Depending upon where you live, morning fog and fog in general can be a regular occurrence that you have to deal with whether commuting or getting a training ride in. Driving in the fog can be hazardous but cycling in fog can be even more so. The best approach is to avoid it if you can; ride later in the day, choose a different route, etc., but those aren’t always options. If you do have to ride in fog, make sure you know how to and know what to wear. It can save your life.
Avoiding Fast, Busy Roads While Cycling In Fog
Obviously in heavy fog, visibility is drastically reduced. Under normal conditions, drivers may not see you but in foggy conditions, the chance is even greater. The best way to make sure that a driver doesn’t come up behind you suddenly is to simply avoid roads where they can do so. Choose a route with little to no traffic such as a bike path, back roads, or neighborhood roads even. Removing one of the variables will make your ride extraordinarily safer.
Riding Defensively
If you do have to cycle on a road that receives more traffic, you must ride like you are invisible because, well, you pretty much are. As a car approaches, you will be able to hear it, slide to the side of the road completely out of the cars path. This way if they don’t see you, they miss hitting you. When approaching intersections you must be very aware of traffic coming from every direction. Never assume that they see you, particularly vehicles that are turning or pulling out. If you must, slow and stop to avoid crossing the intended path of a car.
Be As Visible As Possible While Biking In Fog
While riding, you should always wear things that are visible but must do so even more when riding in fog. This includes things such as the following:
- Bright colored jersey/jacket.
- Rear flashing red light. The brighter the better.
- Front flashing head light. Again the brighter the better.
- Reflectors on your feet/ankles. The movement of your feet will catch an eye more easily. Some cycling shoe covers also have reflectors on the rear of them giving you more visibility as well as toasty toes.
Staying Warm
With fog comes moisture. With moisture comes a chilling effect due to the heat transfer properties of water. If you are riding with bare skin on your legs and/or arms, moisture will develop on the surface causing you to become cold very quickly. In addition, fog often forms at lower temperatures so the combined cooling effects of moisture on the surface of your skin and the outside ambient air temperature create the conditions for a bone chilling ride. Treat cycling in fog like riding in the rain; meaning wear a rain jacket or at the very least, arm warmers and leg warmers.
Glasses Fogging Up
With the added moisture in the air, your glasses will likely fog up much easier or at the very least, get water droplets on them. Keeping them clear will be a huge help as not being able to see through the fog itself is bad enough. You don’t need to add another barrier to seeing well. If you take your glasses off, riding with a cycling cap can be a good option as it keeps some of the wind and any rain out of your eyes.
