Originally Posted by
bluegoatwoods
Early spring and late fall (times that drivers think of as borderline winter) certainly do provide some of the best riding conditions imaginable (but when it rains, yuchhh...). Only the heart of winter is on the tough side; getting dressed and undressed for it can become a big production. And snowbanked roads can bring me to a nearly complete stop. Only if I can time my rides to minimum auto traffic do I even attempt it. But with that said, winter riding can be surprisingly enjoyable.
For lighting I will advise a minimalist approach. "The more, the better" might seem to make sense, but my experience is that it is not so. When I've had a lot of lights on my bike it only seems to confuse the drivers. They know that they are seeing something but they don't know just what. They stupidly keep on at cruising speed. When their perception finally resolves you as a bicycle, they're right on your tail and panic. Rear flashers have a similar effect. All they can see is that flasher and they can't even tell how far away it is.
I use two lights front and rear. Two mostly for redundancy; if one dies, I have something to get me by. They're basic LED bicycle lights. I run the rears in steady mode, though I will run one in flashing mode if visibility is bad. For the rest, rely on reflectors. Drivers understand them. They understand reflective vests terrifically well, too. You can see them (if you have mirrors) moving over a long way back.
I also agree with most of what was written here - my one caveat is that while it's miserable to ride in the rain without proper gear the in the early spring and late fall, with the right gear I prefer rain riding then than trying to ride in the rain at 90 degrees. When it's cold my breathable rain gear actually works, and I can throw it on over my other riding gear and be fine. When it's hot it's way to hot to wear rain gear, no matter how breathable and the only solution is to just get wet. Well...I guess it's pretty fun when I'm just out for a leisure ride. :-) But when I'm trying to ride to a destination, arriving completely soaked is pretty miserable.
I try to justify the whole ordeal about dressing for winter riding by reminding myself that doing anything outside is kind of an ordeal in the winter, and while time consuming, the nice thing about winter riding is that I'm always either warm or just a touch chilly in the winter - more comfy than walking out to my freezing cold car in the winter! :-) Brrr brrr brrr, hands are freezing, get the key out, turn the car on...brrr, brr, brr while the engine is warming up... :-)
I also agree with "more lights is not necessarily better" - from my own driving experience, the most visible bikes are ones that clearly have a steady light with a not-intense blinking light next to it. Easier to keep track of where the bike is (so, you know, that I don't hit it with my car accidentally). I like the ankle reflectors to - I can always tell it's a bike when I see those. Or the pedals with reflectors. And reflective gear that outlines your shape is good to. I know I find it easier to see the solid reflective jackets or the "shape of a person" reflective tape than the "construction worker straight stripes" for some reason.