Top tips for winter cycle commuting

Personally I think this is a good thing as long as it doesn't get blown out of proportion and people appreciate that these are a minority of riders - oh, wait...too late!

The article stated that as many motorists as cyclists were stopped for various offences including mobile phone use, which is something that, in my opinion, should have a much bigger fine than it does as it's been shown to affect driving and concentration as much as drink driving!

I want to avoid getting into a huge debate about lights again so for this week it's my top tips for winter cycle commuting!

1. Do it!

Seriously, winter riding is fun and can be more enjoyable than riding in the summer if you take a bit of time to prepare properly.

2. Layer up

The right clothing is essential if you want to stay warm and dry. Modern cycling kit is fantastic and whilst it can be expensive, the cost of a decent jacket is only the same as a couple of tanks of petrol in most cars!

It can take time to build up a wardrobe of gear that will see you throughout the whole year, but it really is worth investing in good quality clothing to make the experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

3. Lights

Without getting into the debate about lights, get some and get some spares! I normally have two front lights, one is a small light usually set to flashing and the other is a more powerful headlight so that I can see where I am going.

On the back I normally have at least three lights, 2 flashing, one on my helmet and once on my bag and one very bright solid light on the bike.

I always carry emergency spare lights and some spare batteries just in case and I always have some reflective clothing or bands on. Some people may think that this is a bit over the top but I value my life and so want to ensure that I am seen.

4. Winterise your bike

It's really not cool, but a good set of mudguards help you to stay dry and also help to keep the bike clean. A bit of preparation with more grippy and tougher tyres can mean the difference between a good commute and a bad one.

Give the bike a good clean and inspection on a regular basis to ensure that you replace parts before they break or wear out.

5. Spares

As well as carrying spare batteries, inner tubes, puncture repair kit and tools, I also have some spares at work. Hopefully this means that I'm never caught out with a breakage that I can't fix in order to get home again.

6. Watch the weather

Knowing how cold it's going to be or whether it's going to rain means you can carry the right kit and enjoy the ride. It's not fun getting soaked to the skin because you forgot your waterproofs!

Even more important is keeping an eye on the wind, a long ride into a headwind is no fun at all so keep an eye on those isobars and plan your route appropriately.

7. Prepare

Ten minutes getting all of my kit ready and checking my bike over before I go to bed means I will ride the next day. It's all about removing the excuses especially when it's cold and dark outside!

Even for me it's tempting to hit snooze on the alarm and sit in a warm car instead of riding, but I know I'll regret it later on in the day. A little bit of preparation makes it easier to roll out of bed and onto the bike.

8. Plan your route

My personal choice is to try and plan a traffic free route. Riding in amongst the barely awake and pretty clueless motoring public isn't much fun, whereas a route free of cars is much more enjoyable. It might not always be the shortest route, but that doesn’t mean it's not the best!

9. Enjoy it!

A bad bicycle commute is always better than driving. You will arrive at work more awake and alert and by the time you get home in the evenings the stresses of the day will have disappeared.

Even more important is the ability to have guilt free bacon sandwiches or cakes (or both!), knowing that you'll be burning off the calories on the way home!

Based on information supplied by David Brown.