Commuting - all weather/year commuter gear

since i plan on commuting year round, ive decided to bite the bullet and buy some decent gear (clothing-wise) to make my commute more comfortable. id like to get a nice shell that has decent water/wind resistant specs that i can wear both in the hot, humid summer and in the winter. i like the gill traverse jacket that is on performance right now but am unsure if it will fit my needs.

im cheap so id like to keep it to just one year round shell... with it being summer, i hope to find a good deal somewhere. id like to hear what kind of jackets work for you. any other websites with good deals on jackets besides performance?

Where are you? What does winter mean to you? Some cold rain with the occasionnal snowfall or constant blizzard with the odd sunnybreak?

If the summer's really hot and humid, the best thing you can do in the rain is just get wet. You can pile on all the "waterproof" (I've ridden in downpours that a concrete wall wouldn't keep out) clothing you like, but it kind of defeats the purpose if you get just as wet from sweating. In winter, your main concern should be keeping warm before keeping dry (read my comment about concrete walls above). Having said all that, I bought a spanky Assos jacket last year, which probably saved my life in the downpour on the Gordon River Road last year.

Where are you? What does winter mean to you? Some cold rain with the occasionnal snowfall or constant blizzard with the odd sunnybreak?

i live in baltimore. the summers are much more intense than the winter time when it comes to cycling. it can easily get into the high nineties with extremely soupy humidity. winters are cold but nothing compared to what other members here encounter. id say something around a low of 15 degrees with high gusty winds is the worst ill see, and thats probably somewhat of an exaggeration. nevertheless, id like to have a good shell so that i wont lose focus when the weather starts to get irritating (although, im pretty happy riding in the mid 20's without complaints).

it seems i may be asking for too much, looking for one all year jacket. baltimore has the worst of both worlds when it comes to weather so it might be wise for me to just purchase a very light, breathable, waterproof jacket for the summer and a good setup for warm weather riding.

so now i just need to know what is a great waterproof rain jacket that wont overheat me and what is a good colder weather jacket that wont be too hot during the transition to uber cold. i plan on purchasing a cold weather jersey to layer also...

Sounds similar to our climate, except with cooler winters than us :p . As I said before, forget about staying dry in the summer. With the way you're likely to sweat in those conditions, that isn't going to happen -- regardless of the weather. Instead, keep a dry change of clothes that you can get into after your ride (lining panniers with sturdy plastic bags is good for this, or some of those "waterproof" bags I've seen in camping shops).

In winter, run witht he Assos jacket, with possibly one or two layers under it if you feel so inclined -- and still carry the change of clothes.

Yup, you will get wet no matter what. Like Chris, I prefer getting wet from the rain when it's warm. Even with the best waterproof/breathable jacket, you will get wet from your own sweat. In my opinion, good venting options (chest, underarm, back) is more important than the fabric. I just bought a jacket that is specific for cycling and I love it. The cut is a little higher on the front, lower on the back and the arms are a bit longer than on my regular jacket (I don't know if longer arms are usual to cycling jackets but I certainly apreciate).

The same jacket can be used without problems in winter as long as you can zip up the vents. The vent on on the back can't be closed on most jackets but it's rarely a problem as air doesn't come in directly. I've hiked at -25°C in a wind jacket with an open back vent and I was comfortable.

I've got a long Gor-Tex hooded overcoat. It is a knee-length rain parka called the Stowaway. It is light enough for summer use as a raincoat if I am riding in shrtsleeves and keep it partially unbuttoned for ventilation (or totally unbuttoned as a rain cape). With a suit coat or sport jacket underneath, it is warm enough for a Washington, DC winter. It also rolls up into a small bundle and fits easily on my rack.

Paul

I would suggest at least 2 jackets. Don't wear a waterproof unless it is precipitating. Use a lighter, cheaper, more breathable windproof, such as pertex when it's dry.
A winter rain jacket needs to have much better protection than a summer one. For hot summers, you may be better off without a waterproof. For spring/fall temperate rain then any decent breathable will do. For winter you need a high collar, good zip baffles, extra room for mid-layers and a more generous cut.
A cycling jacket should have a high front and low back, and long arms. Back vents are useful in summer, but NOT in cold winters.
Gortex is OK, but its not magical. I prefer to use other types of material with less of the plastic bag about them. My current favourite is the Paramo system.
Dont forget about the other parts of your clothing system. You dont need top of the line stuff, or even cycling specific: rear back pockets are pretty useless when worn under all your waterproofs.
check out icebike.com.

I'd like to add that the road spray is much nastier than the rain itself. It is filled with lots of dirty oil. I'd never want to commute without fenders.

In the Baltimore/DC area, you really don't need much extra insulation in winter.

Paul