The weather, road conditions, and darkness that the winter months bring are not ideal from a safety perspective. One in five single-vehicle accidents in which the cyclist is seriously injured occurs due to icy or snowy roads, according to a study by the insurance company If. Even if you manage to overcome the treacherous road conditions, other hazards await, such as poor visibility or rain lashing your face. Without giving it much thought, it might seem like the best option is to leave your bike in the garage until spring arrives.
But with the right conditions—and a little planning—you can make your bike ride both safe and enjoyable. At the same time, it can also be very appealing to ride around without mosquitoes buzzing in your face or the scorching sun beating down on the back of your neck. It’s also a great way to get outside and get some exercise. In addition, many people find it cozy to ride around with their lights on in the dark. But all of this requires that you’re prepared with the right equipment.
Studded tires, for example, are an inexpensive, effective, and safe way to prevent accidents caused by slippery road conditions. Be sure to equip your bike with them, and use lower tire pressure than you would with regular tires. But there’s more to consider than that.
Tires
There’s a big difference between underinflated and properly inflated tires. So make your bike ride more comfortable and safer by keeping your tires at the correct pressure. At the same time, you’ll avoid unnecessary damage to your bike. However, the choice of tire, inner tube, the rider’s weight, and other factors determine the optimal tire pressure. Check the side of the tire to see what the recommended tire pressure is, so you don’t have to worry about overinflating it. If you ride your bike daily, you should inflate your tires once a month.
Lighting
Being visible to others and being able to see your surroundings is perhaps the most important part. There are legal requirements for bicycle lighting after dark. The requirement is that the bicycle must be equipped with a white front light, a red rear light, and reflectors on the front, rear, and sides. Aim the front light down toward the road to provide a clearer beam and avoid blinding others.
Clothing
For those who don’t want to splurge on new clothes, the layer-on-layer principle works well: dressing in multiple layers to withstand the cold while still being able to regulate body heat. Otherwise, there are excellent clothes designed for physical activity in cold weather. In addition to cold-weather clothing, the most important item is a reflective vest to increase visibility in traffic. Glasses are also a very useful accessory in rain or snow.
Brakes
There are two main types of brakes: rim brakes and disc brakes. In general, disc brakes perform better in winter and in bad weather—since their braking performance is relatively unaffected—while rim brakes are impaired by dust and rain. It can be difficult to determine exactly when the brakes need to be replaced. Visit a bike shop to get a feel for just how well a new brake actually works, and then compare it to your own brakes.
