5 Ways To Protect Your Bike From Winter

Winter doesn't need to spell disaster for your bike, you can protect it. Here's are our bike survival tips.

Your bike doesn't need to suffer through winter. Greasing bearings, protecting the frame, greasing cables and keeping it clean all really helps.

And, if we do recommend investing in hardware, put your money towards another pair of wheels as wearing out braking surfaces isn't easily avoidable. Oh, and winter tyres will hopefully help you spend less time fixing punctures.

Watch more on GCN...
Winter Training Tips 🎥
Winter Nutrition Tips 🎥

Many thanks to Taylored Cycles for the use of their workshop

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Leave us a comment below!

[Toastybear]

get some reflective tape (3m do a good one) and put a few discreet strips on your frame, really really helps you stand out in dull/ dusk/ dark conditions

[stephenwilliams]

What about putting on some mudguards? There's some decent one's that protect you and your chainset! They might not look amazing, but they are essential!

[Adventurer_Gaming]

Thanks, it is freezing up here in the Northeast!

[CharlieBennici]

I have a 40 lb 1970's road bike with 1.25 in wide tires with pretty good tread. Got it for free. My work is done.

[philhouck]

To keep the chain a lot cleaner and avoid wear, a good soak in a hot solution of paraffin and motor or (or lamp oil) works a lot better than the drip-on lubes. Conditions will dictate how often you have to lube the chain but it's going to be a lot less frequent that with conventional lubrication methods. In the summer you wipe off the excess with a rag but in winter, leave the excess on so any dirt that does manage to attach itself to the lube will not make it to the chain.

A good way to protect the paint in damage-prone areas (underside of down tube and backside of seat tube) is to apply helicopter tape. It applies relatively easily, is almost invisible when properly applied and lasts years. It's good on metal but I'm not sure if it can be used on carbon fiber.

And if you're contemplating waxing your frame, be sure to use a pure wax and NOT a cleaner wax because it will damage the decals and scratch carbon fiber frames. Also check out paint coatings. Using "paint coatings" in Google will bring up a number of possible choices if the price doesn't turn you off.

[Bikefixers]

Hi Si and GCN viewers a quick Pro tip when greasing the seat post is to put the Grease or Fibre Grip (Carbon Posts) on the inside of the seat tube rather that the seat post so that when you put the seat post back in the Grease or Fibre Grip won't be scrapped off while inserting the post. Another good video by you guys once again. Keep up the good work.

[Krieghandt]

When are you going to do the 'how to ride on snow and ice' video? My rainy season has come to an end, so it will be either sunny and dry, or snow and ice till april.

[andrewroberson]

Hi GCN, could you please do a video on how to clean a bike while living in an apartment or flat. I know you have videos on how to wash bikes, but I don't have access to a hose outside my building, and would love some times on how to clean my bike.

Thanks!

[robbchastain]

You are flying your colors well, Si, on your Orbea--nice work on the frame paint. But I have to tip it old-school with protecting your high-dollar bike in the winter--hang it up and pull out something stout. And make sure it has fenders.

[davidstarr]

Step 1, put the Tarmac through an intensive clean & lube before storage under heavy security
Step 2, break out the mountain beast & give it hell for a few months

[mikeyvester]

An English winter is like a rainy day in the summer here in Edmonton. I use an old mountain bike with studded tires and fenders (mud guards).

[blahblah]

I really like the variety of "how to clean your bike" videos with different 'degrees' of cleanliness. With the rise of disc brake road bikes a video on cleaning disc brakes would be really useful. Perhaps with every day, weekly, monthly, yearly or whatever maintenance jobs.

[fieryawesomeness]

Oh dear God, you remind me of my head of year in school who found this motto online and makes us bang our heads each time he says it: "Do the right thing, at the right time, in the right manner, and you will succeed."

[Guoenyi]

It is the same season here all year round in straya

[gilesdunk]

Surprised full mudguards are not recommended. It will save you a fortune in replacement parts come the spring!

[tomertal]

Thank you!
As a mountain biker i ride my bike every day so this tips helped me!

[GeneratorOfDarkness]

What do you call winter in UK? More rain?

[juanpablopinasco]

Disc brakes are the best option, one more time, not only for performance, but for maintenance too.

[gormygorm]

I attached skis to a "Next" 24 inch mountainbike for winter.

[matthewlockyer]

The best winter proofing i did to my bike was ditch the stock tiers ( some £5 kenda rubbish) and get some vittoria rubino, not the ones with lumps of coal in but the £10 ones. they are bomb proof.