Winter comes every year but it still takes people by surprise. Not wrapping up your bike, or yourself, will end in a worn-out groupset and worn out legs.
We’ve put together a little guide with some ideas of what to pay extra attention to.
How to prepare your bike for winter cycling
1. Fit some mudguards
Mudguards aren’t cool in some parts, but we know of plenty of clubs that wouldn’t let you ride without full mudguards after October
A full-length set of mudguards will work best, saving you and your kit from excess wear.
Read our full review of the SKS Speedrocker mudguards shown above here
Alternatively, read our complete guide to the best mudguards available
2. Swap your tyres for wider and more puncture resistant models
When the roads are slippy you want your tyres to be grippy, and they don’t come much more grippy than these Schwalbe One TLE models. They’re not cheap, but they’re likely to be longest-lasting.
Plus you can set them up tubeless: Rolling with a generous squirt of sealant inside, they’ll be able to seal most punctures before you even know they’re there.
They aren’t too heavy, so there’s still some joy to be had from them. Get them in a wide size and you’ll be ready to roll through the worst winter conditions.
Read our full Schwalbe One TLE tyres review here
Or head over to our complete guide to winter tyres here
3. Get some lights
Even if you don't plan on staying out after dark, the clocks changing make it increasingly likely you'll find yourself caught out at some point.
And as not having lights after sunset is both dangerous and illegal, it makes sense to leave a set permanently attached to your bike over the winter.
We're big fans of this Lezyne Hecto Drive 500XL/Strip Drive Light Set. Its front light will pump out 500 lumens from a very neat package and will last up to 20 hours on the lowest setting.
Equally quick to attach and compatible with aero-seat posts, the Strip Drive's five LEDs sit in an IPX7 waterproof case. Offering up to 270° of visibility and a 150-lumen output will ensure you get seen by any cars approaching from behind.
It's even bright enough to use as a daytime running light – perfect for gloomy mornings or when riding into low winter sunshine.
Read our buyers guide to the best winter bike lights
4. Stay on top of cleaning
Unsurprisingly, grim weather will make your bike accumulate dirt quicker. This means it’s important to clean it regularly. Salt from the road can be a particular killer, so after each wet ride, try to at least give it a quick hose down, followed by treatment with some water-dispersant spray and a re-lube of the chain.
This will help everything last longer and avoid rust. A nicely polished bike will also be more inclined to shed dirt the next time it’s ridden too.
A set like Muc-Off's 8-in-1 bicycle cleaning kit includes all the brushes you might need, plus bike-specific cleaning fluid and finishing spray.
You can read our full guide to cleaning and detailing your bike here
5. Be prepared for an increased number of mechanicals
Even if you do go tubeless, punctures are more likely in winter as the rain washes foreign bodies on to the side of the road, where they’re primed to bring misery.
A decent-sized waterproof saddlebag is your best friend when carting around all the relevant tools and inner tubes to prevent you getting caught short.
This waterproof Topeak Wedge saddlebag even has an integrated light loop for and is quick to remove.
You can read our guide on how to pack your saddlebag like a pro here
5. Keep an eye on your cables...
It's amazing how far water and dirt can penetrate your bike during a wet, muddy ride. Even sealed-in components such as brake and gear cables can suffer after a good soaking, affecting your ability to stop or shift in a timely fashion.
The liners in Jagwire's Road Elite brake and gear cable set will help keep cables clean while the compression-less construction boosts braking power and shifting accuracy.
You can learn how to fit them with our tutorial here
6. And your drivetrain...
Your bike’s drivetrain will suffer more in the winter. Whether from rain or salt on the road, it’ll both get muckier and dry out quicker. One solution is to change to a thicker ‘wet’ condition chain lube such as Finishline's Cross County wet lube, £3,99 for 60ml from Wiggle.
While this can work if you’re lazy, doing so will soon see your drivetrain get black and gunky. A better solution is to clean regularly with a dedicated chain cleaning device and simply apply your regular lube a bit more frequently.
Of the bunch we group tested, Pedro's won our vote, largely by dint of looking like a little pink pig.
