe brought this up after my last post, and the cold, wet ride this morning made me want to expand. The weather for the MN Ironman ride this weekend is always “iffy.”

And spring weather is the same nearly everywhere. It’s unpredictable as the winter and spring seasons battle for control. So it’s often cold and wet, and always windy. So we must dress for these conditions and be flexible in order to adapt to the changing conditions. I’ve discussed dressing for cold conditions at length in the past, so I’ll be brief here. Most importantly, make sure your hands, feet and head are warm. If they are, the rest of your body will be warm as well.

What about rain?  Well, we won’t melt in the rain, so we just need to deal with it.  If it’s cold and rainy, we want to keep our hands and feet protected as much as possible. Cold hands and feet make the rest of our bodies feel miserable, so wearing waterproof gloves and booties help immeasurably.

We lose a great deal of heat from our head, so it’s a good idea to keep your head covered (in addition to your helmet, of course) if it’s cold. One good option is a helmet cover, which usually include a strip of waterproof material. Not only does it keep the cold wind off your head, but the waterproof material helps keep your head dry as well. Another option is to wear a “scull cap.” While these don’t offer the waterproof protection, the snug fit and microfiber material help wick moisture away from your head and keep you warm.

Keeping your torso warm is critical. Always wear a “base layer.” This keeps moisture away from your body and keeps a layer of warmer “dead air” next to your skin. On top of the base layer, be sure to layer properly. Multiple layers of lightweight clothing are better than 1 heavy layer.

On top of this is the all-important windbreaker or waterproof rain jacket. If the rain is intermittent or light sprinkles, I prefer to wear a windbreaker. These offer enough protection from these few drops, and they dry quickly. If it’s raining more steadily, you could consider one of the varieties of rain jackets offered at your local bike shop. They come in all price ranges, from very inexpensive plastic shells, to very expensive high-tech “waterproof” fabrics.

I personally rarely, if ever, wear these types. In a steady rain, I don’t believe anything is totally “waterproof,” and you WILL get wet. In addition, I’ve found these types of materials to not breathe well. So not only do they not keep you dry, they make you hot and sweat more, with nowhere for the sweat to go.  So the tendency is to get too hot and clammy feeling, then easily chilled if you’re forced to stop for a flat tire or other reason. 

So keep your hands and feet as warm as possible, keep your core warm and dry with a base layer and a windbreaker, and wear glasses to keep the rain and road spray out of your eyes. 

Remember to get your bike tuned up, your nutrition plan set and your clothing options ready for the MN Ironman or your event. Add your favorite tips in the comment section below and email any questions to me. Then GET OUT AND RIDE!