Need Help! Waterproof gear for commuter

[MaxCannon]

For a start you need a plastic bag to put your work clothes in. this goes inside a backpack or tankbag.
This ought to keep them pretty dry.
When you get to work take off your wet gear and get changed into your nice dry work clothes.

They won't get any more wrinkled than if you wore them under your bike gear (probably less so).

My jacket and pants have proven about 95% waterproof. Really heavy rain sees a couple of leaks, nothing major.
The jacket is a cheap Neo model, I think it was $200
My original cheap pants leaked like a sieve. Guaranteed wet crotch anytime it rained.
I bought some Rev'it cordura pants and they are close to waterproof as cordura is likely to get.
If I was touring I'd get a rain suit but for round town it's not worth it for 15-20 minutes trips.

I'll add a +1 for the Rain off gloves. Fabulous invention.

[rie]

if your riding jacket happens to be "waterproof" you may like to consider how you will dry out your gear overnight. after a wet day of commuting inevitably the inside lining will get wet on top of an old wet patch; you will smell like pollution dipped in a lake; etc.

there's a freakishly expensive coathanger that dries your gear for you.

or you can try just hanging it up overnight and see if that works.

definitely don't chuck it in a dryer. even if you take all the armour out. do.not.put.in.dryer.

[Usarka]

My old spidi cordura jacket has never leaked. I use this rather than my leathers for wet conditions but each to their own.

If you have cordura that is leaking try washing it in a specialised wash available from bike and outdoor shops. If the pores get clogged from dirt, diesel smoke, etc etc, it hinders the waterproofness.

[vifferman]

My Teknic Hurricane jacket was pretty much waterproof, but after I'd had leather panels stitched on top of the cordura I had to treat it every few months with Scotchgard to keep the moisture out.
I've had my Spidi Gran Turismo pants for a few years now (commute most days) and they've yet to leak. Neither has my Macna (leather) jacket (Christmas/birthday present) nor my StylMartin StyleSafe boots (over two-and-a-half years old), nor my Spidi SportComp H2Out gloves (couple of years old.
You can buy waterproof stuff, but it costs, and you have to look after it, including treating it with the appropriate stuff now'n'again.
If money's an object, buy whatever you like then top it off with either PVC stuff, or 'plasticised' nylon gear. I've got a pair of Motoline pants that I wore over my leather ones for years and years; they were nylon, with a PVC coating on the inside, and PVC welded seams. Brilliant - and cost only $40-summat. Only beef I have with them is that they were a little slippery on the bike seat.