4 Tips to Prepare Your Bike for Winter

November 17, 2021
Emily Owen

As the cold winter months draw in (apparently we just skipped autumn this year), there remains on the roads a set of hardy cyclists, undeterred by howling winds and frozen fingers. And if you’re thinking about joining them (a cracking idea by the way), you’ll be needing to get your two-wheeled steed prepped and ready.

With road safety week kicking off this week, there’s never been a better time to start thinking about how to stay safe out there. In fact, we’ve just launched our winter specials, offering half price labour on brake and tyre fitting, along with our winter service. We figured that choosing pedal power this winter shouldn’t break the bank. Why spend your hard earned money on bike maintenance, when you could be saving those pennies for more important things, like beer?

And - because sharing is caring - we also want to give you our top 4 tips to prep your steed for winter, just in case there are any budding mechanics out there who want to give some home maintenance a whirl. So whether you want to bring your bike in to get fettled, or have a go at home, this is what you should be looking out for.

1. Winter tyres.

With more debris getting blown about the place, coupled with damp conditions making it easier for it to ‘stick’ to your tyres, punctures can be an inevitable part of winter riding. But, gang, it doesn’t have to be that way!

Pop on a pair of puncture resistant tyres (in our workshops we swear by Schwalbe Marathons or Continental Gatorskins), and save yourself the frustration of a roadside puncture repair. With a layer of kevlar stopping pesky glass shards from ruining your ride, puncture proof tyres are the best thing you can do for yourself and sanity this season.

You’ll also want to think about whether you have adequate tread on your current tyres. If you’re riding with a slick, or semi-slick tread pattern, rear wheel slippage can be an issue when climbing. Depending on the kind of road you’re riding on, you may want to think about something with a larger grooved tread pattern.

2. Degrease your components.

Really, you should be giving your bike a quick hose or wipe down after each ride, regardless of the season. But let’s get real; who has time for that. However, in the winter months excess grit and grime will work its way into your drive train even more than usual, wearing down components at a faster rate. So in the interests of preserving your steed, we’d suggest giving your bike a degrease once a week.


It doesn’t need to take more than a few minutes, but a quick spray over the drive train with a degreaser (Muc-off do a great one) and wipe down with an old rag, will pay dividends in future, not to mention improve your ride. And should you want to go the whole hog and give your drivetrain a proper degrease, GCN has a handy YouTube tutorial to guide you along the way...

3. Use a wet chain lube.

Hearing a scratching sound on each pedal turn? Or just degreased your drivetrain? You’ll need to make sure it’s re-lubed, using wet lube for the winter months. A wet lube in the summer months will attract excess grease and grime straight onto your newly cleaned drivetrain. In winter, however, it ensures your chain stays lubricated in rainy conditions. Top brands we’d recommend? Again, Muc-off do a great wet lube, as do Fenwick and Finish Line.

4. Start flashing 👀

With the vast majority of fettle followers using their bikes to commute, our customers are mainly pedalling in well lit cities. If you’re able to see whilst riding under a street lamp’s glow, you may think bike lights are ‘a nice to have’. However, if you’ve ever hopped in the car on a rainy overcast night, you’ll know just how poorly visible the unlit cyclist can be. Although we may be able to see clearly outside on the street, when inside a vehicle, the driver’s visibility is greatly impaired.

With the dark creeping in earlier, and the weather increasingly dark and overcast, lights are essential for winter riding. And once again, you don’t need to spend huge amounts to stay safe. Amazon do a set for £10 which which are both rechargeable and easily removed. Or should you want to spend a little more (but still keep costs down), Cateye do a great set for just £20.


So there you have it, a bit of food for thought as you get your bike ready for winter. Pedalling through all seasons shouldn’t be costing you an arm and a leg, but there are a few tips and tricks you can do cheaply to stay safe out there.

See you on the road.

More useful how to posts

23 Jul
2021

How to: Improve Your Cycling Confidence

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more
23 Jul
2021

How To: Check Your Gears

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more
23 Jul
2021

5 Step Bike Safety Check

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more

More useful cycling posts

26 Aug
2021

Thinking of a cycling holiday in the UK? We've got you covered.

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more
26 Aug
2021

Myth Series (Part I): Motorists Misconceptions

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more
23 Jul
2021

5 Step Bike Safety Check

If your bike has been sitting in hibernation for a while, then chances are...
Read more

What our customers say

"Pick up, service and drop off done within 2 days when every other bike shop quoted me 6+ week waiting times."
- Liam J.
"Had my beloved bike serviced in 2 days when all other places had a 6-week waiting list... A gift to London Cyclists."

- Simona S
"It’s simple stuff but no-one else is doing it in the bike repair space… I’m telling everyone about them!"

- Tom L.
"Fantastic first time experience. Ridiculously simple to organise & collect from the workshop. Bike feels good as new!"

- Bhav V.
"They are the Dumbledore of bicycle wizardry!"

- Mohammed U.

Don't just take our word for it

Our customers are shouting from the rooftops about team fettle. We're changing bike repair in London for the better.

98% of customers have rated our London workshops 5* on Google

Get your bike back on the road in no time...