Make sure to always think in layers. If you don't, you will have only one jacket to wear for one temperature range or activity level. If you want a jacket to wear around town and ride with, than you need to make a compromise to be either a little too baggy for riding or a little too tight for casual wearing. First, you need to know why softshells and hardshells are sold/sought after.

Soft shells:
These began a few years ago to help bridge the gap between shells and fleece. They breathe much better than WPB jackets, stretch to fit your form especially in a riding position, and buffer less in the wind as well. Unless it is pouring outside, you can get away with just a soft shell in most cases especially for the distance you are commuting. Go longer and in the same style of rain and you may need to layer a shell (Waterproof Breathable...referred to as WPB going forward). If you purchase a soft shell, look for one w/out a WP (windproof) barrier instead of one with one. This will allow you to regulate your temperature more during warmer conditions. You can purchase various windshirts to go underneath your softshell if it is more windy or colder outside. If it is wet too, skip the WP underlayer and just add the WPB jacket over your shell. Make sure it is a very light to allow you to pack it down small when you commute and have to pack it away. Also make sure to spend the extra coin on the most breathable material and treat it right from the beginning. If you do a $200.00 expense looks alot better over 10 years than $100.00 over 2-4. The cut should be just large enough to fit the heaviest amount of insulation under it that you would wear in the coldest temperature you would ride. Remember that if you pair the softshell with a WPB shell, you will make you SS significantly warmer w/out adding anything underneath the SS. I usually size mine to fit one thin, very stretchy wool or Polypro layer next to skin, than another medium weight layer usually a powerstrecth layer at most. Do not layer a regular fleece underneath as it will be too bulky.

Shells:
WPB shells come in various degrees of waterproofness and breathability. As stated above, spend the money to get one made out of Paclite Goretex or Event WPB material. They are the most breathable and waterproof. All WPB jackets will eventually "wet out" on the outer nylon layer if exposed to severe rain or over a very long period of time. This "wetting out" time will begin to happen earlier and earlier as you wear your garment and it needs to be washed. Go into your local gear shop and ask for "Techwash" and you would wash both SS and WPB in the same thing about 1-3 times/year depending on how often you wear the garment and how dirty it gets. After about 3-5 washings you will need to retreat the garment as well. They are really only needed when the rain gets harder or if your ride is longer. If it is warm (over 60 degrees for me) or really cold, you can have issues with the breathability of their fabric even if it is the best. Mine is really light,easy to pack, and always goes in my bag if it is colder out or there is a chance of rain. I would say I wear my SS over my WPB shell about 80% of the time.

If you want recommendations I can put that together for you as well. I am sure there is a thread already started that we could add this information to and additional information going foward. Just do a search and than we can add to that thread rather than start another complete one.

Good luck!

Erik