Winter Miles = Summer Smiles!
- Posted on
There's a bike there somewhere too!
Brand ambassadors Andrea & Dan give us an insight in to their winter night ride routine, and give some useful equipment tips for getting out no matter how dark and grim it may be out there.
Winter night riding
As the wise cyclist knows “winter miles = summer smiles” but working full time and the vagaries of the winter weather can really reduce time on the road. But those winter miles need to be ridden.
One way to maximise winter mileage, without resorting to the turbo, are the midweek night rides. More fun than it sounds but it does require some preparation before plunging down pitch black country lanes and traversing the dark and lonely roads over the moors.
We make sure our bikes are in good working order, or more truthfully the lads at Bike Rehab do as our own technical skills for bike maintenance are limited. Invest in a good set of lights and have a backup option not least because forgetting to charge lights after the previous ride is always a possibility - a darker return from Bakewell one night having done just that was a lesson learnt. We try to dress in suitably warm clothing for the conditions and this winter style has been jettisoned for comfort double gloves and thermal socks, hats and buffs for pulling up over the face for those cold descents and the winter overshoe (ugly but essential) . Dan opts for the conventional winter jacket while I have invested in flash light technology, my jacket is brighter than the sun and although it's not really made for performance ( it's sweaty) I do shine like a beacon.
Happy riding,
Andrea and Dan