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It’s officially Spring, so in our quest to make CityBikers the safest, smartest bikers around here’s my top 5 list of Spring riding hazards (in no particular order)…  Add your own top 5, or 10, or 1 in the comments section… Or if you’re feeling more creative, how about a caption for the photo above? (the pic is not from NY, it’s stolen from a more respectable blog).

Cool weather - The weather is unpredictable in the Northeast in the Spring.  Not only do you have to be on top of the rain forecast, but the cool weather can turn into cold weather pretty quickly.  30 degree weather (what it was yesterday morning) on the highway is enough to freeze your bottled water.  And riding cold can be similar to riding after having a drink.  It slows you down and distracts you just a little bit so that you feel like you’re doing okay, but you’re just a little distracted from the road.  Solution: Gear up for the cold.  If you only have one set of riding gear, throw a windbreaker over that jacket and an extra bungee so that you can take it off if it gets warm.

Bad drivers - Yes bad drivers are a hazard all year long, but they tend to get on the road when the weather’s nice.  Not only that I think there’s a trickle down affect where these newbie drivers piss off normal drivers and make the whole traffic scenario trickier.  Solution: Hang back, take it easy.  Stay away from problem cars (going too slow) until you know you can get around them safely.  Bad drivers have a tendency to go real slow in the wrong lane and then suddenly try to jump to another…  Also, if you’re okay with hi-viz clothing, now’s a good time to try it on.

Road Debris – the two or three quick snowfalls we’ve had in NY this winter were enough to cause new potholes and distribute gravel and sand along the road.  You can usually roll right over these, and even turn without a problem…that is, until it becomes a problem.  A little loose gravel under the front wheel can take you down quicker than you can blink.  Solution: keep it straight and upright over the loose stuff, or better yet try to avoid the debris altogether.

Rusty Bike - Maybe not literally “rusty” but worn or under inflated tires, or worse, brand new tires, or a sagging chain, or an engine that’s acting just a little funky after coming out of storage.  None of these things will take you down by themselves, but they can add to the distractions you need to get past and cause a spill.  Solution: If you’re just taking your bike out of storage, set aside an afternoon for basic bike maintenance.  But if you’ve ridden all winter like I have, take some time to wash all the gunk off your bike and give it a once-over…throw on some new brake pads if your old ones are getting worn, adjust the cables, etc…your bike has been through a lot over the cold months.

Rusty Skillz - (Yeah that’s right, with a Z).  Even if you’ve been commuting all winter, your skills might have gotten a little rusty.  Cautious winter riding uses a different set of skills than spirited summer riding, so it’s easy to get in over your head.  Solution: Go for some leisure rides with a purpose: Go someplace you can practice your fast turns, emergency braking, drag some pegs (or knees).

Tell me what you think, or add your own!  Cheers!

Related posts:

1. Winter Bikers
2. C-c-c-cold weather riding…
3. Top 5 Cold Riding Tips
4. Welcome to the Fall Riding Season
5. Traffic Riding Mojo