Winter Rides

I was out on Saturday training when I felt the back wheel go from under me as I turned a corner, luckily I managed to keep the bike upright but it got me thinking.  With so many SRC club and training rides each week with riders of varying experience of winter riding it might be beneficial to write down some of the many top tips I have been given by many of the more experienced SRC riders.

So here we go:

• Slow right down into corners as fallen leaves and mud being washed off fields into the road this time of year makes cornering treacherous this time of year, as I nearly found out on Saturday : o
• Watch out for grids, manhole covers and white paint markings on the road, especially on corners as your tyres will have no traction on these and will slip.
• Stopping distances will increase even when its dry as the build up of muck on your rims due to such dirty roads means your breaks will not be as effective.
• No sudden change of pace in the group as riders reactions in the cold, wearing full fingered gloves and with less effective breaks increases the risk of riders running into each other.
• Avoid puddles ! You do not know what they are ridding and call out and worn the rider behind about them.
• Reduce your speed early when approaching corners or road junctions.
• Think about the riders around you and especially those behind you. If you go down it’s more than likely in a group ride you will bring down other with you and the last thing any of would want it 6 weeks off the bike with a fracture.
• So play safe and keep it upright.