This morning, it was raining... properly raining. Most sane people would have just shrugged their shoulders and gone back to bed, but as I don't fall into that catagory, I got up and was on the bike by 08.00. This was a good chance to thoroughly test out the raingear and equipment in heavy rainfall, whilst cycling through a waterlogged rough track. Its not quite the Dalton Highway, but its as close as I can get living in Northampton.

Wearing my bib -tights underneath waterproof trousers was perfect for keeping warm and dry. The over shoes kept my feet dry, and my jacket with hood performed superbly. The only bit of kit to let me down was the gloves, which clearly aren't waterproof by any stretch of the imagination. I'm toying with the idea of using 'roadworkers' workmans rubber gloves to put over the top of them. Having wet hands isn't a problem of course, but having cold wet hands is, and I've been there enough times to know that its best avoided!