winter
Safe through the cold season by bike
Attention! Ordinary bicycle tires slip easily on snow.
© Shutterstock.com/C. Welman
Snow and slippery roads make it difficult for cyclists to get on. These tricks help you get through the winter accident-free.
Those who rely on their bikes in winter shouldn't just dress warm. With a few tricks and a riding style adapted to the weather, cyclists reduce the risk of falling and increase safety – for themselves and other road users. So you can get through the cold season without accidents.
Adjust it correctly and keep it in good shape
In order to avoid skidding as quickly, cyclists can let some pressure out of the hose. This increases the surface area of the jacket and reduces the risk of slipping. However, special winter tires are better – the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) recommends buying them. From cold-resistant solid rubber compounds to lambskin profiles to spikes, depending on the surface, they ensure more traction. If you lose this anyway, you have hopefully set your saddle a little lower beforehand so that you can support yourself more easily with your legs if necessary.
If there is road salt on the streets and paths, the bike must be cleaned regularly. Ideally, it will be located in a place where the salt and snow mixture can be removed from the bike with a garden hose or warm water and a little household cleaning agent. Otherwise, salt, water and the metal of the bicycle will corrode. Rust then eats its way into the frame, the spokes, the chain and the bearings – until either nothing turns anymore or a spoke breaks. There should therefore always be enough oil on the chain and cassette, the thin film counteracts corrosion. The salt also clogs the brake rubbers, so it is important to keep an eye on their condition.
With care in curves and on the brakes
Cyclists should exercise the greatest caution when cornering in winter, especially when snow and ice do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the ground. It is important to have a suitable speed and the largest possible curve radius so that the brake does not have to be used. If this cannot be avoided, the rear brake is always the first choice. A locking front wheel quickly ends up falling on a slippery surface. In the best case scenario, bikers do not use them either, but simply let their pedals roll out.
See and be seen
Because visibility is often gloomy in winter, functioning lights and reflectors are essential, both on the bike and on clothing. The front and rear lights should be in perfect technical condition and free from snow and ice so that other road users can clearly see them. Lights and reflective strips on the helmet, bags or clothing provide additional attention. Anyone wearing bright clothing or a safety vest will be seen even better by others.
When cycle paths are not passable due to snow, ice or foliage, cyclists often switch to the road. They are allowed to do that too, which is why the ADFC calls on drivers to be particularly considerate in winter. This is especially true when overtaking, the recommendation of the traffic policy association is to keep two instead of the prescribed one and a half meters distance. Because of the longer braking distances and slippery road surface, cyclists should also keep a generous distance from one another in order to get through Germany's snowy landscapes without accidents.