Winter Riding & Staying Safe

Winter brings some difficult conditions for bike riders and whether you’re popping out for the occasional fair-weather ride or commuting everyday to work, then being safe in theses compromising conditions is a must! The most obvious threats to riding during the colder months is the colder, wetter weather that leads to slippery road surfaces and sometimes even frozen terrain that can cause havoc with handling and grip. Secondly, the dwindling daylight hours can be problematic for riders, with cars and other road users being less able to see them. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on staying safe this winter. Get Your Bike In Good Shape You wouldn’t take your car on a long winter drive without checking it was ready for the conditions, so why risk this with your bike? It’s important to make sure that all of your mountain bike parts are in good shape and free from rust, cracks or other wear and tear that could prevent smooth handling and cause accidents. With the dark increasing, we can’t always predict bumps in the road and so ensuring suspension is ready to absorb shock is key. Frozen surfaces are slippery enough to cycle across and so ensuring that your tyres have enough grip will help smooth out the riding experience. Carry Spare Parts Whether you’re planning on cycling ten minutes or ten hours, always carry spare mountain bike parts. This will prevent you from being caught out in the cold and the dark waiting for a lift home if something breaks and cuts your ride short. Instead, you’ll be able to make a repair, get back on with your ride and arrive safely at your destination hopefully warm and dry. (British weather permitting!) Make Sure You’re Seen High visibility riding gear and accessories should be added to every riders essential mountain bike parts list this winter and should, at the very least, comprise of front and back lights, a reflective coat, helmet light and reflectors on the wheels and frame of the bike.