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by Ian Shires on 14 December, 2017
Follow these tips and you should find winter bike commuting easy and enjoyable.
Day or night, if you’re not sure if it’s dark enough for lights it’s always best to put them on. Check out our advice on how to make sure you’re seen in dark conditions.
Reconsider your route. Quiet roads that are good to ride on in fair weather are more prone to freezing, particularly early in the morning and bends can be very difficult if icy. Sometimes a gritted busier road is better than an icy quiet road.
A jacket and a pair of gloves should be numbers one and two on your checklist. Your jacket needs to be water and windproof, but also breathable and not too thick. It’s amazing how quickly you can overheat while cycling, even on the coldest days, and you can always add extra layers underneath if necessary. With shorter days, it’s also worth thinking about wearing something bright or reflective, to help others see you coming.
Bikes tend to deteriorate more quickly in the winter months with things becoming loose easily in the wet. To make sure your bike is in tip top shape get it serviced at a local bike shop to prevent any nasty surprises during your ride.
Water (particularly mixed with road salt) is really tough on your bike. After riding in bad weather it’s a good idea to give your bike five minutes of TLC to keep things running smoothly.
First, give it a general rinse and wipe-down to remove dirt, salt and grit. Pay particular attention to the chain, gears, brakes and wheel rims.
When you’re done, dry it off with an old towel. Disperse any excess water in moving parts with a spray of WD40, GT85 or something similar then add some bike oil to the chain and gear mechanism.
A good set of tyres will go a long way to prevent unnecessary skidding and they will also lessen the likelihood of you having to fix a puncture in the sleet and rain. Inflating the tyres a little less than you would in summer will improve traction in slippery conditions.
Pedals get slippery in the wet too. If you’re not comfortable with clip-in pedals, invest in some with extra grip. They’re pretty easy to fit or your local bike shop can give you a hand.
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