{"id":25869,"date":"2015-01-12T17:06:07","date_gmt":"2015-01-12T16:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/?p=25869"},"modified":"2015-01-12T17:06:07","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T16:06:07","slug":"bike-maintenance-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2015\/01\/12\/bike-maintenance-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike maintenance in winter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter cycling can cause extra wear to your bike but there are a few simple checks you can make to lower your annual bike service cost. Here are my tips.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Buy a bike stand<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s cheaper and sturdier than paying someone else to hold your bike while you work on it. If you\u2019re not allowed to fix your bike in the house, it\u2019ll make sure you\u2019re spending less time out in the cold working on your bike. A big retailer sells them for as little as \u00a340, but if you have a carbon frame expect to spend up to \u00a3300.<\/p>\n

\"Side<\/a><\/p>\n

To clean or not to clean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This is a divisive issue, but most mechanics I\u2019ve met tell me that unless you really know what you\u2019re doing don\u2019t clean your bike with detergent, and never take a power hose to it.<\/p>\n

By all means wipe the frame down, but there are a lot of parts on your bike that need grease and oil, and you don\u2019t want to wash it out by accident. Leave the deep cleaning to trained mechanics.<\/p>\n

Fit mud guards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In winter, roads get gritted, there\u2019s more rain, and this mixture gets churned up into salt water that sprays over your wheels and drive chain. Fitting mudguards to front and rear wheels reduces the amount this goes on your drive chain and brake\/gear cables. Also read our article about winter city cycling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Check your brakes<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Take both wheels off. Wipe down the rim where the brakes touch the wheel with a clean cloth \u2013 you don\u2019t want oil on your braking surface. Look for signs of wear because a hollow dip in the wheel rim gives you less braking power \u2013 especially in the wet winter.<\/p>\n

\"profimedia-0043319155\"<\/a><\/p>\n

With the wheel still off, check your brake pads. Most brake pads have grooves to indicate how worn they are. They\u2019re made of rubber, which means grit or glass can get stuck in them.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t feel brake pads with your fingers, instead do a visual check with a torch, and remove debris carefully. This will stop your wheel rim\/braking surface from getting damaged. Remember: new brake pads are cheap and easy to fit.<\/p>\n

Check your tyres<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In winter it\u2019s best to switch to puncture protected tyres, usually with Kevlar or deep plastic treads. I don\u2019t bother with latex filled tubes. Instead I check mine almost every day to see if there\u2019s a bit of glass working its way slowly towards the inner tube.<\/p>\n

\"Boy<\/a><\/p>\n

You can find any debris stuck in your tyre easily. Simply work it out with a thin-pointy-thing before it becomes too imbedded to wear down the inner tube.<\/p>\n

Never take a tyre off and feel round the inside with your fingers, unless you want shredded bleeding fingers!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep your bike under cover<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Always choose bike parking with cover. If this isn\u2019t an option, carry a pack-away bike cover you can put over your bike quickly and easily. They have side gaps to fit locks through. The cheapest option is carry two plastic bags. One bag covers your rear cassette and derailleur, and one covers your saddle. This will prevent rain and frost removing much needed lube from your bike.<\/p>\n

\"Streetworn,<\/a><\/p>\n

Lube time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Learn how to lube up your chain. It\u2019s cheap, and if you\u2019ve cycled in the rain all week, you\u2019ll need to lube your chain once a week. If it rains less, you can lube less. It\u2019ll keep your chain wear down, and your rear cassette will last much longer.<\/p>\n

Replace your chain on a regular basis<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In winter your chain “stretches” quicker than it would in summer. The extra rain and snow mixed with salt and grit from the road works it’s way into your chain and removes the lube causing the metal to wear, and the chain appears to stretch – you’ll notice your bike’s gears skipping.<\/p>\n

\"Bicycle<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019d recommend getting a chain wear indicator for about \u00a35. A chain tool to replace a chain will cost you another \u00a35 and you can buy a new chain for about \u00a310 – \u00a325 depending on how fancy your bike is. I ride a mid-range road bike about 100 miles a week, so I replace my chain for about \u00a315 every 3 months or so.<\/p>\n

Have a good relationship with your local bike shop<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve developed a good relationship with your friendly neighbourhood bike shop, you\u2019ll find that they\u2019re quite happy for you to drop in (on a quiet afternoon) and assess your bike for free. When my girlfriend bought a pannier rack from them, they fitted it for free. Sure \u2013 online shops are cheaper, but they\u2019re a lot harder to get free work or advice from qualified professionals!<\/p>\n

What are your tips for bike maintenance in winter? Please share with us in the comments below or on facebook<\/a>!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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