The coming of autumn means the coming of dodgy forecasts and plenty of the wet stuff - dress prepared

Most lightweight jackets will be water resistant, but not waterproof

Endura's Pakajak is an example of a showerproof jacket, a type that combines limited water resistance with excellent breathability

Softshell jacket offer some resistance to the rain from a stretchable fabric

The pit zips on Endura's Gridlock II jacket are intended to increase breathability

Taped seams are an essential requirement for any jacket claiming to be waterproof. Those shown here are from Endura's Helium jacket

Castelli's three-layer Muur jacket is made from a proprietary technical by fabric made for them by eVent

Autumn’s arrival and some ominous looking weather forecasts – with plenty of rain and wind across the UK – does not bode well for cyclists. That needn’t keep you off the bike, but you need to dress correctly to stay warm and dry.

As it is with most of the many and varied garments in cycling, choosing a rain jacket is far from straight-forward, and there are many options to cater for the range of conditions you’ll face on the road across the seasons.

We headed to our local bike shop, Ride, to take stock of the key types of rain jacket on the market, and to gain the thoughts of main man, Ritchie Hilton-Foster.

Over the next five pages, we’ll consider the various components that make up a rain jacket, including fit, features, and fabrics, with examples from some of the leading brands.

Jerseys for cool conditions, or layering when winter arrives

Lightweight gloves to keep the chill at bay

Keep your feet warm and dry as the weather turns

Dipping your toe into cyclo-cross racing? Here are five essentials bits of kit for race day

Oversocks to keep your feet warm and shoes clean before you have to start reaching for something thicker

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