Riding a bicycle needn't be so complicated. Tens of millions of people throughout Europe and Asia ride every day without all of that stuff and without incident.

My bike has an attached lock for the rear wheel, a dynamo lighting system that always works and never needs charging, enclosed drivetrain so no special clothes, a good rack on the back, and a removable front carrier/basket for when I think I'll need it. Some people also carry a pump & bottle of leak seal. Good tires like Schwalbe Marathon's will largely eliminate the need to repair a flat.

More: City Bikes | LocalMile

You rarely or never see helmets, gloves, lycra, or anything outside of the U.S., Australia, and parts of Canada. Rates of head injuries are the same in countries with helmets and those without.

I have water bottles on my road racing bikes and cash for a beer or wine on my other bikes.