Riding in winter comes with its challenges from slippery road surfaces to decreased visibility which all present a larger strain on your body, mind and bike when battling through the prevailing weather conditions throughout the day.
Summer feels like it has long gone but that doesn’t mean you still can’t ride. You do, however, need to take extra precautions. See below for some handy winter road cycling tips.
Ride to conditions
Much like driving, you should ride to their conditions. Weather plays a significant role in dictating how fast you can and should ride. It doesn’t matter how good you are – as your grip and visibility decreases, the hazard increases.
It is important that you temper your pace accordingly especially on twisty or hilly areas. Be especially careful after heavy rainfall for left over shrapnel like mud, silt or gravel. In conditions like these you can’t expect there to be the same grip even if you change your tyres so make sure to err on the side of caution and reduce your speed when needed.
Adapt your riding style
Not only will reducing your speed help in sketchy conditions, changing your riding style will help too. Make sure when riding to be more forgiving and give yourself adequate time to adjust to the unpredictable nature of conditions.
Introducing things such as lengthening your braking zones and giving your front and rear wheels a 50:50 braking distribution. You also need to distribute your weight evenly whilst maintaining a supple and relaxed stance especially if you experience skidding or chattering under the bike.
Steering should also be less vicious. Remember that the centre of the road can be home to slippery deposits of loose grit and silt so opting for a different line when turning corners is best.
Lights
As the mornings and evenings get darker it is important to make sure that your bike is properly equipped with lights. It is against the law to not have bike lights at night. It makes sense to use them throughout the winter season too, especially with the unpredictable weather. We have plenty of lights to choose from here. Ensure that your lights are well charged too so you don’t get caught out.
Go hi-viz
Hi-visibility clothing is another way to stand out from the gloom and make yourself noticeable on the road. By noticeable we don’t mean as a way to stand out fashionably, but instead for safety reasons.
Many cycling brands have now focused their efforts on giving high-visibility performance-focused kit so you don’t need to sacrifice functionality anymore. There are different types of high-visibility garments including, fluorescent colour, reflective panels and even fabrics that include tiny glass beads that reflect throughout.
Whatever you decide, standing out is key to warn other road users of your presence so make sure you are fully equipped for the impending winter season.
