I just rode through a lot of rain. Pouring showers from New Glarus to Milwaukee. I had no trouble being seen and I didn't get to wet. This is all thanks to my new favorite gear that I stole from the phone company I used to work at.
I should get a picture of me suited up in this stuff. It's hilarious. I think everyone who saw me today was afraid I knew something they didn't. Mainly because I look like a guy with a chemical suit on riding away as fast as I can from whatever is behind me. The gear is neon-yellow green and subdued lighting (that comes with storms) only makes the day-glo effect better. Lots better. To top it off, it's equipped with reflective striping like a fireman's suit.
Besides visibility, my testing has proved it much more worthy than I expected. I cruised I94 today at a higher rate of speed than normal. I have a strange philosophy about rain+cars+hwy that makes sense to me and so far I haven't died. {My philosophy lends itself to being a little faster than cars on the highway, especially because I hate getting caught in someone's wake as they pass me.} Anyways, the gear is good for 90mph against large droplets of rain. Despite the cold feeling of heat transfer through the raingear, I was completely dry when I shed the stuff at home. And I wasn't overcome by humid moisture of my own sweat that comes with most plasticy rainwear.
So the worst part about this entire post is that I can't find a link to show you guys what I have. I'm tempted to call my old boss to see what catalog he ordered it out of because it's worth at least $80 to any rider. It's made by "Faithful" and has a little blue and red flag as a logo. But I can't, for the life of me, find the gear online. Dammit.