Even in Virginia I wet weather gear of limited use. As Scot said, in the hot days of summer, the feeling of a shower with me clothes on is less objectionable than the feeling of a sauna, protected from the rain, but soaked in the hot perspiration on the inside. Yesterday, I was caught by the rain, and had rain gear over the summer protective gear. The ambient temperature was just low enough that I was o.k., and glad to be dry at the other end. Still, once the weather turns cool enough to break out the cool/cold weather gear, that is water-resistant anyway, so there is only a little of the shoulder seasons spring and fall where rain gear is actually helpful.
But I'm preaching to the choir here. What person rides a Rocket who hasn't decided all this for themselves ? I'll crawl back under my rock.