Tip 3 - Keep It Dry
Drying your gear correctly is also critical. Most outerwear comes with a pre-applied coating called DWR or Durable Water Repellency. Its purpose is not to keep the rider waterproof—that is the job of the waterproof membrane. DWR’s job is to keep the outer fabric from absorbing water (wetting out), which makes the garment cold, heavy and reduces breathability.
Although wetted out fabric is still technically waterproof, the moisture that has absorbed into the outer fabric pulls heat away from your body due to conductive heat loss which will make the person wearing the garment feel cold. Machine drying your gear at an appropriate temperature will renew your DWR surface treatment between rides. DWR can eventually wear out but you can easily restore it by applying aftermarket DWR treatments like Revivex. If your gear isn’t beading water like a freshly waxed car, it might be time to apply a new DWR.
Mid- and base-layers can be prone to shrinking and pilling during machine drying, so be sure to follow drying instructions for your gear as well. Keep Velcro hooks away from layers.