Originally Posted by
balto charlie
Rain gear....The last frontier. I tried the Marmot Mica ....meh. Light, breathable but eventually wets through. I'm thinking(especially for cold weather rain) the cheap plastic jackets from Performance. Cheap, light, compact, disposable(ish) and will keep you away from the cold elements. You will sweat like a pig though, so ride slowly.
Asanas post about Castelli nanoflex looks interesting. But ultimately you want your core warm and the arms and legs expendable. Perhaps a rain vest and Castelli for the arms and legs.
Personally I don't worry too much whether it wets through or not. I also do not worry if I am soaked with sweat. I assume I will be wet and wear something that will sufficiently block wind combined with a light insulation layer that maintains warmth. For me I have in the past used a 7.5 oz. Sierra Designs coated nylon jacket with a light pile kayaking sweater. I have since moved to a DWR Stoic Wraith jacket.
This system does have its limits temperature wise but I have used it on tour with overnight lows in the mid teens and been OK. The coldest when it was actually raining that I have used it on tour was probably in the low 40s though.