Cycling in cold, wet, windy weather can be one of the worst feelings when you’re out training. Not only is it not fun, but it can also be pretty dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you’re training in an area with bad weather or want to prepare for any situation, read on. This is a cycler’s safety guide to riding in bad weather.
How To Stay Dry
Whether you’re cycling in rain or snow, you want to protect the innermost layers of your clothing to prevent them from getting wet and bringing down your internal body temperature. That means the essential parts of your gear for staying dry are a weatherproof jacket and tights. You’ll want an additional dry layer underneath, especially if it’s cold. You’ll also need to keep on waterproof gloves, glasses, and a cap under your helmet to keep the air vents from letting in water or snow.
Ensure Your Bike Is Ready
When cycling in inclement weather, you need to make sure that your bike is ready to handle the elements. If it’s raining, you’ll want to have mudguards on your tires if you don’t have them installed already. In the same vein, it’s critical to ensure that your tires have the proper traction for the terrain you’ll be on, as snow, sleet, or generally wet conditions can lead to a serious wipeout.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Most cyclists already know the importance of being aware of their surroundings, but the importance of it doubles when you’re in bad weather. You need to know your hand signals whether you’re cycling alone or in a group. If you can, avoid going on a trail near a road. You can control your bike, but you can’t control other drivers.
Know When To Quit
The most important safety tip you can take from this article is to know when bad weather turns into dangerous weather. The word “quit” just isn’t in some dedicated people’s vocabulary. However, for the sake of your health and safety, you should refrain from biking when conditions are too extreme. You should stop when necessary to prevent injuries that could prevent you from cycling ever again. And sometimes, you’ll just have to learn how to cycle with the seasons. There may be parts of the year where you take breaks.
If you find it hard to control your bike due to the wind, you should seek shelter immediately. The same goes for situations where there’s hail, tornadoes, nearby lightning, or weather that prevents you from being able to see clearly. Nothing is more important than keeping your body safe.
With this cycler’s safety guide to riding in bad weather, you can better equip yourself to stay safe and train hard. Just remember to stay dry and ride smart.
