Which waterproof for southern France in May

[psmiffy]

Getting wet is only a problem if it is also cold and/or windy.

Getting cold when it is wet is frequently a problem - I cycled up the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand in heavy rain - the air temperture when I was sheltering at bus stops was positively tropical - however I did not need to cycle very far without waterproofs to be decidedly on the wrong side of cold.

I always carry a proper jacket, leggings, a hat (normally a baseball one that I have treated with silicone), some decent gloves(s) and overshoes - plus on my last long tour I had a pair of shorts that I had made from a damaged set of legging - useful when the rain is coming and going

 

[andym]

For France, you should realize that the law there requires high visibility vests or clothing at night or in bad weather. So a high viz rain jacket may be a good idea. The problem is that there are no certified EVent hi viz cycling jackets that I know of. Cheaper certified hi viz cycling jackets do exist from French suppliers. In the UK there is heavier hi viz Goretex workwear.
Willem

To be slightly pedantic, the French law requires you to wear the hig-viz outside towns and villages at night or in conditions of poor visibility.

The best (or at least simplest and cheapest) solution is to get a simple high-viz CE-marked tabard and keep it with you. That said, the French law does not require you to have a jacket certified to the EN standard -so a high-viz jacket with reflective bits would be legal (but personally I'd carry a tabard anyway).

That at least was the position when we discussed this year or so ago - if anyone wants to check this it should be easily findable with a quick search.

Oh, and if you get wet the chances are you will get cold as the moisture evaporates - although merino wool seems to help a lot. As of course does sunshine.

 

[willem]

I would not want to ride with a wet jersey, but in warm weather I don't mind rain on my bare legs. Avoiding your cycling shorts getting wet is important, however, to prevent chafing. As for the hi viz stuff, I positively remember that the French law specifies the En standard. This is not the higher EN standard as imposed for workwear, but the lower one for sportswear. It could not be different, of course: you cannot impose a legal requirement if you do not define what it is that you are imposing. So dayglow jackets with a few patches of reflective stuff are not good enough.
Willem

 

[andym]

Bottom line if I were going France I would get the best lightweight jacket I could afford, and get a high- viz tabard as these are much more flexible. You may for example find youself riding in poor visibility when it's not raining and you can wear a tabard over a normal top.

If I had invested in something like an Altura NightVision high-viz jacket or gilet it might be a bit more complicated. These have what seem to me to be a reasonable amount of reflective material and in terms of being seen are probably just as useful as a normal high-viz jacket - ie not a substitute for a decent rear light, but useful in poor daylight and with a useful amount of reflective material.

On the one hand, the chances are pretty much zero that a gendarme coming across cyclists wearing those would pull them over to check fot CE labels. On the other hand I expect that the average gendarme will think that the same requirements apply to cyclusts as to motorists - ie EN471.

But as it is I have my cheap-and-cheerful CE-marked tabard so I don't have to worry.

 

[roundisland]

This is the jacket I own is it going to be acceptable in France?

I own a red coloured one.

MY Jacket

 

[rich p]

This is the jacket I own is it going to be acceptable in France?

I own a red coloured one.

MY Jacket

Should be fine as long as it packs down to a small enough size for your packing. Hopefully you won't need it! I took a lightweight hi-viz jacket last year as a precaution but never rode at night or in poor visibility but it's up to you whether you risk the long arm of the law. I suspect it's largely unenforced but don't quote me on that!

 

[hubbike]

one of the problems of cycling is the terrific range of temperatures. Ginding up hill you might be sweating out of every pore, stripped down to your waist. Over the pass you might be in shade, going 30mph downhill, not doing much physical work and need to put on all the clothes you own. so what is the solution? layering.
my view is that the answer is the same for spring in the south of france or patagonia in winter. You need a goretex or e-vent jacket. then layer up with several thin fleece tops as needed.

Bear in mind that jacket manufacturers are selling qualities that do not exist and don't really matter (breathable, waterproof etc). The important qualities are quick drying and windproof.


I have never found waterproof trousers useful for cycling (but indispensable for walking) legs get too hot going up hill so they just fill up with condensation...even the most breathable on the market can't cope. I have a pair of ron hill tracksters that keep me warm and dry very fast.

 

[andym]

This is the jacket I own is it going to be acceptable in France?

'Acceptable' as in will it keep the rain out etc or 'acceptable' as in will I get strange looks from the maître d' in a snooty restaurant.?

Yes
Endura do good stuff and have a good reputation - so I wouldn't rush out to buy a new one.

 

[andym]

I have never found waterproof trousers useful for cycling (but indispensable for walking) legs get too hot going up hill so they just fill up with condensation...even the most breathable on the market can't cope. I have a pair of ron hill tracksters that keep me warm and dry very fast.

I have seen someone (ground Effect?) offering waterproof shorts as an alternative to trousers. I'm not sure I'm convinced though.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think the problem of temperature arises if you're doing long descents. Otherwise it's going to be no cooler than southern England.

I have a number of lightweight yellow jackets and I'd take any one of them. They're all getting on in years, but the nearest equivalent on sale today would be the Polaris jacket at £36 or the Ron Hill Vizion jacket for about the same amount.

 

[Christopher]

This is the jacket I own is it going to be acceptable in France?

I own a red coloured one.

MY Jacket

Fine. Personally I'd take a very light shell, even lighter than your jacket, and not bother with anything else unless touring in the mountains and doing lots of cols as there you would get English-type drizzle for long periods. Down on the plains at that time of year it'll be no rain or torrential downpours, and no jacket will keep you dry in the latter. Have fun!