It's Britain, winter and you're a cyclist. We'll assume that you're already intimately familiar with rain, mud, salt, grit, wind and snow (or any unholy combination of the above). Not always fun, but always rewarding, always worth it and after a post-ride shower you're left feeling better than ever.
If you're feeling a bit battered, spare a thought for the bike you ride through winter. The contact point with the road/trail, it's bourne the brunt of whatever mother nature (and the council gritters) can throw at it. If you want to keep it rolling you're going to have show a little TLC.
Here's our top winter bike maintenance tips:
- Clean your bike more often in winter. Every four days if it’s dry, or whenever it’s wet and muddy.
- Use an all purpose bike cleaner, warm water and a soft brush to get the frame crud free.
- If you must use a power washer, do so very carefully. Our workshop is full at this time of the year with bikes that have had the internal grease blasted from the rear hub. (Mobi pressure washers could be a solution here. Ed.)
- Clean the chain and cassette. You can buy specific bike cleaning brushes to do this, a specific chain cleaning machine, or just get creative (my toothbrushes aren’t thrown out till they’re black). Once the chain is clean give it some lube. Pick the right lube for the occasion. We’re big fans of wax lube here. Used correctly it’ll stop you having to clean the chain so often.
- When the frame is clean a little bike wax isn’t a bad idea. It’ll stop the bike from picking up crud so easily.
- If any cables are rusted or worn, replace them. To stop having to do this apply a little lube to them once in a while
- Check your brakes often. V brakes tend to run down a lot quicker in winter. Keep an eye on them. If you suddenly need to grab a handful to slow down, if they look almost down to the groove or they scream at you when you’re riding down a hill (hard to miss that one!), it’s time to change the pads.
- Clean rims make a big difference to both power and lifespan of rim brakes. Just make sure they’re clean and dry (and you haven’t got any lube on them by mistake…), before you set off.
- Disc brakes are usually a more powerful and reliable bet in winter, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need any thought. If performance drops at all, follow the instructions that came with the brakes – or take them to your local bike shop for a check.
- Prevention is far preferable to cure. Throwing it in the back of the shed after a stinking ride might the easiest option, but it will also certainly reduce the life span of the bike and it’s components. A five minute clean is worth it’s weight in gold (or triple butted aluminium depending on your preference).
We'll leave the last words to one of our long distance commuters:
What I suggest is that if you’re as daft as me and insist on riding on the roads in this type of weather and your bike looks something like mine, wash and lube it as soon as possible. Muc Off Fluid and brushes are my weapons of choice for the cleaning followed by a spin in a finish line chain bath for the chain which is then soaked in wax lube. The cables, mechs and brake pivots all get a flush of Teflon plus dry lubricant and to finish the frame is treated to bike polish. This last step isn’t as nerdy as it sounds, the shinier the bike, the less muck will stick to it in the first place!
Keep riding and repeat, it is worth it in the end.
