{"id":191205,"date":"2022-12-02T15:20:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-02T15:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=191205"},"modified":"2022-12-02T15:21:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T15:21:40","slug":"brace-yourself-winter-is-coming-yet-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/12\/02\/brace-yourself-winter-is-coming-yet-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Brace Yourself, Winter Is Coming Yet Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

One should never underestimate the winter months, especially when you want to get on your bike and do what you do in summer. Cycling in winter is just as hard as writing anything new on the topic. But so you won’t get bored, this time we will avoid the cliches like dressing in layers, wearing gloves and cleaning your bike. Not that you don’t have to do all these things but learning something new has always been the point of our articles. So here are five rarely mention<\/strong>ed pieces of advice on winter cycling that only those who suffered through them know.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Beware of the black ice<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Black ice is just like regular ice, only much, much worse. It has all the characteristics of regular ice, with the charming addition of being completely invisible. Black ice<\/a> is a thin cover of extremely smooth frozen water on top of a surface. It just so happens that the streets are one pretty large surface, and water tends to freeze when temperatures hit below 0\u00b0C. So, usually, when there is light rain the night before or a drizzle followed by cold weather, spots of black ice appear.<\/p>\n

Naturally, this see-through layer of ice is extremely dangerous for anyone on the road. However, black ice is truly a menace when it comes to cycling. If you go into a corner at a relatively high speed and either of your wheels touches such a spot, you will hit the ground without any chance to bail. In normal circumstances, you can put out a foot to keep your balance, jump off the bike or even manage to gain control. With this slippery cover, however, there is nothing that can save you. The best thing to do is just to fall as safely as possible. Note that if you are riding on roads, you should be extra careful, as black ice prevents drivers from stopping.<\/p>\n

To avoid this predicament, all you need to do is drive extra carefully when temperatures are below zero and there is moisture on the road. Slow down at every turn, be aware of other road participants, and if there is a conflict situation, it’s best to give way than regret it afterwards.<\/p>\n

2. Always have your lights on<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Being visible in winter is crucial. Other participants in traffic should see you from afar, as stopping is way harder. Thus, you need to always have some bright clothes on yourself. But just to be sure you won’t be missed by anyone, put your lights on regardless of whether it’s day or night. During the day, it’s best to use a blinking light, as it attracts much more attention. While on gloomy days, that is a must. In sunny weather, having some blinking lights<\/a> on your bike is also a good idea. During the shortest days, the sun is barely above the horizon, rendering everyone driving against it blind. Having a blinking red light on the back of your bike will draw attention and keep you safe. Regardless of what anyone says, your safety is much more precious than the few bucks you will save on battery for the extra consumption.<\/p>\n

\"Bicycle<\/a>
You should never feel unsafe on your ride.\u00a0 \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Do not forget to drink<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Your drink of choice while cycling should be tea. A thermos or two filled with hot beverages will give you all the needed hydration during your ride. Keep in mind that you usually don’t feel thirsty when you are cold. That doesn’t mean, however, that you don’t need water. Make sure to have a couple of gulps every 30-40 minutes. Also, make sure you get warm or, at worst, a lukewarm liquid. This will not only restore your temperature balance but will give you some extra energy to finish your route.<\/p>\n

4. Walk while resting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While commuting<\/a> is generally the main reason people cycle during winter, certainly, there isn’t a lack of enthusiasts who enjoy their cycling exercises as well. If you are determined to have some longer rides just for fun, make sure you have a good place to rest along the way. It might be a coffee shop, a tavern or even a public building like a train station or others. The main point is to be in a warm place while you are relaxing. Alternatively, if you have no such place along the way when you get tired, simply get off your bike and continue walking. Your body and muscles shouldn’t get cold. It’s bad for your health, heart and joints. So if you need to take a breather, just push your bike for 5 minutes until your pulse normalises and get right back on the bike after that.<\/p>\n

5. Don’t go riding in extreme colds<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Finally, you should know when to restrain yourself from riding. While at minus ten, you can endure if you are constantly moving, the past decade has shown some pretty strange weather with the arctic cold coming down from the North pole. That’s right. The North can offer much more than a jolly fat man who didn’t bring you that new bike you’ve been asking for. So when temperatures hit 20 below zero, you should definitely avoid going out at all. Not to mention with your bike. The extra speed will intensify the cold, and you might even damage your skin in some severe cases. So know your limits and don’t risk yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One should never underestimate the winter months, especially when you want to get on your bike and do what you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":191206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[328,329],"tags":[6805,3659,6806,604],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-191205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-mountain","category-road-cycling","tag-black-ice","tag-cycling-in-winter","tag-winter-commuting","tag-winter-cycling","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nBrace Yourself, Winter Is Coming Yet Again - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One should never underestimate the winter months, especially when you want to get on your bike and do what you do in summer. 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