ROTH Income Limits, Recharacterizing, Back Door

Hey guys,

So, I'm trying to decide what to do in my current situation. I'll note what I already know (or think I know)

*I know the income phase out from 181 - 191,000 a year for married households.

*I know we could do backdoor ROTH contributions by contributing to a Traditional in a lump sum, then converting to a ROTH.

*I also know, that if you are above the income limits, you can recharacterize ROTH contributions to traditional, or be subject to tax if you don't.

I will receive a series of raises I negotiated this year, and my wife and I will be somewhere in this range or just below from 181 to 191k, and pretty much assuredly over in 2016 once I get my full year of new wages and she gets her usual salary, raises and bonuses.

So, backdoor ROTHs are pretty easy when you go straight to a Traditional and convert to ROTH, but what pitfalls may exist in a situation where I contribute to a ROTH, then have to recharacterize, and then try to convert back to the ROTH to complete the backdoor? Can I do that all at the same time without incurring some problem?

I'm fine if there is no way to avoid some limited taxes on the conversion (ie I know the longer you wait to convert a Traditional to ROTH the more likely you will incur taxes, but I don't know when this clock starts ticking in this recharacterization scenario, time of contribution or time of characterization) or if I have to let the recharacterization ride one taxable year and then do a simple backdoor ROTH in 2016 which includes the money from 2015.

Last resort if required by unknown pitfall I could just keep the money aside until I'm sure one way or another so I can complete the backdoor ROTH in a less confusing manner.

Thanks, hope that makes sense.