Sadly, summer doesn't last forever and when fall arrives we need to shift gears if we want to keep up our favourite sport. There is a big selection of accessories and clothing in the market specifically for winter and wet weather riding. Here is a short list of essential accessories we recommend to stay safe and comfortable.
DRESS IN LAYERS
The challenge with clothing, is that your body is still generating heat, as well as perspiration. A thin insulation layer and an outer shell is all you need. If you are wearing street cloths because you are commuting to work, stick to casual clothing that is wrinkle free, and keep layers to the minimum.. Make sure you are investing in high quality sports clothing, that is specifically designed to breath and wick moister away. Lower quality garments will trap moister, leaving you clammy. Trapped moister will go cold and you along with it!
GLOVES
Gloves are a must, as your knuckles will quickly freeze in cold air and rain. You still want to retain good grip, so make sure you are getting a tight fitting bike glove with grip pads. Ski gloves and mitts are too bulky, allowing your hands to move around instead of keeping a strong hold on the handle bars.
HELMETS
Your regular helmet will work just fine, but a commuter specific helmet is highly recommended. Neon colours and built in lighting will make you more visible to traffic and other cyclists. There are also helmets that will provide better insulation and rain protection then your summer helmet. Consider a thin beanie for insulation, that will not interfere with the fit of your helmet.
FENDERS
Fenders are a must, especially in rain city Vancouver. When shopping for fenders, look out for two key features. Make sure they are "full fenders" that cover most of the wheel, reaching low in the frame. Rear wheels rooster-tail, and will cover your back in water and dirt. Covering the wheel all the way to the ground will eliminate this effect. In the front, if the fender does not fully cover the wheel, you will experience something similar to a garden hose pointing at your face! The second feature to look out for, are mounting rods that are adjustable. Keeping the fender properly lined up ensures proper coverage and no rubbing on the wheel. Fenders that don't feature adjustable rods can warp and bend over time, eventually rubbing on the tires.
LIGHTING
Lighting is by far the most important safety feature on your bike. In the winter, in Vancouver, it gets dark very fast. Daytime can also be low in visibility, if it's overcast. If you can't see what's ahead of you, there's a big risk of hitting obstacles on the road. At minimum we recommend 500 lumens for your front light, and 75 lumens for a taillight. Also important with lighting, is being visible to other road users. Wet roads result in glare and reflection. Flashing lights will ensure other road users can easily differentiate you from other visual interference.
TIRES
Believe it or not, most tires that are found on commuter and general purpose bikes are already well suited for 12-months-of-the-year biking. The one place to look out, are high performance race tires with a soft compound rubber, but this is an extreme case. For performance bikes, we highly recommend the Gaterskin from Continental, and for ebikes we recommend the Schwalbe Big Apple or Marathon Plus for maximum grip, durability and puncture resistance. Both these tires are great in the summer as well, so there is no need to switch back and forth like we do with car tires.
We hope these tips help and will motivate you to get equipped and keep riding through all four seasons. Come visit us at the shop and will help get you equipped.