The evening was worse: traffic jam from start to end: 21km/h. Awful. Cycling I use to have an average of 25km/h when I'm slow...
True. Bad, dark weather does require a bit more discipline than in the sunny summer days.
A first adversary is the rain. Meet and beat is my device: face the rain in the right clothings: clothings that repell or at least don't absorbe all too much water and breathe at the same time. A classic rain jacket or a rain gown are ok when you don't need to go far. With 27 km ahead of you you'll be wetter from the transpiration than from the rain. Personally I protect only my valuable items against the rain (my breadbox for example: wouldn't want to miss my breakfast at my arrival at Mobistar...). Roughly estimated I got soaked less than 5 times a year. Rain is worse from behind the window than when you are actually in it...
A more dreadful opponent is the darkness. This real danger is systematically underestimated. Weapon you against darkness. Cyclists are the weak participants in the traffic.Their visibility should appeal cardrivers to a caring attitude towards cyclists.
I never leave without my safety jacket, white front light, red back light and reflectors in my wheels.
What about the autumn blues? I don't autorize rain and darkness to predict my behaviour. Defying circumstances is a way to cope with upcoming blues. That power is in each of us. Feel wind and rain on your face and taste life.
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| Although the cyclist hasa back light and reflectors, he isn't visible |
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| A safety jacket increases considerably visibility |
