Regarding the Mao-like Great Leap Forward in waterproofs, I used to wear a lined Rukka jacket as day to day dispatching wear until the summer, or what passed for it some years. I couldn’t be arsed to keep stopping and getting properly togged up on iffy days, but after a few weeks wear, the sweaty inner micro climate could probably have outdone the average Petri dish. Turning it inside out and lobbing it in the laundry was the approved cure.
I also well remember that wet June when it rained every day. I was running a VF400 Honda with thoughts of going racing, so I had bought some production racing compound red dot Metzeler ME33/99’s. It had rained so often that the Tarmac was scrubbed and the tires were brilliant. Quite a few scalps were taken on various favourite corners, and my wet riding improved no end. Nobody had snazzy body armour then, so learning to it right side up when chased on an urgent deadline was not only cheaper, but a lot less painful.
David