By Megan Gibbs

Cycling in the winter can be dangerous if you don’t prepare. In this article, we’re going to take a look at what Bristol cyclists can do to stay safe this winter. Cycling is a great way to stay fit and healthy. Some people choose a bike over car ownership, especially when living in a city. However, the winter season brings challenges for cyclists. The roads become more dangerous, and it’s important to prepare for the winter season to continue cycling safely.

A big part of seeking personal injury compensation in Bristol, will depend on the measures you took to try and increase your own safety on the roads. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the different ways that you can keep safe while cycling.

What Challenges Exist for Bristol Cyclists?

Bristol cyclists face a number of challenges. It is important to understand that trying to cycle safely in the winter requires careful preparation and a keen understanding of what issue you face.

Obviously, the weather is a big problem when it comes to cycling in the winter. When the temperature drops significantly during the winter, the roads can become icy. Understandably, this can lead to a loss of grip, difficulty stopping and an increased need to be wary of cars.

Other vehicles are a normal part of trying to cycle throughout the year, but during the winter, they become even more dangerous because they can’t always stop when they want to. If the road is slippery, and the car in question hasn’t received winter tires, then it may slip and slide while trying to come to a stop.

How to Stay Safe on Bristol Roads

If you want to stay safe on the roads, here are five top tips.

Pre-Preparation

The first thing that you should do to be safe on the roads of Bristol as a cyclist is to prepare your bike for the winter.

Take a look at your wheels, brakes, and chain. Are they all in good condition? When was the last time you pumped your tires? Do you need to replace the bike chain?

The winter is a more challenging weather condition to try and cycle in. Therefore, you need to prepare for this by inspecting your bike before you take it out. The last thing you want to happen is for a piece of your bike to break while you are cycling.

Wear Suitable Clothing

If you haven’t already invested in special cycling clothing, you should do so for the winter. You could probably get away with cycling in normal athletic wear during the warmer seasons, but winter requires specialist gear.

You need to find clothing that is waterproof but thin. You don’t want to get too hot, so something that wicks away moisture to regulate your body temperature is good, but 

You also need something that is weatherproof to keep you dry and warm in cold, wet conditions.

Wear Bright Colours

Make sure you wear bright, fluorescent colours while cycling. The winter means that it gets dark much earlier in the day, and you need to be visible to cars at all times.

Warm Up Before Cycling

Try to warm up before you go cycling. Do some stretches, get your heart rate up, and make sure that you have enough flexibility to cycle safely. You need to be able to cycle at speed if you’re going to navigate roads safely. 

Avoid Rush Hour if Possible

If you can, avoid rush-hour cycling. It’s going to be a lot easier to stay safe on the roads if you do not have to contend with all the cars. If possible, try and leave slightly earlier or later from your start point, and you might beat the traffic.

Cycling in Bristol this winter…

Cycling on the roads in Bristol is easy to do if you prepare for the winter season. You need to be sensible and take whatever precautions you feel are necessary to navigate the roads.

Above all else, you need to make sure that you have prepared to the best of your ability. When trying to seek compensation for an injury, the first thing that will be challenged is how ready you are to navigate the roads safely. If you’ve done everything you were supposed to do, then you’re in a much stronger position to seek compensation.