As the dark winter draws in, you need to protect yourself and your bike from the muddy, cold, wet weather. Alex tells you 6 of the best ways to prepare your bike for the cold elements, including mudguards (or fenders) and winter tyres to make the season transition easier!
00:00 Intro
00:24 Mudguards
02:22 Maintaining components
03:04 Tyre choice
04:03 Chain
05:02 Lights
05:41 Waterproof your spares
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How do you protect your bike from the cold weather? ๐ง๏ธโ๏ธ
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31 Comments
How do you protect your bike from the cold weather? ๐งโ
And for the new generation of cyclists: Never charge your battery at temperatures below zero.
First thing I noticed popping mudguards on my gravel bike for rainy season commuting was how much drier my shoes were, then how much cleaner my bike was.
Are we supposed to believe that Barnabus is using that Pinarello for his winter rides?
Stay on the trainer during the winter, far more enjoyable and efficient with your time ๐
Road bike goes in the basement, studded tires go on the old cross bike. It has full fenders as well.
Thanks Alex, all good points for winter riding and it's tough out here sometimes in the 'car culture' world. Dirty slush, salt and .. well .. drivers. You could also do a short video on the rider who, yes, is second to the bike but still important. How to keep dry in wet winter riding? Keeping your feet dry, your indoor at the office clothes dry and yet without working up a sweat under wool or water resistant bike clothing? Thanks for always great videos and ideas.
Hey, rider whoโs following behind here, please please please mudguard up for the season, mudguards are cool, trust me, cooler than all that street dirt and grime all over your jerseyโฆ ๐
As usual it's obvious that the UK isn't a country that sees below-zero temperatures for extended periods of time. If it were, studded tires would be on top of the list.
No mention of the Scwalbe Marathon winter plus tire!! One of the best!!! I'm disapointed!
I bought a new bike partially because mudguards can be fitted easily with all the braze ons included. Getting the rear wheel off with through axles disk brakes, and mudguards can be challenging. Carrying a bit of light cordage that can be tossed over a low tree branch and looping it under the saddle nose can help. On a heavy touring bike in particular, this can be a game changer. A rural delivery mailbox here in the USA can also work.
Apply a hydrophobic wax on your bike is the way for protect the paint
Apply a hydrophobic wax on your bike is the way for protect the paint
For winter riding, i take my bike and put in on the turbo ๐
Rain in winter?
Idk man I'm from india
Ride a cheap as chips fixie or single speed bike with mudguards. Then put your fancy bike in a warm dry safe place. ๐
Thanks Alex and crew…I take off wheels and everything easily removable , bolts and all , wash it , then silicone the hell out of it ! Sprayed on a rag , and wiped everywhere….feces tends to slide off !
#ASKGCNTECH, I am concerned about repeatedly removing and installing the rear thru-axle on my carbon road bike to put it on my indoor trainer. I do it weekly, sometimes twice or more. I take care not to cross thread it but believe the bike is not manufactured with this intent. How harmful could it be? Should I be concerned? Iโm considering one of the low priced, low end bikes because the used, higher quality bikes in my area are still expensive.
I just ride a 70s Peugeot which already got mudguards and light by itself. The light works on a dynamo though, But that gives you extra Challenge
Putting your inner tube in a plastic bag should be done year round. I didnโt have a puncture for about 6 months, went to put on my new inner tube and the valve had oxidised and was impossible to open. Had a long walk home.
As someone who lives in the southern hemisphere, this video would've been useful approximately… 6 months ago. ๐คฆ ๐
Can you do a piece on what power meter to get for a time trial bike as many spider meters only seem to go to 53/39 and give me a top notch power meter for raising the issue. I'm thinking crank arm ATM because I've not found a spider option
To get ready for winter, I wash my bike and then set up my rollers… job done ๐
Good point about area specific! In Montreal winter grease should be lighter! at below freezing temperatures. I actually use oil squirted into the vent hole in the bottom bracket of my "cheap" old steel clunker used for winter. this helps to wash out the salt used on the roads as it leaks out. Also I use oil (heresy) on the chain for same reason, and get a new one in spring. A winter bike, if you can afford the space, is a good idea. Free, or cheap, is best because salt, snow water is very hard on them! Leave it outside (LOCKED WELL) so rusting is slowed right down and you aren't importing snow, ice, salt into your apartment/ house.
For cables, dry and lube them. Coated stainless is best but I cut my housings at the lowest point in every curve so water tends to drain out and you don't have as much problems with frozen cables. It will happen unless you have hydraulic everything, bring the bike in to melt it, dry the cable, WD-40 housing, dry re-lube the cable.
Lights yes!
Tires, once the ice is here I like a studded tire, at least for the front. Sliding out with the rear is usually recoverable, but the front end is more difficult. A lugged tire on back gives usually enough traction. After about 4" of snow on road I have to ride in car tracks as they are doing the work of moving the snow aside. Don't know if I would recommend it to everyone, riding with cars has it's risks.
I have to use Ski-Doo boots, mitts (not gloves), even electric hand warmers, on colder days. (Worst ride last winter had wind chill of -46C, but am hoping this winter better)
Have you lost weight alex ?
I prepped mine by bringing it into the basement and attaching it to the trainer.
I like to road bicycle butt.. so much, I don't like to 'huff and puff–, even in popular 4, 8,๐ฎ or tenure ) cycles.
๐ค Remember and/or know the Alamo (and the political cycles of ILKS)!
Likely the former Price Point bicycle recyclers and supply, 1490 W. Walnut Parkway
Rancho Dominguez, CA- USA has been 'attacked' by price- raising Coalition ILKS and cyclists on black and white gravel bicycles! glk Condor cyclist in the salvage yard?
I have two sets of wheels for my gravel bike I use for winter riding and CX. After my last CX-race, mid-November, I'll put tyres with spikes on one set. So, when needed, I can switch my bike quickly for ice-winter we often have several weeks in SW Finland but I don't spoil the spiked tyres during the months of – what I call – Euro-winter with rain, mud and temperatures just above zero. On the other set of wheels I have either gravel or CX tyres, for the Euro-winter conditions ๐
I go different I ride (NY) avoiding the rain until about the end of the November. Then Im in on the indoor trainer till April. I hate riding in the wet and below freezing but funny enough I can run all year round.
Hello, which tyres do you use? In 28C.
How do you guys deal with your shifters/derailleurs icing up? when I leave my bike out after work and want to bike home, my shifters or my wires freeze up.