How To Winterize Your Bike: Prepare For The Cold

Make sure you and your bike are ready to brace this winter. If your hitting the slippery trails , or riding down the icy roads, with a little preparation, and the right products to hand, you can enjoy riding throughout the cold months , with reassurance that you and your bike are fully prepared.

Whether it’s cleaning your bike, or purchasing new parts and nice warm attire for yourself, after reading, you will know exactly what to do and ride through winter head-on!

Choosing the right Tyres for your winter explorations is crucial. Winter roads are often Slippery, wet and can be icy depending on the month. Depending on your favoured biking style, here is a breakdown of advice, and the best tyres to suit your ride of choice.

Road Tyres

Better grip on the roads gives you better control. Look out for tyres that claim to withstand extreme conditions, to give you complete reassurance on the roads. Slightly wider tyres are perfect for winter road biking as they give you more contact with the floor , giving you better control. Visibility is also a key feature to look out for, some tyres may have reflective sidewalls that will help you stay seen when the winter darkness shadows.

Mountain Bike Tyres

When winter hits the dynamic of the trails changes drastically. What was once dry and grippy is now wet and muddy. Having the right mountain bike tyres for winter is crucial. Traction is super important, your tyres will be the only thing that will keeping you upright so they need to be practical. The grippier the tyre the better. Wider tyres will also provide a larger contact patch, improving your stability. With the right tyres, you don’t need to be put off by the weather.

Winter means more unpredictable riding conditions, with rough and slippery roads, and dark mornings and evenings, making sure your bikes key safety features are working properly is crucial. Inspect your break pads as grit can wear them down quickly. Make sure your lights are bright , reliable and quick and easy to charge. Reflective tape or accessories can massively improve visibility aiding to your overall safety.

Taking the focus off just your bike for a second, you deserve to be looked after during winter too. As it gets colder, the layers get thicker, invest in some waterproof’s and thermal layers. Staying warm, comfortable and dry, will help you maintain your focus on the bike, without having to worry about getting wet or the fact your freezing cold! And it’s not just about warmth and staying dry, making sure your visible is key in winter.

Troy Lee Designs Descent Waterproof Jacket

Stay Warm

Staying warm throughout winter is super important for your health and safety. Wearing the right layering can prevent extremities such as hypothermia. Your fingers, toes, ears and your nose lose heat very quickly. Coldness can cause numbness and stiffness of the muscles. This could cause you to find it difficult to brake or even steer if you aren’t wearing the correct layering. Staying warm will keep your muscles working properly , improving your focus and overall performance. Wearing a thermal base-layer for longer rides ,and an insulating layer such as a fleece or thermal jersey , will trap heat inside to keep you warm. Finally topping it off with an outer layer jacket.

Shop additional Warmer’s

Stay Dry

Staying dry during winter riding is very important for keeping you warm, comfortable and safe. Wet clothes make you colder, you lose the ability to trap heat, the moisture cools your skin, and the chills kick in. Sounds awful, right ?

Staying dry can also help you stay focused and more alert. When your soaking wet, it’s hard to really focus on anything else. Staying dry will retain your focus , and allow you to smash your winter riding, no matter the weather.

Don’t let winter stop your riding , prep smart, dress warm and carry on with your chilling thrills.