Is your bicycle ready for the cold weather? Many cyclists in colder climates know how thrilling a winter ride can be. Often, the freezing temperatures and frigid wind chills take your breath away. Snow and ice can make stepping outside an exhilarating event, but have you ever considered how cold weather affects your bicycle?
Your bicycle is always at risk to rust and corrosion, moisture, and dust, especially in winter weather. If you live where it snows, snow, ice, loose gravel and salt can do serious damage to your bicycle’s paint job, bodywork and braking system. Minor scratches and nicks on a bike’s frame can turn to rust. When a bicycle is stored or used in freezing and below weather, it needs extra care. Check out these tips for preparing and maintaining your bicycle for the cold:
- Before it gets too cold and after every use, clean your bicycle
After a long summer of wear and tear, simple things like washing your bike off with a hose or power washer and drying it can make a big difference. While cleaning the entire bicycle is important, pay special attention to the painted parts of the bike, in order to prevent corrosion. Then, add polish.
- Restore any damaged parts
Once your bike is clean and dry, repair any of its parts that may have become damaged during the summer. If needed, tighten the handlebars and seat, replace any broken reflectors, and check the breaks. Tighten the chain and oil it with 3-in-1 oil. Instead of using a lubricant like WD-40, use a true oil. A simple tune-up in the late Summer or early Fall can save a lot of headache in the Spring.
- Store it upside down and with a bicycle cover
One of the best places to store your bicycle is in a dry, relatively warm garage, away from the salt, water, and dirt. While garages can do a decent job at protecting your bike from the elements, more is required.
In order to keep the bike’s tires inflated, cyclists should hang their bicycle upside. Many cyclists drill a large, rubber hook into the ceiling of their garage to protect their bike’s tires.
Finally, whether or not you have shelter for your bike, invest in a bicycle cover. Often inexpensive, bicycle covers protect your prized possession from wind, water, corrosion, and rust—your bike’s greatest enemies. Simply putting your bike in the corner of the garage will not ensure its safety.
Fortunately, Zerust Bicycle Covers are woven with corrosion inhibiting formula to provide a VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) protection on the surface of your bicycle. Our bicycle covers fulfill all the traditional uses of a cover—protection from water and sun — but also provides a unique protection against rust and corrosion without intensive upkeep. In short, Zerust bicycle covers are the ultimate solution for seasonal bicycle storage.
