Rain riding, gear, methods, etc.?

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油井緋色;1976813 said:
I rode 7 months straight last year but last year was so nice, dry and sunny that we had droughts all over the place. This year my daily commute will double from 50km to 100km so the chances of getting soaked are quite high.

I've currently got Gortex Sidis and am in the process of searching for an overcoat (Frogg Toggs?). Is there any gear you guys would recommend? And I saw a bike at York University that would be covered (bike cover) during rain commutes lol is it worth it to do this?

My main concern is the overcoat btw, all my reviews point to **** ripping up too quickly due to wind =(
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I have been commuting for a while now. My daily commute has been 116 km in total if I go direct to work and back, and starting in June my commute will be about 160 km round trip if I don’t do any side trips. I wear a suit and tie to work and commute pretty much every day from March until November. (The start and end days are based on when I get snow.. I get the tail end of the lake effect snow that Barrie gets.)

I used to use Frogg Toggs “Road Toads” with great success. These things breathe amazingly well. I once got caught in a sudden downpour that soaked my jacket before I could put on the Frogg Toggs. I got them on and rode about 50 minutes in scattered showers and my riding jacket dried under the Frogg Toggs. I rode into the storm that had the Vaughn Tornado while wearing them and kept dry. They work extremely well if put on properly and pack small so there is little excuse for not having them with you. The only downside is that they are pretty light material and, while I haven’t had any seams tear or anything, I have worn them out and got replacements.

I stopped using them when I got my Aerostich Roadcrafter two-piece suit. This is made with Gore-Tex, has been waterproof for me, breathes well, and is designed to go over street clothes and can be put on or removed in seconds. It is expensive but for me has made commuting a piece of cake.

..Tom
 
In regards to Tires I have the BT-023's on my VFR and they hold up well in the rain.

On my way to the BRP in 2011 I was caught in very heavy downpour. I was doing 100kph on the freeway passing trucks and slower cars throwing up water behind me and didn't have any moments of feeling like the Tires were losing grip.

On the way back they also held up well during a light but consitant downpour of freezing rain.
 
Thanks for the advice/info Tom. My horny toads seem to work fairly well as well but I look like a clown in them lol I didn't even realize suit was wet yesterday until I took it off and went "****" because I was inside my house.

I'll be looking into the Angel ST's @slowbird. The BT-023s I've heard great things about but the gimmick with the angel drawing on the tires for the Angel ST seems so cheesy it's pulling me in lol reviews seem to be fairly good as well.
 
i haven't heard too much about the Angels.

I hear the Pilot Road 3's are very good in the wet but I hear differing reports about wear. I'm on my 2nd set of BT-023's and they wore great. lasted long.
 
I don't know which Sport bike tires are good in the rain or not; but I had a huge eye opening back in 2008.

I was riding down two the tail of the Dragon via the Blueridge pkwy. We got off the Blueridge at hwy 80 because of a closure. We were riding pretty gently because there was quite the slope and it was really raining and hwy 80 was a series of switchbacks: http://goo.gl/maps/APsIJ While we headed gently through those switchbacks in the rain three or four sport bikes came ripping up 80 hanging out and (I think!) putting their knees down. In the pouring rain!

Sure opened my eyes to the amount of traction that cane be available in the rain!

..Tom
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