Rain

Retrieved from: https://www.sciline.org/climate/climate-change/torrential-rain/

Slippery roads: The rain will cause the road as well as trail obstacles to be much slicker. This means that you won't have as much traction, and it will take longer to stop and it will be easier to slide out.

• When it's raining you'll want to make sure you go slow, brake earlier and much lighter than usual (especially while you're turning corners!). Be aware of where you are and what material you're biking on, as places like the painted road or metal will be considerably slipperier than others. 

Colder Temperatures: The rain coming down on you as you bike will get you wet, which will make you feel much colder on top of the already lowering temperatures. If you don't have the proper gear on while biking in the cold and rain, you run the risk of hypothermia.

• If biking in the rain, make sure that you have proper layers and a good waterproof outer layer to protect yourself from getting wet while cycling.

Bike Lifespan: In order to stay safe while cycling, you want to ensure that your bike itself is also in tip top shape. If you don't take care of your bike after cycling in the rain, it might deteriorate and the wet conditions will attract more muck onto your bike chain.

• Much of this deterioration can be avoided so as long as you properly care for your bike after the rain. Remove any muck off of it, clean and dry it, and add any lubricant to your bike where needed.

Visibility: Intense rain will make it difficult and may reduce your visibility, especially if you wear glasses. I will be discussing how to deal with reduced visibility later.

Snow

Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-02/new-york-snow-enters-record-books-as-city-digs-out-from-storm

Ice and Slippery Roads: Lots of snow can lead to ice, black ice, and slush on the road which makes it much easier to lose control or fall when cycling.

• Just like a car, it may be worth it to switch out your tires when it snows. Consider swapping out your regular tires for studded winter tires with wider tread. Additionally, make sure you remember to go slow and brake slow, just like in the rain.

Colder Temperatures: If you bike in the snow, expect much colder temperatures- even more so than in the rain. Once again, you'll want to ensure that you layer up properly and cover as much exposed skin as possible otherwise you run the risk of hypothermia or even frostbite.

• Invest not only in a good waterproof outer shell, but also make sure that you layer up properly underneath your outer layer to keep warm. As previously mentioned, you'll also want to cover other exposed areas, so consider investing in gloves, hats, masks, or even a neck warmer for your ride.

Visibility: If it is snowing quite hard, you may experience reduced visibility due to snow in your face or melting onto your glasses. I will discuss how to deal with reduced visibility later on.

Intense Sun

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiyrU_nXMzk

Sunburn: If you're biking for extended periods of time under the sun, it could creep up on and pose danger if you don't prepare. You're going to be exposed to the harmful ultraviolet rays, which could cause some painful red sunburns or skin damage.

• To avoid burns, make sure that you wear proper SPF and wear a thin, breathable layer to protect your skin wherever possible.

Heat Exhaustion/Heatstroke: As the planet gets hotter and Vancouver faces increasing heat waves each year, it's important to be careful of heat exhaustion or even heatstroke, particularly while doing strenuous exercise like cycling. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke occur when your body is unable to cool itself down.

• To avoid this, make sure that you are properly hydrating yourself throughout your ride. If the temperature is extremely hot, ensure that you are taking breaks in shade when needed.

Visibility: The bright rays of the sun may also shine into your eyes and make it hard to see amidst your ride, and may even cause eye strain.

• Ensure that you are wearing UV protected sunglasses on your ride to protect your eyeballs!

Wind

Retrieved from: https://www.lufft.com/blog/en/wind-gust-measurement-with-lufft-ventus-and-v200a/

Strong Headwinds: Strong headwinds can slow you down and significantly increase the amount of energy required to move forward.

• If possible, try to change the direction of your cycling so that the wind so that it becomes a tailwind moving you forward instead!

Strong Crosswinds: Strong crosswinds on a cycling trip may potentially make you lose balance while on your bike, or even knock you over completely.

• Once again, if possible, consider changing the direction of your cycling so that it becomes a tailwind. If not possible, keep a firm grip on your handlebars and try to keep as steady as possible.

Visibility

Retrieved from: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/fog/types-of-fog

Precipitation: As previously mentioned, heavy snow, rain, and any type other of precipitation can obscure your vision while on your bike. It's crucial to be careful because while you don't want to crash into someone else, you also want to ensure that others won't crash into you either.

• In low visibility, ensure that you're moving slower than usual. To ensure that you can see, wear some type of eye protection and consider spraying some anti-fog spray onto your protection as well so they stay clear.

Fog: Fog, or water vapour, can sometimes be so thick that you can't even see a few metres in front of yourself. Once again, we want to avoid you bumping into an obstacle, but we also want to ensure that no other vehicles crash into you.

• If fog is in the forecast, wear bright or reflective clothing or lights. Bike slower than usual so that you have more time to react to anything in front of you. If the fog gets so thick that you can't see anything, it may be safer to stick to the sidewalk and dismount from your bicycle.

Darkness: As we all know, it's harder to see things in the darkness as well. If you're biking at night, it can be particularly difficult for drivers to see you.

• To better your vision at night, consider some bike flashlights or even wearing a headlamp to see the path ahead of you. Additionally, invest in bike reflectors and consider also buying bright or reflective clothing so that any drivers can see you on the road.