How to prepare your bike for the winter

Do you want to reward your two-wheeler and give it what it needs to serve you reliably for many more seasons? Let's look at advice and tips on how to maintain a bicycle in winter. Regardless of whether you put it away for the winter and take it out again in the spring, or you treat yourself to winter rides, do not underestimate post-season care.

Cleaning and maintenance of the bike

A good habit that you can adopt is to wash the bike from deposits of mud and dirt after every ride. However, at the end of the season, be a little more thorough.

First, carefully clean all the nooks and crannies on the frame and around the individual components, so that there is no mud and dirt. An excellent tool is the bike cleaning kit, which includes brushes specially adapted for cleaning the frame, cassettes and chain. In combination with special bike care products, it will be easier.

MUZIKER TIP:
Get an effective bicycle cleaner for the frame and especially a bike chain cleaner, which effectively removes even heavy dirt from the chain.

Don't forget to dry the washed and cleaned bike with an absorbent cloth so that there is no moisture left.

Chain and cassette cleaning and maintenance

Special care must be taken when cleaning the chain. Without having to take it down, you can efficiently wash it with a chain cleaning machine.

When you clean it properly, don't forget to wipe it dry and lubricate it. First, however, check whether it is not worn out. A chain checker will help you with this. If you find something missing, replace the chain with a new one.

Stubborn dirt often sticks to the gears of the cassette and chainrings. A cassette and chainring cleaner will help you remove it effectively.

MUZIKER TIP:
For the bike chain that will be resting all winter, use wet lubrication which will protect it from possible corrosion.

Cleaning and maintenance of discs

If you have a bicycle with disc brakes, don't forget to take care of the discs as well. Clean them thoroughly and remove grease. Use a good quality degreaser. Also, don't forget to check the brake pads and if they are past their prime, replace them with new ones.

Cleaning and maintenance of the fork and rear shock absorber

The fork and shock on suspension bikes are sensitive mechanisms. If they require service, leave them in the hands of a professional. However, at home, do not forget to remove dirt from these parts as well.

Lubrication of moving parts

A bicycle is a moving machine, and therefore it is very important that everything moves smoothly. To lubricate bearings, wheel bearings and headsets, use Motorex Bike Grease 2000 – highly water-repellent and pressure-resistant grease.

A grease gun will come in handy for lubricating hard-to-reach places.

When to service the bike?

If you belong to active cyclists, your bike may have worn out parts after each season, such as a worn out chain, disc brake pads or tires. It is best if you take care of everything before winter storage. Thanks to this, your bike will be ready for the first spring kilometres as soon as the sun comes out.

If you also cycle during the winter, do not underestimate regular complex maintenance – carry it out at least once a year. This way, you will ensure that your bike will not only be functional, but you will also have an overview of the condition of the individual components.

MUZIKER TIP:
Do not delay replacing worn out components. Replace them the moment you notice that something is getting old.

How and where to store a bike?

The ideal place to store the bike is a dry place with a constant temperature that does not fall below 19 °C.

However, not everyone has the opportunity to store a bicycle in an apartment. In other storage areas, such as basements, damp environment can be particularly problematic.

If you want to prevent rust or mould, treating the bike with a layer of silicone oil will help. Use it also on the rubber seals on the shocks, so they don't crack.

You can just lean the bike somewhere against the wall, but it is safer, and often more space-efficient, to use a bike rack or stand.

Special care should also be given to the tires. If you don't want them to deteriorate, make sure that the bike doesn't stand on flat tires. Before putting them away, fully inflate them and check them once a month.

This way, your bike is perfectly prepared not only for winter sleep, but also for happy winter kilometres. Prepare for next season in advance.