Much has been made in recent weeks (in part thanks to local criminal proceedings) about the vulnerability of cyclists riding into the low sun. Having ridden for many years I thought I would share my own approach to dealing with this hazard. None of this is 100% guaranteed to get a drivers attention so always ride defensively as well as legally.
As a cyclist:
1. Knowing where the sun is is important, and many photographers carry tiny sun-charts denoting time of year, angle of sun during time of day. A bit of planning and even delaying your journey or changing the roads you ride on can mean the difference between the sun behind or in front, and changed to the sides.
2. Wear a traditional cycle cap with a low brim. Add in some good sun shades or cycling goggles with tint and your own ability too see will vastly improve. There is a good reason the old caps are still made.
3. Lighting. Its not often a cyclist's approach to use lights during the day, but with the higher powered lights we now have access to they can be used to focus a spot through the sun. I use a set that are over 80 lumens for this purpose and set them to flash. I can never guarantee 100% that a driver will look but I've tested this out several times and they're quite eye-catching.
4. Rock your shoulders and keep your legs moving. Movement draws attention, and in some circumstances can temporarily make the low sun flicker as you block and reveal its path.
What can drivers do?
1. Follow the advice of the Highway Code. Rules 226 onwards have some guidance on this.
2. Watch this DSA video:
3. Watch this:
4. Keep your windscreen clean! Inside and out. Dirt, frost, snow and even condensation all limit visibility.
5. When the windscreen is covered in ice DON'T throw boiling water over it! This can crack the glass, even microscopically this leads to reduced visibility as microscopic fractures occur in the glass. It can also separate the laminates and this also refracts the light in all kinds of odd directions.
It also leaves a puddle that can freeze on the ground causing cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians to slip!
6. Follow the AA's advice on winter driving HERE and HERE! The IAM also have some similar advice HERE.
As a cyclist:
1. Knowing where the sun is is important, and many photographers carry tiny sun-charts denoting time of year, angle of sun during time of day. A bit of planning and even delaying your journey or changing the roads you ride on can mean the difference between the sun behind or in front, and changed to the sides.
2. Wear a traditional cycle cap with a low brim. Add in some good sun shades or cycling goggles with tint and your own ability too see will vastly improve. There is a good reason the old caps are still made.
3. Lighting. Its not often a cyclist's approach to use lights during the day, but with the higher powered lights we now have access to they can be used to focus a spot through the sun. I use a set that are over 80 lumens for this purpose and set them to flash. I can never guarantee 100% that a driver will look but I've tested this out several times and they're quite eye-catching.
4. Rock your shoulders and keep your legs moving. Movement draws attention, and in some circumstances can temporarily make the low sun flicker as you block and reveal its path.
What can drivers do?
1. Follow the advice of the Highway Code. Rules 226 onwards have some guidance on this.
2. Watch this DSA video:
3. Watch this:
4. Keep your windscreen clean! Inside and out. Dirt, frost, snow and even condensation all limit visibility.
5. When the windscreen is covered in ice DON'T throw boiling water over it! This can crack the glass, even microscopically this leads to reduced visibility as microscopic fractures occur in the glass. It can also separate the laminates and this also refracts the light in all kinds of odd directions.
It also leaves a puddle that can freeze on the ground causing cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians to slip!
6. Follow the AA's advice on winter driving HERE and HERE! The IAM also have some similar advice HERE.