OK, slight error of jugdement today; rode into town avoiding roads (which I've been meaning to do forever). Pleased that it's possible and that I now know the route, but now I'm sopping wet through and covered in mud, so I couldn't meet the missus for a drink which defeated the object of the trip in the first place !

What's the one best thing that you use to keep dry / clean / warm ?

One thing I was glad of is a head sock I got for walking the dog, kept the rain from dripping down the back of my neck and I used it as a face mask to keep mud off my chops!

Quality rain jacket and rain trousers!

Endura Gridlock jacket does me for commutes but I use tights and keep some goretex rain cover/trousers just in case.

As said below (guards deffo)

Or go have a shower and dry off, get GF to spray you head to toe in Nixwax rain repellent 😉 (seriously don't)

over trousers and a cagoule.

and some form of mudguardage.

mountain bike mudguard angst is a terrible thing