bit nippy out there
Here are my top-ten-tips for getting you through the cold, dark and wet winter months on two wheels:
1. Cold or wet feet? Pair of cycling shoes one-size too big, a light pair of inner socks and a pair of Sealskinz waterproof socks. Really, really cold? Then wrap the inners in nappy-sacks but watch out for the sweating! Always neoprene overshoes – wetsuits for winter feet!
2. Cold or wet hands? Gore waterproof gloves, with workman’s or surgeon’s latex gloves underneath.
3. Can’t see? Clear cycling glasses instead of shades, and one of Sam’s Exposure lights.
4. Punctures? Specialized Armadillo or Continental Gatorskin tyres. Two spare inner tubes, and a Tyre Boot (repairs cuts in your tyre) in your saddle bag. De-stone your tyres weekly, and seal any small cuts in unworn tyres with super glue.
5. Wet and miserable? Gore-Tex Oxygen III rain jacket. Gore-Tex cap under your helmet. Two pieces of flapjack in your pocket. Still miserable? Go for a coffee or go home.
6. Sliding off on wet bends? Get your braking done before the bend. Don’t ever use your front brake on a bend. And reduce tyre pressure to 80 PSI
7. Wet bum? Clip on mud-guards, secured with ratchet fasteners and tape. Crud Catcher’s Race Mudguards are great as you don’t need lugs and they don’t spoil the look of your bike.
8. Saturated mobile phone and cash? Small re-sealable freezer bags or the ubiquitous nappy-sack.
9. Dirty bits? (Rear mech, front mech, chain, pedals etc) Take them off the bike, put in the dishwasher on a low-temp cycle, put them back on all clean and sparkly! As a minimum, clean the chain, front mech, rear mech, brakes and brake blocks with a dry rag after each ride, and lubricate moving parts…not your brake blocks!
10. Covered in snot? Tell the person in front to go to the back before blowing!
