Be careful out there
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You will encounter rain - it's how you deal with it that makes the difference (pic: Sirotti)
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Kitting out properly is the easiest way to ensure your ride doesn't become a wet and miserable one (Pic: Wiggle)
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Ass Savers are lightweight, easy to store and will offer some protection against spray from slick roads
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Continental 25mm Competition Pro tyres are becoming a common sight in the professional peloton, with the wider rubber said to improve comfort and aerodynamics - and it also offers more grip
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Knock back your speed on descents and corners (pic: Sirotti)
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If Colombia's Nairo Quintana can ride through the rain, riders in the UK have no excuse (pic: Sirotti)
Be careful out there
You will find that road grit can be washed onto the quiet country lanes that most of us prefer at an alarming rate, which should make staying upright your primary concern.
Be extra careful on the tight bends you’ve been zipping through in the warm and dry: the sudden appearance of grit under the wheels will have you off before you know you are on it.
Slow and steady are the watchwords until you’re sure of conditions.
As a precaution, it’s also worth checking your brake pads. The ability to stop is hard to overrate, and to do so the braking surfaces must be free from the grit and debris with which they’ll become coated in wet weather.
Brake pad wear will be much higher in winter than in summer but it is always worth making sure you check these regularly. Clean the pads with an old toothbrush or similar or, if they need replacing, here’s our guide.