You can fix the person, or you can fix the bike

One thing I read that stuck with me, was that in Holland they prepare their bikes for any situation. In Britain, or America, or any place where cycling isn't so ingrained within the culture, they prepare themselves. My bicycle seems to be a bit more Dutch than British in mindset, despite being proudly made in Nottingham.

Mudguards -
I didn't give rain a second thought. I didn't even realise mudguards were optional until my boyfriend said that I was lucky I could ride in the rain because of them. I began noticing all the bikes without them being pedalled around the place or locked up on Queen Street. Really? We're in Wales and you decide to go without mudguards?
Apparently the British thing is to wear waterproof trousers and a rain coat. Preparing the person and not the bike.

 Basket -
Seriously! How do people survive without a basket?
I got a bicycle maintenance book out of the library. I used my basket to carry it home.
It spent ages saying things like:
-Oh you need a lock, but they're so heavy to carry, and chains are so cumbersome, you'll have to put it around your waist. You can get special brackets for it though, so do that.
- Always carry a pump, you can get small ones that fit to your frame. You'll have to fit a bracket though.
- What about water? You can get bottles for I dunno, a fiver? And you can get brackets to fit to your frame to carry them.
-  Carrying things is so hard. Your back gets so sweaty with a normal backpack. You can get ones that are specially designed for cycling, they cost a fortune though.
- Aha, there are these things called baskets. they fit on the front and they're brilliant for stopping people from stealing your bike!
 Why doesn't everyone just grab the stuff they need, stuff it in the basket and go?
There's only so many brackets your frame has room for, and I never notice the difference in handling when mine is full of stuff or empty.
 Apparently the British thing is to carry a rucksack or a messenger style bag, but really. If you're a girl, get a basket, and if you're a guy get panniers. Problem solved.

 Clothing - 
On Caprice I find it simple enough to ride in anything I'm wearing, even the shortest of miniskirts. I find the basket and a strategically placed safety pin helps my modesty (Ha! Like I have modesty!).  She's a loop frame, so there's no problem with the upper bar getting in the way, and she has a chain guard so I've never given a moments thought over getting clothing caught in the chain. When my boyfriend rode his dad's fixie, however, he had to tuck his jeans into his socks. Hilarious, I thought! Why don't all bikes come with chain cases?
Because in Britain the rider prepares him or herself by wearing shorts, or Lycra or something.

The difference in these two styles correspond exactly to how the bicycle in viewed by people in the two countries. Holland hops on and gets from A to B. In Britain they spend ages working out what to wear that they can ride in, then go change, then see that it's raining and give up because they don't want a soggy back.
So really, one of the main things that the bicycle industry can do to make cycling a more appealing form of transport is just to fit mudguards to all bikes as standard.
And, of course, a basket.