Cycling Safety Tips for Winter

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Cycling Safety Tips for Winter

Cycling is an excellent activity for staying healthy and active. The best thing about cycling is that you do not need to take special time out of your day and dedicate it to cycling. You can go to work on your bike or run your errands.

Cycling is a lot of fun but it can become pretty challenging during the winter season. Even the most dedicated cyclists find it hard to enjoy cycling in the winter season. But just because the temperatures drop and rain and snow start falling do not mean you have to give cycling.

It is important that you are careful otherwise you may have to look for road traffic accident solicitors. Here are a few tips that will make sure that you are able to enjoy cycling during the winter season.

Try lowering the saddle:

During the winter season, the roads get dangerous as they get slippery especially if it snows in your area. You need to make sure that the cycle has more stability and it does not wobble. To improve the balance of the bicycle you should lower the saddle. The small change may seem insignificant but it can have a huge impact on the safety of the bicycle. It will make it easier to manage the wet and icy patches. A lower saddle helps in preventing skidding as it allows you to easily use your feet for balance. Lower the saddle so that your feet can sit flat on the ground.

Adjust the tyre pressure:

The tyres are an important part of a bicycle. It is important that you adjust the tyre pressure according to the weather conditions. You should let a little air out of the tyres when winter sets in. When the tyres are a little saggy then they will offer better grip and make sure that the cycle does not slip. There are spiked tyres available for areas that have heavy snowfall but they are only for extreme conditions.

Maintaining the bike:

The bike can easily get dirty in winter because of the snow and rain. Keeping the bike clean will make sure that all of its parts keep working safely. It will also allow you to prevent breaking of anything like the chain. Washing the bike with warm water after cycling on muddy and snowy roads and you will be able to avoid rusting the bike.

Fit lights:

It is not safe to ride around without any lights because it makes you invisible to the oncoming traffic and increases the chances of an accident. With the winter season, you should expect fog, mist, rain, and snow. The front and rear lights make sure that you are able to see clearly even if the conditions get a little extreme. It is neither difficult nor too costly to install the lights but it is essential for safety.

Try hi-viz clothing:

Before you head out on your bike you need to check the weather so that you do not get stuck in a blizzard. If there is fog or mist then the visibility level is going to be low and to make sure you do not get hit by a car you should wear high visibility clothing. 

Winterproof your bike:  

As we suggested back in our first point, tire decision is constantly significant in boosting what hold you have out and about. Producers like Continental, Schwalbe and Michelin (among others) all have explicit forms of their elastic which guarantee to improve hold by means of the utilization of cement mixes and steps that can dislodge water. These tires more often than excluding additional cut opposition, as well – nobody preferences remaining along the edge of the street fixing a cut when it's cold out. Ensure you have a decent siphon or CO2 expand to rapidly get your tires up to full weight out and about.