Related reading<\/h4>\n- Buyer\u2019s guide to winter road bikes | What to look for in a winter bike<\/a><\/li>\n
- Best winter cycling clothing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Buyer\u2019s guide to mudguards\/fenders<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Get it serviced<\/h2>\n ![\""Seal\"]( "\\"\"Seal\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Seal those cables with new end caps to keep out the muck.<\/span><\/figcaption> Neil Godwin \/ Immediate Media Ltd<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nThere\u2019s a lot you can do yourself to keep your bike running smoothly. We\u2019ve outlined the key parts to take care of and how to go about it<\/a>. Some servicing is easy to do, while other jobs may require specialist tools. We\u2019ve a run-down of the most commonly used tools<\/a> and what they\u2019re used for.<\/p>\nTo start, your gear and brake cables<\/a> need to be kept lubricated so that they run smoothly in their outers. If you\u2019ve got external cable runs, you might be able to pop the outers out of their stops and re-lube the inner cables, although lubing internal cables is more tricky.<\/p>\nInspect for wear and replace the inners and outers<\/a> if necessary. Fitting end caps to your cable outers or replacing old ones will increase weather resistance.<\/p>\nHeadset bearings<\/a>, particularly the lower one, are in the line of road spray, so keep them well lubricated to keep water out.<\/p>\nWant to go further? Bottom brackets<\/a>, hubs, shifters<\/a> and brake pivots can all benefit from some TLC.<\/p>\nIf all that sounds upper-division, book your bike into your local bike shop for a pre-winter service.<\/p>\n
Sort your tyres<\/h2>\n ![\""Puncture\"]( "\\"\"Puncture\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Fixing punctures in winter sucks even more than usual.<\/span><\/figcaption> BikeRadar<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nYou will often see more riders by the side of the road fixing punctures come winter. This is due to a number of reasons \u2013 after a summer of cycling, your tyres might be wearing a bit thin, increasing the risk of a flat, plus increased rain in winter tends to wash more debris into the road, increasing the potential for punctures further.<\/p>\n
A heavier-duty set of winter tyres<\/a> may add a bit of weight, but they\u2019ll be better able to withstand sharp-edged grit and thorns. They\u2019ll also typically have a more pronounced tread, to increase grip on wet leaf mush or other loose surfaces.<\/p>\n ![\""Adding\"]( "\\"\"Adding\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Going tubeless on your winter road bike makes a lot of sense.<\/span><\/figcaption> David Caudery \/ Immediate Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\nIt\u2019s also worth considering setting your tyres up tubeless<\/a>. Many newer bikes will have tubeless-ready wheels and your tyres might be tubeless-ready too, so it might be easy to convert.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s a bit of expense in buying tubeless valves and sealant, and you\u2019ll need to check and top up sealant periodically. But you\u2019ll be able to ditch your inner tubes<\/a>, saving you the ongoing expense, and the sealant should drastically reduce the chances of getting a flat.<\/p>\nTubeless tyres are usually a bit heavier-built than summer tubed tyres too, so they\u2019re more resistant to penetration. Keep an eye on your tyres, keep them properly inflated and check for damage or embedded debris.<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Get it serviced<\/h2>\n ![\""Seal\"]( "\\"\"Seal\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Seal those cables with new end caps to keep out the muck.<\/span><\/figcaption> Neil Godwin \/ Immediate Media Ltd<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nThere\u2019s a lot you can do yourself to keep your bike running smoothly. We\u2019ve outlined the key parts to take care of and how to go about it<\/a>. Some servicing is easy to do, while other jobs may require specialist tools. We\u2019ve a run-down of the most commonly used tools<\/a> and what they\u2019re used for.<\/p>\nTo start, your gear and brake cables<\/a> need to be kept lubricated so that they run smoothly in their outers. If you\u2019ve got external cable runs, you might be able to pop the outers out of their stops and re-lube the inner cables, although lubing internal cables is more tricky.<\/p>\nInspect for wear and replace the inners and outers<\/a> if necessary. Fitting end caps to your cable outers or replacing old ones will increase weather resistance.<\/p>\nHeadset bearings<\/a>, particularly the lower one, are in the line of road spray, so keep them well lubricated to keep water out.<\/p>\nWant to go further? Bottom brackets<\/a>, hubs, shifters<\/a> and brake pivots can all benefit from some TLC.<\/p>\nIf all that sounds upper-division, book your bike into your local bike shop for a pre-winter service.<\/p>\n
Sort your tyres<\/h2>\n ![\""Puncture\"]( "\\"\"Puncture\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Fixing punctures in winter sucks even more than usual.<\/span><\/figcaption> BikeRadar<\/i><\/span><\/div>\nYou will often see more riders by the side of the road fixing punctures come winter. This is due to a number of reasons \u2013 after a summer of cycling, your tyres might be wearing a bit thin, increasing the risk of a flat, plus increased rain in winter tends to wash more debris into the road, increasing the potential for punctures further.<\/p>\n
A heavier-duty set of winter tyres<\/a> may add a bit of weight, but they\u2019ll be better able to withstand sharp-edged grit and thorns. They\u2019ll also typically have a more pronounced tread, to increase grip on wet leaf mush or other loose surfaces.<\/p>\n ![\""Adding\"]( "\\"\"Adding\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Going tubeless on your winter road bike makes a lot of sense.<\/span><\/figcaption> David Caudery \/ Immediate Media <\/i><\/span><\/div>\nIt\u2019s also worth considering setting your tyres up tubeless<\/a>. Many newer bikes will have tubeless-ready wheels and your tyres might be tubeless-ready too, so it might be easy to convert.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s a bit of expense in buying tubeless valves and sealant, and you\u2019ll need to check and top up sealant periodically. But you\u2019ll be able to ditch your inner tubes<\/a>, saving you the ongoing expense, and the sealant should drastically reduce the chances of getting a flat.<\/p>\nTubeless tyres are usually a bit heavier-built than summer tubed tyres too, so they\u2019re more resistant to penetration. Keep an eye on your tyres, keep them properly inflated and check for damage or embedded debris.<\/p>\n
![\""Seal\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2019\/03\/winterize_bike_6a-1466095306406-1uf8daswuxi4u-17f0de6-e1576844875416.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Seal\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>There\u2019s a lot you can do yourself to keep your bike running smoothly. We\u2019ve outlined the key parts to take care of and how to go about it<\/a>. Some servicing is easy to do, while other jobs may require specialist tools. We\u2019ve a run-down of the most commonly used tools<\/a> and what they\u2019re used for.<\/p>\n To start, your gear and brake cables<\/a> need to be kept lubricated so that they run smoothly in their outers. If you\u2019ve got external cable runs, you might be able to pop the outers out of their stops and re-lube the inner cables, although lubing internal cables is more tricky.<\/p>\n Inspect for wear and replace the inners and outers<\/a> if necessary. Fitting end caps to your cable outers or replacing old ones will increase weather resistance.<\/p>\n Headset bearings<\/a>, particularly the lower one, are in the line of road spray, so keep them well lubricated to keep water out.<\/p>\n Want to go further? Bottom brackets<\/a>, hubs, shifters<\/a> and brake pivots can all benefit from some TLC.<\/p>\n If all that sounds upper-division, book your bike into your local bike shop for a pre-winter service.<\/p>\n You will often see more riders by the side of the road fixing punctures come winter. This is due to a number of reasons \u2013 after a summer of cycling, your tyres might be wearing a bit thin, increasing the risk of a flat, plus increased rain in winter tends to wash more debris into the road, increasing the potential for punctures further.<\/p>\n A heavier-duty set of winter tyres<\/a> may add a bit of weight, but they\u2019ll be better able to withstand sharp-edged grit and thorns. They\u2019ll also typically have a more pronounced tread, to increase grip on wet leaf mush or other loose surfaces.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth considering setting your tyres up tubeless<\/a>. Many newer bikes will have tubeless-ready wheels and your tyres might be tubeless-ready too, so it might be easy to convert.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a bit of expense in buying tubeless valves and sealant, and you\u2019ll need to check and top up sealant periodically. But you\u2019ll be able to ditch your inner tubes<\/a>, saving you the ongoing expense, and the sealant should drastically reduce the chances of getting a flat.<\/p>\n Tubeless tyres are usually a bit heavier-built than summer tubed tyres too, so they\u2019re more resistant to penetration. Keep an eye on your tyres, keep them properly inflated and check for damage or embedded debris.<\/p>\nSort your tyres<\/h2>\n
![\""Puncture\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2020\/01\/puncture-in-winter-de7aba7.gif?quality=90&resize=439%2C293"\" "\\"\"Puncture\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Adding\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/21\/2020\/06\/CYP359_tubeless_step_4_preview-86d43b1.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Adding\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>