Winter Care for Your Mountain Bike

Winter riding wears a bike faster than any other season. A short cleaning routine and a bit of protection save expensive parts.

Wet, gritty trails and salted roads are hard on every part of a bike. Winter riding is worth it, but it needs a small change of routine so the wear stays cheap.

Clean sooner, not later

Mud and road salt dry onto a bike and start corrosion while it sits. If you can, rinse the bike soon after the ride with a gentle hose, not a pressure washer, and dry the chain and frame with a rag. A pressure washer drives water past seals into bearings, hubs and the bottom bracket, which is the opposite of what winter needs.

• Do: gentle rinse, wipe the chain, dry the frame.
• Do not: high-pressure spray near bearings or suspension.
• After salt: rinse as soon as you can; salt is aggressive.

Protect the drivetrain

The chain takes the worst of winter. Use a wet lube that lasts through rain, wipe it dry after each ride, and re-lube often. Consider a chain that is easy to remove so you can clean and re-lube it properly at home. A mudguard at the rear keeps spray off the shock and linkage, which helps both performance and longevity.

Winter does not kill bikes. Leaving salt and grit on them does.

Brakes and pads

Wet grit wears brake pads and rotors faster, so check pad thickness more often than in summer. Clean rotors with isopropyl alcohol and re-bed pads if braking feels weak. If you ride in freezing conditions, remember that some pad compounds work better when warm, and a first hard stop or two helps.

Tyres and traction

Winter tyres with a taller, softer compound tread give up some speed for a lot more grip on wet roots and mud. Run slightly lower pressure than in summer, but not so low that you pinch-flat on hidden rocks; tubeless setup helps here because it tolerates lower pressure without pinch flats.

Storage

Store the bike dry and off the ground if you can, in a place that is not freezing. Lubricate cables and pivots, and give the chain a fresh coat of lube before storage. Charge or remove electronic batteries, and check tyre pressure before the next ride, because a bike left in the cold will lose pressure.

Ten minutes after each winter ride keeps the expensive parts working and makes spring a pleasure rather than a repair bill.

Frequently asked questions