I've had good luck at thrift shops. I think a lot of people buy gear and then lose interest in the sport they bought it for. I've found rain pants -- even a like-new pair of Arc'Teryx. You can always find fleece jackets, and fleece doesn't have to be expensive to keep you warm.

You don't necessarily need high-end clothing -- Ultrex instead of Gore-tex, for example. I've also gotten silkweight Patagonia Capilene on Ebay (Ebay is less time-consuming than thrift shops). Campmor's web site occasionally has great deals, too.

If you sew at all, fleece is easy to work with. Another idea is asking for your outdoor clothing at gift-giving times. I did this a lot as my mom got older and less inclined to go shopping and we both enjoyed it.

Take my advice with a grain of salt since I haven't bought bike-specific clothing. But I do stay toasty warm and dry camping, hiking and scootering in my thrift shop gear.

Pam