In winter, when temperatures drop below zero and the ground is frozen, bicycles are often put to the test. This doesn't mean, however, that one must put their vehicle away in the garage and await the arrival of spring: those who love two wheels can confidently choose to pedal in all seasons, but clearly, they will need to pay particular attention to the winter maintenance of the bike. In this article we therefore give you some practical tips to avoid running into problems on your bike, even in the case of cold, rain, and snow.

Bike maintenance: the brakes

The brakes are one of the first things to check when performing winter bike maintenance: when it rains or snows, in fact, the brake pads are at greater risk of wear. This happens because on rainy or snowy days, the bike rims when wet, collect more dirt which also deposits on the braking tracks.

When you brake, the pads press on the braking tracks and the dirt on them causes faster wear. For this reason, it is advisable to check their wear status a little more frequently than usual. To do this, in addition to testing the braking readiness during use, it is good to verify that the grooves on the pads are clearly visible, a bit like when you check car tire wear.

If the grooves are no longer visible, the pads must be replaced. Things change if you have a mountain bike with disc brakes, or a bike with drum brakes (these are particularly widespread in Northern Europe). Both types of brakes are not influenced by weather conditions.

Bike maintenance: the chain

In addition to the brakes, another part sensitive to winter conditions is the chain, which in bicycles with a gearshift, suffers accelerated wear in wet and dirty conditions. For this reason, it is recommended to clean and oil it at least once a week in case of rain or snow.

In general, to understand if the chain is greased enough, just touch it lightly with a finger or a cloth: if it leaves no oil mark, it's time to oil it! It is not advisable to use grease because it mixes with dirt, while specific bike chain lubricants are more suitable. There are two types: liquid and spray, but the former ensures a more precise application, avoiding waste of the product. Before oiling the chain, however, it is necessary to clean it from dirt with a metal brush. The lubricants on the market are also divided by atmospheric usage condition: dry (dry lube) and wet (wet lube).

Finally, in case you find yourself facing icy conditions and heavy snow, there are also studded tires, perfect for increased grip on the ground. In general, regular maintenance of your bike is always recommended, not just in winter, but in all seasons.

Now that you know how to best maintain your bike, how about taking a winter trip? On Cyclando.com you will find hundreds of bike routes available year-round: you just need to enter the month you want to travel in the calculator and discover the best destinations for that period. Click and ride!