Should a cyclist stay at home if the weather is bad outside the window?

For some cyclists, the riding season never ends. They are ready to go in the rain and in the snow. But there are those who are afraid to drive in bad weather. And such fears are not groundless! However, it does not mean that it is time to forget about the true "iron horse" before the heat. It is enough to be well prepared for skiing to enjoy it at any time of the year.

What to wear?

The first thing that scares you in autumn and winter is the cold. Therefore, you need to think over your wardrobe, dressing warmly. However, this does not mean that you can put on your usual jacket and pants, in which you usually walk. It is important that the clothes are not only warm, but also comfortable. Preference for things that do not hinder movement and practically do not worsen aerodynamics.



Key equipment requirements for autumn and winter:

? It is important to avoid deterioration in visibility
? It is necessary to provide an upper windproof and waterproof layer
? It is desirable to achieve the "golden mean" - so that the clothes are not too hot or too cold



It is best to choose a wardrobe for skiing, taking into account the following recommendations:

✅ First of all, you should buy thermal underwear made of synthetics or semi-synthetics, which will be closer to the body. It absorbs and wicks away moisture well.
✅ The next layer is a dense fleece jacket that warms perfectly
✅ Wear a raincoat or a warm jacket on top, depending on the temperature



You should also remember about accessories, protecting your hands and head from the cold. It is also useful to have spare socks with you, especially if you ride in a rainy autumn.



Since there is little sun in autumn and winter in domestic latitudes, it gets dark early, it is better to take outerwear with reflective elements.

How to prepare a bike?

Let's start with the fact that not every model is suitable for skiing in the cold season. The safest vehicles are tires with a pronounced tread pattern. Therefore, city and highway bikes should better rest in the garage, but on a mountain bike it is calmer and more confident to move along wet and snowy roads and paths.

Before leaving, you should check the transport and prepare for driving in unusual conditions:

? Be sure to take care of lighting equipment. Since it gets dark early in autumn and winter, and there is not enough light during the day, lanterns and headlights are needed. First of all, so that the cyclist is clearly visible to other road users. But he himself will need a backlight to see the way
? In dank wet weather, it is better to ride with wings that can protect against splashes and mud. It’s unpleasant to get dirty, but it’s even worse to get wet - in damp clothes, the cyclist will freeze faster
? It is useful to take care of the "iron horse" by lubricating the parts with a special composition that protects against corrosion. Particular attention is paid to the drive chain. Lubrication is applied when the bike is completely dry. Thanks to this event, the transport will last longer, and the course will be smooth.
? If you plan to stop, you should take a waterproof case with you. It will protect metal parts and cover the saddle - so that after a break you do not have to sit on a wet seat



To avoid trouble on the road, it is better to have spare batteries for lighting equipment with you.

Individual elements require special attention:

✅ It is better to replace the suspension fork with a rigid one, especially if you have to ski in the snow: it does not like salt. The snow cover also softens the ride.
✅ The lower the air temperature, the more difficult it is for the cables and jackets of the brake system to work. It is important to exclude the ingress of moisture, which freezes the parts, due to which they cease to function properly.
✅ Disc brakes are more reliable in riding in the cold season, but rim brakes require extreme caution. If the rim and pads are iced up, there will be slippage when braking
✅ Gear shifters are best lubricated with a lubricant with moisture-repellent properties. If water gets into them, snow or ice builds up, they will stop working.
✅ It is better to clean the chain after each ride, especially in winter. It is important to remove salts and reagents that can destroy the metal



In cold weather, bike maintenance is required more often also for the reason that the lubricant thickens. In this state, it disrupts the operation of rotating components, so that they fail prematurely.

Autumn's deceit

The most important thing is that in the autumn it is better to get behind the wheel, having already mastered the basic skills of riding well. And you definitely shouldn't start learning to ride a bike when it's raining and falling leaves outside.

The autumn road is very insidious:

? You can slip on wet pavement and on leaves, especially if they get wet. Such a coating is quite comparable to an icy road: you need to drive and brake carefully and without sudden movements.
? Fallen wet leaves are especially dangerous when cornering: you need to go into them doubly restrained
? On forest paths and paths, holes, fallen branches, tree roots can be hidden under the foliage.

Even if it is not raining outside, the asphalt is slightly wet due to dampness and high humidity. Therefore, in autumn it is always worth adhering to a measured driving style.

winter skiing technique

Going for a walk with ordinary non-studded tires is worth it if there is only fallen or compacted snow on the street. But in ice with such tires it is better to stay at home.

For riding in adverse road conditions, it is recommended to change the tires to studded ones. They provide confidence in the movement, even if the pavement is frozen with a crust of ice. At a minimum, about 150 spikes are needed. But with such "shoes" the grip is not reliable enough, so maximum caution is required. Hard braking is especially dangerous - it leads to skidding.



Roads with side slopes should be avoided in winter. If it is impossible to bypass the area, it is better to dismount.



It is especially important to learn useful braking skills for winter:

✅ Brakes should be checked every 10-20 minutes. After pressing the brake lever, you need to drive in this position for several meters until the brake pad begins to cling to the disc or rim. Because at first she'll surely slip
✅ If you need to slow down, you need to press the handle gently and intermittently: this will help avoid skidding
✅ Brake in winter in the following sequence: first lightly press the rear brake, and then the front

Ideally, it is worth driving only on snow that is tightly packed. It is certainly not worth driving into the snowy porridge, just as it is undesirable to move along the rut.



In winter, you need to turn over a large radius, gently steering. It is better not to get out onto the roadway, since the risks of an accident at such a time are much higher.

How to enjoy skiing in the cold?

In addition to equipment and preparation of transport, it is worth thinking about the pleasant little things that will turn an autumn or winter bike ride into a source of real pleasure. A thermos or a thermal flask with warm tea will come in handy - you want to drink in the cold during physical activity no less than when riding in the heat.



At low temperatures, the body spends more energy. So be sure to bring a snack with you. It will be even more fun to ride in the cold if you can find like-minded people who will keep you company in rain and snow.