Cycling Safely: Three Tips for Fall Riding

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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Üma Kleppinger, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Here in Portland, we're lucky to enjoy mild fall and winter seasons that allow us to ride our bikes for getting around, year-round. But as the days grow shorter and the nights longer, taking care to be both more visible and more vigilant is essential for cycling safety.

Here are a few easy ways to make your fall and winter riding more comfortable and safe:

Slow Down
Here in the Pacific Northwest it takes only a day or two of precipitation before road surfaces become slick with mildew and moss. Slow down and exercise greater caution when riding across painted road lines, wet leaves, or uneven road surfaces. Always cross train tracks as perpendicular to the rails as possible to minimize contact with the metal.

Wet weather riding requires greater stopping power and it also wears out pads faster than dry conditions. If you haven't serviced your brakes in awhile, now's the time to make sure they are in good operating condition.

Light Up
Always run a blinking headlight and taillight—even during the day—for visibility. Drivers are often distracted and gloomy, rainy days reduce visibility. Consider adding extra blinkie lights to your setup. Many bicycle light companies offer high-powered, lightweight blinkies that attach easily to a handlebar, seatpost, saddle bag, or helmet. These lights don’t have enough firepower to illuminate your path of travel, but the flashing LEDs will make you much more visible to motorists in all conditions.

Reflect Respect

In low-light conditions such as a heavy rain and dark daylight conditions, even the brightest clothing can be hard to see. Retroreflective material helps bounce light back toward motorists, making you more visible on your bike.

Many clothing manufacturers are utilizing reflective materials in their outerwear but also help you to be seen. Showers Pass apparel, headquartered in SE Portland, offer an array of high-visibility weather-worthy jackets and pants that not only protect you from the elements, but also help you to be seen.

Another inexpensive way to take your self reflection a step further, is to affix reflective stickers to your bike, bags, racks, rims, helmets or shoes…or anywhere else you can get them to stick.

In general, be extra cautious and extra visible: With the right gear you can safely and comfortably make the most of our mild weather and keep spinning your wheels year-round.

Üma Kleppinger is a Portland-based copy writer, author and advocate for full-contact anti-bummer living, by bike. She is a recovering sesquipedalian who writes about life in the saddle and outdoor adventure. She is also the author of BikeYoga, a yoga program for cyclists. When not writing, she can be found riding and racing her mountain bike throughout the Pacific Northwest.

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