gear, bike, riding techniques for a noob

[Sijray21]

For your first jacket i'd say stick with a perf leather one.

Agreed. A very perforated jacket like the Teknic Chicane is surprisingly comfortable (and pretty cheap) in hot weather IMHO.

i have the very perforated Teknic Chicane jacket and i've still sweat a LOT on a hot day. I gave my passenger the mesh jacket (Joe Rocket Pheonix 5.0) and she was fine. After i dropped her off i rode with the mesh jacket and it was a night and day difference in cooling (no more sweating at all). I will wear mesh in 90+ heat as long as i'm not planning on going at consistantly higher speeds or on a ride out west.