I went down on asphalt once doing about 25 with a wife beater, swim trunks and flip flops on when I was 16. I didn't break anything, but I was bandaged up like a mummy from all the wounds. Sliding on bare skin down the road is really something you don't want to experience. Ruined most of my summer.I wore leathers year round when riding. Yeah, it was hot and sweaty in the summer, but it sure beat road rash if you went down.