Last batch of winter stuff:
-Another very cheap rsantce thermal: 184cm 76kg recommended XL which felt too big, I bought a new one in L and it fits much better. Still love it, still crazy cheap https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006761702729.html
-Thinner base layer: Very versatile, I can see myself using it for summer too, but I've used it when I wasn't quite ready for just short sleeve jersey but too warm for windbreaker/thicker darevie base layer, around 12c. Still gives some warmth I think, worth it https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006062287648.html

First batch of summer stuff:
-Cheji bibs everyone here hyped: Great, perhaps a little better than my go-to darevies, but I expected a little more. The legs are very tight but fit is still great overall. I got size L https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008628165379.html
-Inbike long sleeve summer jersey: My tanlines have moved to my wrist. Color is darker than it seems from their pictures (white). Fit is impeccable. Keep in mind they use EU sizing, I bought M. Big fan. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008604466255.html
-West biking helmet: My point of reference is my Lazer Z1. A little warmer which was to be expected as it's got less ventilation, but it puts the lazer to shame in overall build quality (in appearance, I've obviously not crash tested it and have no intention to). Straps are great, ALL the padding is much faster to dry and much smoother, and the adjusting is in another league (perhaps says more about how shit adjusting is on lazer's proprietary dial...). As a bonus I think I look less mushroomy. I'm happy with it https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008292808534.html

Unrelated: passed a guy on a top of the line sram red SL8 wearing a darevie kit. Found it funny

How is the sizing on your Inbike LS compared to the chart they've got? I'm usually an EU Small for a slim (165cm 63kg) but their chart would put me at a medium.

If your concern is bugs in mouth, unironically breathing practice. Though the claims that you can improve performance via breathing are normally bogus, you can train to be able to nose breathe at a pretty high % of ftp. Imo it's most useful because your body loses less water this way, compared to mouth breathing, but less chance of bugs in mouth is a decent bonus too.

My concern is more so riding through swarms and having some physical separation, I appreciate the info though!

If you go for AliExpress.. you really should have a very good idea of what you need, what could fit your feet. Which you can't have as you don't have the experience.
For my first shoes I guess I had to try 6 different pairs.. and in the end they still turned out to be not optimal and I gave them away to a friend.

You can get good deals when looking at end of season sales.

I agree with the sentiment, but I would probably take a risk one way or another since I am opting for a budget route be it through local classifieds or otherwise. First pair will not be a winner one way or another, and would be okay being out $40CAD vs $140CAD on my first miss. Would you have any recs for where I can find old season shoes (and perhaps cleat recs)? My bike has Shimano PD-530 pedals which I understand are SPD and not SPD-SL.