Ten tips to combat the cold on the bike

If you are one of those bikers who do not miss the winter concentrations as the Festival of Valladolid Moto do not miss these tricks to keep warm and avoid accidents. Especially you ridding at night without reflective vest.

 

Valladolid will host from 8 to 10 January at the Moto Festival, a winter concentration aims to keep alive the spirit of penguins and reaffirm the city as European Capital of bike in winter. Although this year is expected a somewhat softer than the usual weather, we must not forget that the fog, frost and cold are common elements in the city at this time. If you’re going to be one of the brave people who attend this event on two wheels are some tips to combat the weather and avoid mishaps.

 

  1. Before getting in the way, check the drawing of the wheels. It is important to good adhesion in case of ice or snow.

 

  1. Make sure the battery is fully charged and in case carries tweezers. It is very common to encounter problems to boot after a good frost. Not more than cover your bike with a holster, either purchased or homemade, especially if you camp.

 

  1. Bring a reflective element to be seen despite the typical mists. Do not forget that bikes are less visible than their smaller cars and generally do not carry fog lights.

 

  1. Not only matter to be seen, but also see. If your helmet does not have a screen anti-fogging can hit a special foil or apply a spray to prevent fogging. Do not forget to close the air inlets.

 

  1. Use and thermal socks. Hands and feet are the body parts most chilling on the bike and can be dangerous to lose sensitivity. One trick is to get some emergency thin plastic bags on their feet and gloves of the same material in his hands. You can even stop at a gas station and pick up the gloves that provide for gas. Incidentally, if you’re en route and has gotten into you cold in the body, go to the bathroom and hand dryers used to heat the inside of the helmet and windbreaker gloves. It will help a lot to get warm.

 

  1. Ideally hand guards or thermal wear for the hand cuffs not the worst of the wind takes. If this is not your case, you can fabricate a hand guards cutting some plastic bottles in half and adjusting the bike with electrical tape.

 

  1. If you still do not enter your hands warm hand warmers or you can use instant heat bags, some cheap and small devices that are instantly heated when pressed or bent.

 

  1. Apply a good layer of moisturizer (better the more unctuous) in the hands, feet and face. It helps isolate cold skin and prevents from cracking. You can also do some warm up exercises just before getting on the bike, as if you were to play sports. The body will be prepared and accumulate some heat for the road.

 

  1. Do not forget to bring a good neck and shirt and thermal pants under clothing with reflective material. If you do not have time to buy a home remedy is to line the chest with newspaper. You can also use the mono or rain pants but not going to rain because it will fulfill two functions: windbreaks and will protect you from moisture from the fog.

 

10. If you go camping, remember that the cold will come mainly from the ground. a good insulation is essential. The sleeping bag is also very important and, although it seems a contradiction, it is better to wear skimpy clothes to get into it. The sack fulfill its function, and accumulating layers of clothing will only get you sweat and then just stand cold moisture

Reflective element bicycle

Nike, which is headquartered in Portland (United States), for 40 years, has decided to give the city he calls ‘home’ a gift.

 

Partnering with the Portland Office of Transportation, Nike will make an investment of $ 10 million over five years for the new system Bike Portland: BIKETOWN. In addition it will increase the number of bicycles with reflective elements, of the 600 initially raised to 1,000 (for a city that has more than 600,000 inhabitants).

 

“We are proud of our long history of collaboration with the City of Portland and we believe the program participation bike, BIKETOWN, is another example of how we can work together to help make the community of Portland even more active, vibrant and innovative “said Vice President of Global Community Impact Nike, Jorge.

 

Bicycles, which will have the logo of Nike, will be orange. This is one of the classic colors of the brand since 1971, when its founder, Phil Knight, decided to put his famous logo on this tone shoes in boxes, according ensures the company.

 

In fact, in 1989 this color became the official brand, “today there is no one that does not relate a shoebox with orange Nike” says the company. It is precisely the design of their boxes sport that has inspired the baskets that will incorporate into the front of the bikes for users to store their bikes things during the journey.

 

In addition, the safety of users has been very present during the design of bicycles through reflective tape gray strategically placed in different parts of the bikes.

 

Another city ‘bicycle-friendly’

This program, which will be released next July, makes Portland become a little greener city and joins the list of cities in the world who have decided to bet on two wheels as transportation for its inhabitants such as Barcelona or Madrid.

 

Although, the truth is that Portland was known as a city ‘bike-friendly’. Bicycle with some reflective accessory can enhance the visibility. With nearly 500 kilometers of bike lanes and passable roads on two wheels, it is considered among the top 10 cities for transportation bike United States. In addition, last September it was estimated that Portland received more than $ 130 million in revenue by business bicycles.

Children’s safety when back to School: school van and reflective material

A percentage of school accidents are occurring on the outside of the educational establishment, according to the Mutual Security. However, considering that “out of business” understands the way to school and therefore transport, will understand that these accidents are the most dangerous. And children will not wearing safety vest all the time.

 

Choose the safest school van for our children is therefore one of the key tasks of February before the return to school.

 

LOOK WHAT?

  1. Needless to say, never opt for a “pirate” vehicle.
  2. Verify that the patent is registered in the National Register of Public Transport School. In this same form you can check the list of people who are disabled to work with minors.
  3. Require the driver ID card bearing is registered correctly on the previous database and have its license in force and all documents in order. In addition, establishments must have a copy of the certificate of registration.
  4. The vehicle must be yellow , have strobe light or reflective band on both sides and carry a sign triangular on the roof with the “school” legend (the buses are excepted). All documentation must be in order.
  5. The vehicle seats should go to the front and a back less than 35 cm. Since 2007 all seats should have seat belts.
  6. The travel time to and from school cannot exceed one hour.
  7. If you go more than five preschool children, the driver must be accompanied by an adult.
  8. The Ministry of Transport recommends that parents sign a contract in writing, upon request a busing.

 

STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

The self – care and an example is the best advice that experts give risk prevention. Parents need to teach road safety to children (and not cross behind a car) to prevent future accidents. And also can buy some bags with reflective fabric for children. But it also has to lead by example, always putting on her seat belt.

Explain to your child that should not take arms, legs or head through the windows. Nor should it distract the driver.

And be on time, so that the carrier cannot try to make up time increasing speed.

Reflective tape to run at night

Gone are the days, the lazy days at the beach and chilled cocktails, winter approaches and the days get shorter. For fans of running, it’s time to cover up and protect her skin from the cold , but also to equip themselves to be clearly visible, as the nightlife are likely to multiply. From feet to head, running with headlamps, we have compiled for you eight accessories that allow you to shine brightly to run safely after dark.

Focus on fluorescent and reflective strips

 

Two things help make a night of jogging without fear of accident: the fluorescent (or light colors) and reflective tape. The first is rather recommended in fog or rain, the seconds are essential on a clear night. The combination of the two makes it possible to be seen over 100 meters against 30 meters with dark clothing, or the scope of the headlights of a car. For smaller budgets, it is possible to purchase reflective material to stick to his usual clothes.

 

For the head, there are many facilities, such as caps equipped with LED or headlamps. These two accessories allow not only to be seen, but also to see where you walk. It would be stupid to hurt you tripping over a pothole!

 

For the body, we recommend light colored clothing, and even fluorescent, but especially equipped impressions or reflective tape. It is also prudent to invest in a cuff LED, which can further increase visibility. Some models can even host your Smartphone to be able to listen to music without the slightest concern.

With all that, still try not dazzling motorists!