Context: riding s-Pedelec through a European city for 25km each way on commute several times a week over three seasons at any weather. Been doing since 3 years now. Majority of the path is cycle paths, lots of crossings and entrances that have cars coming out on the way.

Helmet:

• NTA8667 certified
• with MIPS
• integrated lighting
• windshield

(e. G. Lumos ultra ebike smart helmet). Mine is a bit older, that’s the one I’d get now.

Vest: high vis with reflectors and good air circulation. Small rain jacket in the bike bag.

Trousers: reflectors there as well, always carry rain-proof trousers in your bike bag. 30mph make you freeze to your bones even in summer if you get wet and have wind running through your cloths

Gloves: depending on the season, high summer none, when temps are below 18degC light mountain bike gloves, when temps are below 12 thicker gloves. Beginning and end of the biking season skiing gloves.

Bike:

• spoke reflectors
• really loud horn. You want a car driver to jump when you press the horn not to be annoyed by you
• additional lights for driving in the rain

I never had an accident in three years but lots of close calls and I really try to save time on my commute, so I don’t go slow. However, that being said I think similarly important to the right equipment is the mindset.

• Plan your route so that you avoid any tricky spots. E. G. My old route went on a stretch of road through the woods. I hated it bc the road turns meant car drivers could potentially not see me in time.
• be paranoid about car drivers
• be double paranoid about trucks. There’s no do over after a truck accident, no matter what you wore.
• be paranoid about pedestrians. They’ll randomly veer off path.
• never believe that a car driver will not just cut right across your way only bc they looked at you 1 second before. They do not understand how fast you are.
• I’d rather get sued than killed. There are spots where it is illegal to drive my bike on a cycling path (stupid laws). Same spot has a really tricky and dangerous stretch of road. I’m happy to pay the fee for having taken the bike path illegally, a lot cheaper than an accident.
• take care of others, be prepared to break. Normal cyclists are like turtles when you’re riding an s-Pedelec. Keep proper distance and just factor in the few minutes extra for staying in line behind them for a mile each way
• Train braking from full speed in emergency mode. It’s not that easy with such a heavy bike. Keep your emergency brake path also in mind when choosing your speed.
• assume they don’t know you’re there until you honked them.

That last one combines great with the paranoid rules above, don’t honk in anger, honk to make others aware you’re there. Also when driving in the rain in the dark you unlock a new mode! You’re completely invisible, no matter how much lights you carry. That assumption saved my ass twice last season.