Be seen

Cycling is not just about you seeing where you are going, but its just as important for others to see you. If you are unsure if it is dark enough for lights – it probably is! If in doubt, always put your lights on. It is also important to wear clothing that is easily seen by motorists. In an ideal world this would include some high visibility reflective vests or jackets, however, if you don’t have these it is good practice to at least try and avoid wearing dark or black clothes.

Route

You might think a quiet road is the best route when cycling as it reduces the risk of other motorists. Although this might be true in the summer months, there are heightened risks when using lanes and quiet roads in the winter. Often these routes will be more icy and more prone to flooding. Highways departments do not grit every road and therefore they are often much more slippery. 

Another consideration when using more minor roads in summer or winter is that motorist can often not see around the corners, which will give them less time to see a cyclist up ahead and react accordingly.

Clothing

This could be said for almost any activity in winter. You might think that a puffer coat is perfect for cycling as its bound to be warm. However, often these are too warm and you can overheat when cycling. Other more suitable options might be layering up (so you can easily layer down) and wearing something wind and waterproof. Also, you could consider wearing a pear of gloves, but again it is unlikely that ski gloves or mittens are the most appropriate so consider a thinner more flexible pair of gloves.

Maintenance 

It is not just cars that need maintenance, bikes will deteriorate more quickly in winter so it is important to get it serviced and get any issues fixed quickly. Carrying an extra inner tube and small pump is also vital as no-one wants to be that person who needs to walk that last few miles due to a puncture!