It seems like summer is well and truly over and now that we are heading into the autumn months don’t think that the rainy days should keep you off the bike. After all if you want to boost your performance next season putting in more miles on the bike through the autumn and winter months will give you that edge over your competitors.

Don’t let the weather put you off, by following these basics you can turn a rainy days outing into an enjoyable spin.

Tyres
Add cyclocross tyres to your road bike in the poor weather for extra traction and additional protection against punctures. The added rolling resistance means you’ll go slower for a given effort, which in turn cuts down on your self made wind-chill and makes you less likely to career into obstacles in your path. Plus, when you switch back to your regular tyres cycling will feel much easier.

Sudden Movements
Avoid sudden movements, such as grabbing down for your brakes or being aggressive in corners, especially in iffy conditions. All of which will surely land you flat on the ground with the bike on top of you.
Instead, stay centred on the bike and look far enough ahead that you have plenty of time to slow down for corners and react to slick patches. If you do encounter debris on the road, level your pedals, point your bike straight ahead and try and relax as you cross. If you do have to pedal over a large patch of debris keep your pedal stroke extra smooth, with steady even pressure on the pedals.

Wrap Up
Nothing drags down morale more than being wet and cold. The right clothing caries with temperature, but generally you want a base layer that wicks moisture away from your skin, this is crucial as quite often the chill from sweat sneaks up on you before you can react to it., and a shell with a windproof front to block the breeze. Layers should be easy to shed so you can stash them in a pocket. On your lower body, windproof crotch and knee panels are essential when the weather is truly foul.

Love Your Bike
Mix grit with a little water and you get a crunchy solution that chews through bike parts with ease. To minimise damage, try to clean and lube your chain after every ride in bad weather. Clean any stuck on gunk from the chain rings, cassette ans pedal bodies as well as any exposes cables. Check your brake pads as grit can get trapped in them and grind down your rims when you brake. You can save the wheels from an early fall by inspecting your brake pads frequently and replacing them should they become full of embedded grit, or if they are starting to approach the wear indicator.

Use Your Head
If there’s torrential rain or sleet outside, going out for a ride is unlikely to be a pleasant or rewarding experience. Consider hitting the turbo trainer instead, pretty obvious advice I know, but never the less has to be said otherwise sometimes ‘getting in the miles’ does become a little too dangerous.

Happy training!!

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