Originally posted by jg1695
Rain is only a problem if it is cold outside. In that case the cheaper nylon rain suits keep the rain and wind out and keeps a lot of heat in meaning that you can wear less clothing.
http://www.ekosport.com/index.htm
I agree with jg. I don't know of any way to stay
dry in the rain. But you don't need to. Staying
warm is the important thing.
The rain jacket I like the best is my LeMond jacket. It's thin vinyl or mylar. Not breatheable fabric at all. It has two thin mesh panels on each side, though, that run from the hem up to the pit. That's all the ventilation one needs.
The jacket's a pleasure, even in cold rain. Where the vinyl is the rain keeps
out. I keep warm in the rain, so what moisture there is, from the sky or from me, doesn't bother me.
The thing was cheap, it folds up small, and there's no waterproofing to deal with. As long as the jacket doesn't tear it's as good as the day I bought it.
It doesn't have a hood, though. The idea, I guess, is that you'll be wearing a helmet cover anyway.
I've got a cheap Performance raincoat with a hood, and I like that one too. The coating wears off, though, and I had to respray it with waterproofing. More trouble than the LeMond jacket.
Anyway, you can get away with cheap jackets. Again, the crucial idea is keeping enough water off of you to keep warm, rather than keeping dry.