[Fenring]

I have 2 sets of 2-piece textile suits from IXS, one is all-weather type, good for winter and most of fall and spring. Another is IXS Air model that has meshed areas on the inner sides of arms and legs and that helps a bit during summer. Normally I wear boots, but during summer sometimes switch to regular sneakers. Sometimes on short commutes I replace suit pants with "Spool" denim pants with protectors and cordura (good for about 15 minutes of rain, and the're pretty comfy off the bike). Arai RX-7 Corsair helmet worn at all rides, with no exceptions. Dito for gloves.

I've fallen once from the bike. At about 100 kph, hard braking before the turn and front slipped. I slid on the asphalt app. 20 meters and then somersaulted into the corn-field that was a meter or more below road level. I consider myself very lucky because I landed on relatively soft ground and there were no concrete or metal rails on the road to mash me up. Still the suit was torn on a hip and elbow all the way to the skin and I got some roadrash and some bruises, but nothing serious. The bike was in much worse shape than me. I figure that if I wore no suit that day, I would leave half of my skin on the road and probably broken a hip, shoulder and elbow. The helmet was also substantially scraped on one side at chin level so without it I'd probably look like that guy from "The Box" now. Scary stuff.

If there was rain-proof leather, I'd wear that instead.

I've noticed that in hot weather the real heavy sweating starts only after I park the bike and start undressing, even if the ride is a town commute with heavy traffic.