Advice for cyclists in Oxford out in snow and icy conditions

Winter approaches, and with it the inescapable seasonal songs in praise of a white Christmas.

Cyclists may feel differently, and indeed cold weather generally is a big turn-off for many.

Paradoxically, commuting by bike when the weather is bad gives you even more benefit because the traffic is more gummed up than usual and you will be ahead of the jam.

So it’s worth aiming to be a four-season cyclist which means a bit of preparation now.

As well as the roads being cold, wet, windy and dark, there may be ice and snow, so there is plenty to anticipate.

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The first and most obvious is getting lights which really help you see and be seen. Reflective clothing helps too. If you have a bike worth spending a bit of money on, a hub dynamo with fixed front and rear lights will give you the confidence that you will always have powerful lighting from the moment you start moving.

The initial outlay will be perhaps £120 but after that your lighting is hassle free – they won’t get stolen, they never go flat and they are so bright. Importantly, LED dynamo lights stay on when you stop at traffic lights unlike those of a generation ago.

Mudguards and waterproof jacket and trousers transform a miserable wet ride into something almost approaching cosiness and going the extra mile with waterproof gloves and neoprene overshoes completes the outfit.

I keep my waterproofs in a canvas tote bag and if rain looks possible I throw it into my pannier. One refinement is to use a jacket with a hood but wear a helmet on top so that your view is not obstructed when you turn to look over your shoulder (which all bike riders should be able to do).

For really cold weather, mittens are much better at keeping fingers warm, and shoes with plenty of wriggle room are better than tight ones.

Generally your body will stay warm while you are cycling, so it is enough to pay attention to the extremities. A snood and a skull cap are cheap and easily fit in a pocket when not needed.

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Winter is a time to give your bike a Christmas clean and oil the chain, check the brake blocks aren’t too worn (wet and grit speed up the wear).

Have a look at the treads on the tyres – they will give you more grip in the wet – and check they are inflated too since that helps road holding.

If you haven’t treated yourself to a track pump, perhaps this Christmas is the time to persuade someone?

Finally, how should one ride safely in wet or icy conditions? I am only going to consider urban riding here, as riding on snow on rural roads or even off-road tracks is a whole other challenge.

Snow rarely lasts even a few hours in a city, but what does remain tends to be in the gutter, just where a cyclist tends to ride so you need to be assertive and ride further out in the carriageway. Mostly though, the snow melts quickly and everything is wet and slushy, so you and all traffic have a problem with grip.

Give everyone including yourself more space and hence time to react to changing situations – leave plenty of space ahead of you in a line of traffic, brake early and gently, take corners more slowly than in the dry.

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Riding in adverse conditions may not appeal to everyone, but it’s worth it for the sense of achievement, the time and money saved compared with using a bus and even better, you are showing the world that bikes are for all seasons.

Oxford-based campaign group Cyclox links up with key decision makers to put cycling on the public agenda.

It also liaises active travel and low-carbon groups; and engage with the local community to inform, encourage, and support change. Its objectives for the next two years include: supporting and encouraging more people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to cycle. It also wants to be recognised for its advocacy on cycling infrastructure.