Plenty of riders keep going all year, especially commuters. Winter brings three problems: cold, darkness and a slippery road surface.
Staying warm
Cold hands and a cold body slow your reactions.
- Wear thin layers under your jacket, including a thermal base layer.
- Block the wind at your neck with a snood.
- Use proper winter gloves. Heated grips or handlebar muffs are worth the money if you ride every day.
- Take a break if you start to shiver.
Riding in the dark
- Check all your lights before every ride.
- Wear reflective or hi-vis kit so drivers see you.
- Use a clear visor at night. Never ride with a tinted or dark visor after dark.
- Remember that drivers find it harder to judge the speed of a single headlight.
Ice and frost
Watch for ice where the sun hasn't reached: under bridges, beside hedges and trees, on shaded bends and on country roads. Frost can also stay on roads long after it has melted elsewhere.
- Check the forecast before you go.
- If the road looks wet but it's close to freezing, assume it could be icy.
- Be very gentle with brakes, throttle and steering.
- If there's a real risk of ice, the safest choice is not to ride.
Salt and grit
Road salt is good for grip but bad for your bike. It corrodes metal quickly. Wash your bike with cold water regularly in winter, and use a protective spray on bare metal.
Tyres
Grip from cold tyres is lower. Take the first few miles gently while they warm up, and check pressures regularly, because they drop in the cold.
A CBT in winter is perfectly normal. Wear warm layers underneath the jacket we lend you, and bring a snood and your warmest gloves.