Cycle Safe In Winter

As the winter nights continue, those cyclists still willing to embrace the cold should take extra precautions to make sure they are safe on the roads.

As the number of traffic incidents involving cyclists goes to show, the standard front and back bike lights do not seem to be sufficient to make cyclists visible to other road users. Consequently, there are various companies now offering innovative solutions designed to improve road safety.

There are lights and reflective materials that can be stuck on almost any part of a bike, including the spokes and the tubes of the frame itself. However it is arguably more important to illuminate the body of the cyclist themselves, given the fact that their body is higher and therefore more visible to car drivers.

To that end, a number of companies now offer lights that attach to your helmet, designed to attract attention to the rider. At the same time there are jackets that feature built-in LEDs and panels of reflective materials that light up in car headlights. For commuters who don’t want to walk around looking like a traffic cone, various jackets use reflective panels in otherwise innocuous looking jackets. The idea is that being safe does not have to impact your look as a fashion-conscious commuter.

Now that you are kitted out with safety gear, there are some other important tips to remember. Avoid making turns on painted white lines, which tend to be slipperier than asphalt, and invest in a pair of gloves so the mobility of your hands is not impaired by the cold.