Andy Chivers, a member of Cyclox, explains how cyclists can ride in the cold while being safe, legal, and at ease.
Every autumn, the shorter, chillier days are a little unexpected.
After months of riding without giving severe weather any thought, I’m now hunting for my waterproofs and considering my lights.
What are the necessities for a safe, legal, and pleasurable winter bike ride? First, a few remarks regarding lighting and reflectors. All agree that wearing lights is required.
You may not be aware though that the law also requires reflectors on the pedals as well as the front and rear, so check yours now. It’s good to be seen by other road users so light colours are much better than black. A reflective tabard is much cheaper and more versatile than a jacket and allows you to wear whatever clothes you want.
There are really just two options since that lights have gotten so much better over the years: removable rechargeable lights or fixed hub dynamo lights.
The decision is based in part on how often you ride at night and in part on whether your bike is worth investing $50 to $100 in dynamo lights. Regular bike commuting in the dark deserves the best modern technology has to offer, and in my opinion, dynamo lights are the clear winner because they are difficult to steal, always on the bike so you don’t have to remember them, have a reliable, bright light, and, best of all, run on your own electricity so there’s no need to plug them in or change batteries. Keep your LED lights pointed downward to avoid blinding people, especially if you’re on a shared walkway. LED lights can almost be too bright.
