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Seven tips: How to get through the cold season on your bike safely

2020-11-01T10:47:50.671Z


Cycling to protect against corona - many people feel safer in the saddle than on the bus or train. But what if it storms, rains or snows? Here are seven recommendations that will help you achieve your goals.


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Photo: Petra Nowack / imago images

The corona crisis has triggered a real bike boom: Berlin counted 26 percent more cyclists in June 2020 compared to June 2019. The two-wheeled industry association (ZIV) reports 3,200,000 bicycles and e-bikes sold in the first half of the year are almost ten percent more than in the previous year.

Now the number of infections is rising rapidly again.

Many people fear getting infected on the bus or train.

But is the bicycle a suitable alternative even in the cold season?

In any case, the conditions change for cyclists in autumn and winter: leaves, rain, snow and darkness make it difficult to get ahead.

This makes it all the more important to think about how to get to your destination safely in adverse weather.

Here are a few tricks in terms of equipment, riding technique and material maintenance, which not only inexperienced cyclists should benefit from:

1) Protect the upper body with air

It is particularly important to protect your body on slippery roads.

In everyday life, too, it can make sense not only to secure your head with a helmet.

There are breastplates that are mainly worn by sports cyclists who rush down the mountains with skill and speed.

Manufacturer Helite has made its airbag vests, which were previously mainly known from the motorcycle sector, also wearable for cyclists.

They are designed to reduce the risk of injury to the head, back, spine and chest area: sensors in the vest and saddle record the driver's movements and trigger the airbag with up to 21 liters of protective volume in the event of an accident.

The accident researchers of the insurers (UDV) have examined such vests for use on motorcycles.

"They show a considerable reduction in the risk of injury, especially for the chest area up to around 25 km / h, and are therefore particularly suitable for the bicycle application," says Siegfried Brockmann, head of the specialist department.

This could be very important, especially for older cyclists.

"The decisive factor, however, is whether the system detects accidents or falls in good time so that the vest is inflated at the time of the impact," the expert continues.

2) light - not too little and not too much

Does a lot help a lot?

Some cyclists ride through the night like blinking Christmas trees.

But that is rather counterproductive: All too exotic lighting systems confuse, dazzle or distract.

And not everything that is offered on the Internet is also approved for road traffic.

In general, a bicycle needs a functioning headlight and taillight, front and rear reflectors, spoke reflectors and pedal reflectors.

And not just in winter.

Nevertheless, some new lighting products make sense from the point of view of experts.

To use it, you can use a loophole: "You may not add or change anything on the bike that is outside the StVZO", explains Dirk Zedler, owner of the institute for bicycle technology and safety of the same name.

"On the other hand, you can almost do what you want with your clothes."

This also includes the helmet.

Modern models are now real small-room discos: The "BH51 M Neo" from Lival, for example, has LEDs on the back, which can be activated via a button on the handlebar and thus show which direction you want to turn. Built-in Bluetooth speakers play music, navigation announcements or calls from the cell phone again, and there is also a brake light.

3) Keeping children warm in the cargo bike

In cities in particular, adults are increasingly taking their children to daycare and school by cargo bike.

"The child does not move when it is sitting in the trailer or cargo bike and must therefore be particularly warm, including a hat under the helmet," says Siegfried Brockmann.

Bicycle manufacturer offers additional equipment: For example, a retrofittable hood for the cargo bike that can sometimes be completely closed protects against cold wind and wetness.

But children should be able to get in and out easily without having to completely remove the protection.

Everything else is annoying in everyday life.

There are special winter sets for babies for bicycle trailers.

This includes footmuffs lined with fleece.

Practical for child seats: the multifunctional "Opossum" thermal cover from the manufacturer Tucano Urbano.

Mounted on the child seat, it should protect against wind and rain and warm from the inside.

4) Winterize tires, brakes, chains

Winter tires have advantages - this applies to both cars and bikes.

"There are special compounds with more grip in the cold," says Dirk Zedler. A rough profile only helps when there is a lot of snow, not when it is slippery. "If you drive every day, spikes make sense for you," says the engineer.

Depending on the foreseeable weather, it could also be beneficial to only switch to spikes at the front so that the rolling resistance is not too high.

It is at least as important to make the brakes winter-proof - that is, readjust them or replace them if necessary.

Rim brakes, in particular, lose their braking power when it is wet.

That is why there are models that are particularly suitable for the season.

Before the first frost you should lubricate all joints on the bike.

"From the brake lever to the rear derailleur," says Zedler. He also recommends meticulously sealing metallic and painted surfaces with hard wax, but carefully cleaning the bike beforehand. When that is done, the chain only needs regular attention: "During the winter they are very often rubbed with a dry, absorbent cloth and freshly lubricated. "

5) Save Pedelec batteries from freezing to death

You know this from the cell phone battery: When it's particularly cold outside, it loses power.

This principle also applies to the battery of e-bikes.

Their range can be reduced by up to a quarter in winter.

The General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) therefore recommends storing the battery at room temperature, i.e. taking it with you into the living room if possible, and installing it directly before driving to counteract any loss of capacity.

You should also only charge it after it has been in the warm for a while.

Otherwise it will consume less energy.

6) Driving safety: consider the forces of physics

In the driving school, drivers learn how to behave properly at the wheel when it is wet and slippery outside.

Most cyclists learn by doing.

However, one basic rule helps to avoid falls: If possible, do not pedal or brake when cornering in wet leaves, snow and ice, because the ground has little grip.

In addition, you should keep a lot more distance from other cyclists in order to be able to brake moderately and not to slide.

Slippery floor markings and cobblestones are nasty in winter.

Be particularly careful there - as well as on bridges, which are often particularly cold and where the water freezes faster on the roadway.

7) Clothing: work shifts

Cycling in winter is only fun if you dress properly.

And that doesn't mean digging out your old snowsuit and riding around town as a Michelin man.

It's uncomfortable, you rub your bum sore and break into a sweat.

The golden attributes for cycling clothing in winter are therefore: breathable, rain-repellent and windproof.

The onion principle must be observed with high-quality and thin sports textiles.

The functional underwear is covered by a cycling jacket that is breathable on the back but protects the chest from the wind.

Overshoes protect against moisture.

A thin and windproof hat should be worn under the bicycle helmet.

And the gloves should fit well so that you can operate the brake safely.

If you put on a reflective vest, you will be seen better in the dark.

Icon: The mirror

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2020-11-01

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