After months of nose-numbing cold and overcast days, the sun is finally putting in more frequent appearances and the thermometer sometimes rises above freezing. When you’re used to daytime temperatures that hover in the single digits, 38 degrees Fahrenheit feels almost balmy. Even better, the roads actually dry occasionally. Cyclists who haven’t been on their bikes since before winter began are encouraged by the improvement in conditions and are planning to head out as soon as they can.

However benign the weather, it is still winter, and though the travel lanes of the main roads may be clear of snow and ice, there are hazards to consider when riding in temperatures that drift around the freezing mark. What do you need to look for? Here’s a short list:

• • Ice on road shoulders
• • Ice in shaded areas
• • Potholes and cracks
• • Broken pavement on road edges
• • Gravel and sand
• • Other debris

 
Road Hazards  Even in above-freezing temperatures, ice can lurk in cooler, sheltered parts of your route. Late last winter I flew down a steep hill, going from the warm sun into deep shade. I found a sheet of crusty ice on the steepest part of the hill, and was lucky that no vehicle was turning into the busy side road at the bottom. I rode out the ice without mishap, but it taught me a valuable lesson.

It’s these places, too, where new potholes may lurk. Winter’s freeze-thaw cycles cause cracks and broken pavement, which is eroded by snowplow blades. Snowplows also drop salt and sand in many parts of the snow belt, and in some areas they spread cinders. Once snow and ice melt off the roads, the sand and cinders remain until blown off the main lanes by traffic, or washed off by rain. And where does it go? You’ve got it—the shoulder. Drifts of sand collect at intersections and in dips, so beware. Moreover, cobbles and gravel can sneak into the sand that makes its way into sanding trucks. The cobbles and gravel are dumped on the road and wait for unfortunate cyclists to spin by. Be on the lookout for other debris, as well. Storms bring down branches, limbs, and twigs, and wind blows trash into the roads. You don’t want a branch to get caught up in your drivetrain or a plastic carrier bag wrapped in your wheel, do you? I didn’t think so.

There are other things to consider when taking those first rides of the year. You may have been working out all winter on a nowhere bike or trainer, but that’s not the same as riding on real roads. It might seem a no-brainer, but on real roads you are competing for space with real vehicles. Don’t forget it. Drivers might not expect to see bicyclists at this season, and though you may be decked out in hi-viz and your bike festooned with lights and reflectors, they will not necessarily register that you’re there. People see what they expect to see, and the reverse is true, too. When snowbanks line the roadsides, there’s nowhere to ride the bike off the road should the need arise.

 
Keep Warm and Keep Well  Remember that it’s colder on the bike than when you’re standing still in the sun and out of the wind. Be sure that you keep warm. Wear effective wind barriers on your hands, torso, and legs. You might even want to wear booties or toe warmers, and don’t forget that your ears will get cold, too. Furthermore, eyewear will help prevent tearing, and will protect your eyes from debris or spray kicked up by motor vehicles.

When you’re bundled up against cold and wind, you won’t be able to hear, see, and move as easily as when you’re wearing warmer weather duds. Shifting and braking will be a little more difficult, too, because your tactile sense will be blunted. The first rides of the year aren’t times to let it all hang out!

Of course, none of us want to think of the downsides or riding, but be prepared for flat tires and mechanical failures. I carry a cold weather survival kit in case I’m stranded, even temporarily, on the roadside. It can become mighty cold mighty fast when you’re struggling to change a tire in the shade with temperatures in the 30s.

 
Atmospheric Concerns  Lastly, though you might be toasty warm as you ride along the roadside, homes need to be heated in cool weather. In many parts of the country, people burn wood, and while woodsmoke might smell nice from a distance, it’s not so nice when you’re riding through thick clouds of it. When the humidity is high, or when there’s an inversion, smoke can hang heavy. Vehicle exhaust will hover near the ground, too. So if you suffer from respiratory difficulties, don’t forget to tuck your inhaler inside a warm pocket. Even if you’re burdened with a cold or sinus trouble, be alert to the possibility that you’ll feel worse after a ride than before you left.

 
After the Ride  Even dry roads will be salty and gritty until spring rains wash them off. Give your bike a good cleaning after you return from your ride, and don’t put it off too long. Salt and sand don’t get along well with drivetrains, components and steel frames. Lube the drivetrain and check the tires for debris that might lead to punctures. Then go inside the house and reward yourself with a hot shower and a cold brew or hot chocolate!

 
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