It’s true…winter is on its’ way and there’s very little you can do about it. Or is there?
If you’re resigned to hibernating for winter on your turbo trainer, or have doubled the number of spinning classes in the gym, then perhaps you don’t need to winterise your bike. If, however you:
- Cycle all-year round
- Don’t have a dedicated winter bike
- Relish the thought of those chilly wet mornings (seriously, are you mad?)
- Are a commuter
…then you’re probably going to have to makes some changes to your trusty steed to get it winter-ready.
We at More Adventure believe that we’re extremely lucky to be living in a country that has seasonal change, and with each season brings opportunity (we’re extremely positive people!). We wouldn’t want it hot all the time, but we also inevitably begin craving hot days in the saddle by December. In an ideal world, we’d have a bike for every season, but this is obviously not practical financially and logistically (we have seen relationships crumble over the number of bikes in the relationship!).
So in order for you to get your summer bike ready for the rigours of winter, you could consider the following:
Mudguards
There’s more water, mud, grit and sand on the road in winter, so fitting some temporary mudguards can be an excellent idea. Whilst we’d love to say that your newly-dry cleaned suit trousers will be fine on your morning commute with a good mudguard, this simply isn’t the case, and you’ll still have to dress accordingly. In any case, the main reason for putting mudguards on is more about protecting the drivetrain and keeping grime out of your chain.
Another thing to consider if that if you’re converting a summer road bike, it is unlikely that they have boltholes to attach a conventional mudguard so it is essential that your chosen mudguard is clip-on and does not require bolts.
We recommend a full length mudguard, such as the SKS Raceblade Pro which has an extended section to give you full coverage.
The main benefit of a rear mudguard is to protect your bum from getting wet. Another benefit however, is that it’ll protect other riders behind you!
Winter tyres
Anyone who has been on a trip with us will testify how much we value tyres! Our record for punctures in one day on a London to Paris trip was a whopping 15 – and these were all on four bikes…!!! The problem??? I think you can guess…
So, with that in mind, winter brings all sorts of problems with tyres. Gravel, flint and glass can often be washed onto the road (and onto cycle lanes) by rain, sleet and snow. This ensures that punctures are more common, so it is essential that you replace those slicks you’ve been using all summer.
Two fantastic tyres currently on the market are the old classic Continental Gatorskin:
Or the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season:
Both tyres have enough puncture resistance whilst also being relatively light and slick enough to not restrict your speed too much.
Oil change
Gone are the days of having one type of oil for your bike, now there seems to be an oil for every occasion! When winter comes around, there will undoubtedly be more water to contend with but it’s as important as ever to maintain your drivetrain, keeping your chain as clean as possible, and using appropriate lubrication.
It is often said that you shouldn’t oil a dirty chain and this is true if you’re trying to improve the longevity of your chain. Dirt and grime reduce the life of a chain and the drivetrain as a whole, but if you’re cycling every single day, perhaps to work and back, it is sometimes unpractical to clean your chain every day. However, giving your chain a quick squirt with degreaser, wiping with a brush or rag, then rinsing after a particularly grubby ride however can make a big difference…provided you then relube of course!
We tend to use Muc Off Wet Lube over winter (and on many wet of the days we cycle in the rain throughout summer too!). It’s a thicker consistency than other lubes, and therefore sticks to the chain a little more and lasts longer.
Lights
The nights are drawing in and, unless you’re planning on cycling only between the hours of 8am and 4pm, you’re going to need lights (when it’s put like that, it’s really rather depressing!).
There are a vast range of lights out there and, depending on where you’re going to be cycling and whether there will be street lights, choosing the correct type for your needs can be a minefield.
We’ve always enjoyed Lezyne lights and have used the Lezyne Zecto Drive Set for a number of years for emergency lights at the end of long (usually puncture-filled) days. With an output of 120 lumens, USB charging, easy to fit, and incredibly compact design, they’re perfect for a baseline set of lights.
For something a bit brighter (and these really are brighter!), the Lezyne Hecto Drive 300XL really pack a punch. These feature a 300 lumens output, wireless charging (sci-fi stuff!) and up to 11 hours power.
Washing
As tempting as it is to leave your bike dirty for a few weeks (you’d never see us do that), it is absolutely crucial that you keep on top of washing your bike over winter. The additional grit, mud and grime doesn’t help, but if you’re truly hardcore and cycle even when it’s icy or snowy, you’ve got the added nemesis of a metal bike – SALT! Salt can very easily get into the frame, chainset and wheelbearings, causing some pretty serious damage if you don’t clean regularly.
Don’t neglect other bits
It’s important to remember that there are a number of moving parts on a bike so don’t forget about them! Giving regular checks to your gear shifters, brake levers, rear and front derailleurs, and brakes is a good idea. Wash off any grime with degreaser spray, rinse and dry, then lube with your drivetrain lube or with a spray of GT85.
We hope you’ve found this article useful, there are plenty of other top tips on your next adventure on our blog: http://www.moreadventure.co.uk/blog/
Alternatively, if you’re looking for a hot cycling destination with beers by the pool after endless stretches of perfect tarmac this winter, check out our Cycling in Tenerife trips here: http://www.moreadventure.co.uk/event/cycling-tenerife-mount-teide/ and here http://www.moreadventure.co.uk/event/tenerife-cycling-explorer/.
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