Not quite ATGATT here, MTGATT. Full face or flip face (currently full, previously and soon again flip) helmet, gloves (usually BMW Rally), jacket (Aerostich Darien or Joe Rocket Mesh with leather shoulders and outer arms). I will layer under the jacket as needed, all the way to the my Kanetsu 'lectric jacket w/ hi-tech long underwear. 99% time wear Alpinestar SMX boots, change footgear at work. 95% time wear either Darien pants or Olympia Airglide(?), the Olympia's are preferred for
all conditions except wet. The Darien is just too warm to wear commuting here between April and October, although I have done it. Right now my commute is 55-65 miles roundtrip.
One thing you can do to make the ride more comfortable when it gets warm is make sure that your pants are lightweight. Jeans, especially on longer rides, are just too toasty. I've found its more comfortable to wear lightweight "adventure pants" like you'll find
here or my new find, these pants by
Haggar. While it hasn't gotten seriously warm here yet, my preliminary findings are that in temps up to about 80 they are as comfortable as anything else I've worn under the riding pants. And yes, these very light pants combined with mesh riding pants are more comfortable than jeans, plus they're a heckuva lot safer.
If you do get riding pants and you expect to be doing a lot of stop and go,
do not get black!. The pants will be a mini oven, roasting your legs in the sun. That's one of the great things about my Olympia pants, they're silver.
Finally, if its going to rain, I'll ride, but that's because I only have a bike now. Before, when I had the choice, I'd usually drive, but that's largely because when it rains here, the roads become
very slick, since it rains rarely.
As far as covering the bike goes so it doesn't get rained on, why? A rained on bike gets the dust rinsed off, as well as softening any bugs so they're easier to wipe off. Rain won't hurt the bike, and depending on the overpants you might wear, sitting on a wet seat won't even dampen your keester one iota. I've had my bike for almost 4 years not, and didn't even have a cover until this past December, and I only got the cover because the bike was going to be sitting 30 feet from Interstate 10 in Fontana, CA (LA area) for weeks at a time. I bought the bike to ride it, not to primp it.
I also used to commute by bicycle. Compared to a dedicated commuting cyclist, we have it relatively easy. We don't need a shower when we get to work... We don't need a private room or bathroom to change our clothes....