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Well it's that time of year again! Summer, what it was, is
now over, the days are colder and wetter - and so are the
roads.
Many riders put their bikes away for the winter and only
get them out again when the days get longer and warmer. Many
however, (mainly those who commute) ride all year round.
If you bought a bike and started riding in the summer, you
may now find it's not as pleasant as it was so here are some
tips for autumn / winter riding.
There are three main (and obvious) weather elements that
define winter - it's dark, it's cold and it's wet.
Dark
For those working office hours it's now dark for your ride
home and possibly even your trip to work in the morning.
The obvious danger is:
Reduced visibility - it's harder for you to see others and
others to see you. It's also harder to see the road which
may not be a problem in town but on minor roads out of town
you may well find corners jumping out in front of you.
Tips:
Lights - make sure they are on, the lenses are clean
and there are no blown bulbs.
Wear reflecting clothing / strips.
A white helmet makes you more visible.
Visor - use a clear visor (i.e. not tinted) and make
sure it's clean.
Slow down - and don't take risks.
Wet
Not only are the roads wet most of the time, the sudden
increase of autumn leaves can make stretches of roads into
lethal ice rinks.
The dangers are:
Slippery roads - not only because they're wet
but because of the surface is colder so offers less grip
and fallen wet
leaves are very slippery.
Braking distances are dramatically increased - wet brakes
don't work as well and tyres don't like wet roads.
Visibility is greatly affected by rain, drizzle,
fog, mist and spray. We don't benefit from windscreen wipers
so much moisture
stays on our visor. Water refracts light so when it's wet
and dark, oncoming headlights will be a problem
Comfort - if you're wet you'll be miserable and fed up.
This will affect your ability to concentrate on the road
when you need it most.
Tips:
Tyres - make sure they have enough tread, are free from
defects and are the CORRECT PRESSURE. Correct tyre pressure
is essential for the tyre to perform properly and a properly
performing tyre is even more important in the wet.
Slow down - no way around this - you simply can't
go as fast on a wet road as you can't stop safely. Allow
more time
for your journey. It is a fact, your commute WILL take longer
in winter.
Allow more braking distance - the rule of thumb is a 2 second
gap in the dry and a 4 second gap in the wet.
Clothing - spend some money on good waterproof clothes,
boots and gloves.
Helmet - make sure it's a good make with proper ventilation
so it won't steam up inside.
Cold
The cold is generally unpleasant but also has some dangers.
The dangers are:
Concentration - if you're cold you simply won't concentrate
well.
Reaction - cold hands can make braking difficult. If you've
gripped the bars with cold hands for a while (on a long stretch
of open road for example) when it comes to braking you may
find your hand won't move!
Grip - not only are wet roads slippery, a cold surface also
offers less grip.
Variation - on a sunny but cold day there can be a great
difference in road surface conditions between those in the
sun and those in the shade.
Snow & ice - dangerous enough for cars - deadly for bikes.
Tips:
Wrap up - invest in warm, wind and waterproof clothes
including thermals.
Keep your hands warm with winter gloves, inner gloves if
necessary, muffs fitted to the handle bars or even heated
grips which can be bought for around £50.
Be aware - look around you more, note the road conditions
and keep an eye out ahead to see how they are changing.
Slow down - especially when cornering.
DON'T - ride in snow or ice. Get the bus or work from
home.
Check the weather (radio, internet etc) before you leave.
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