The first snow reminded us that winter is coming in full force. For many cyclists, this means the end of riding, while for others – another challenge and an opportunity to improve endurance and biking skills before the spring season begins. Here are some important tips on how to maintain your bike in conditions of snow, slush, mud, and moisture and to fully enjoy winter riding.

Keep your bike clean!

Riding in winter and snowy conditions can be extremely fun. The best maintenance advice for your bike at this time of year is to clean it after every ride! The inevitable buildup of dirt on the delicate components of the bike will wear them out faster. Believe me, cleaning will save you a lot of headaches and won’t take more than 10 minutes.

Weldtite produces the most complete and innovative range of bike maintenance products, with their series including comprehensive solutions for quick cleaning. The Weldtite brush set includes a brush for cleaning the bike frame and tires, a brush suitable for cleaning the chain and gears, and a fine brush suitable for cleaning harder-to-reach places like brakes and spokes. Combine them with a professional cleaner for the best results.

Protect the drivetrain!

Salt and chemicals used to treat roads in winter are highly corrosive. Pay special attention to your bike’s drivetrain, because otherwise the inevitable repair and replacement will cost you dearly. Always clean the chain before lubricating it. The chain cleaning device, together with the high-quality Weldtite Dirtwash degreaser, will make your task as easy as child’s play.

Rust on the chain is one of the biggest nightmares for a cyclist. The appearance of rust not only compromises the chain’s performance but also greatly reduces its lifespan and increases the chance of breakage. KMC offers an intelligent solution to this problem with their Rustbuster series chains, coated with zinc and chrome, guaranteeing hundreds of times greater protection against rust.

After thoroughly cleaning the drivetrain and degreasing the chain, it is important to lubricate it again with a lubricant suitable for the season. Weldtite TF2 Extreme synthetic oil is an exceptionally moisture-resistant lubricant that stays on the chain in wet weather conditions even during the longest rides.

Let there be light!

Whether you ride your mountain bike to work or for its intended purpose in the mountains, lights and taillights are extremely important during the winter season when the amount of natural light is limited and the days get shorter. Our advice is to equip yourself with the best lights you can afford. The Blackburn DAYBLAZER front light with an impressive 1100 lumens for its size, mounted on the handlebar, is a great idea even for riding on mountain trails, but if you really want to turn night into day, we also recommend a good helmet light, such as the Sigma Sport Buster 700 HL. A rear light like the Blackburn DAYBLAZER 65 is also essential to be visible even during daylight hours.

Traction, traction, traction!

In winter riding conditions, the need for good tires becomes even more apparent! Whether you ride on snow and mud in the mountains or head home on potentially wet and slippery asphalt, to achieve maximum traction in winter, it is best if your tires are made of soft rubber compounds and definitely have preserved tread.

Another factor to consider when riding in winter is tire pressure. The higher the pressure, the less traction, and vice versa – the lower the pressure, the better the traction. It’s up to you to find the golden mean – good traction and minimal risk of punctures.

Fenders for flair!

Front fenders are a great idea when it comes to mountain biking. Don’t get us wrong – most fenders won’t keep you clean, but they will protect your fork stanchions, preserving their good function, and prevent mud from splashing in your face, allowing you to be faster on the trail.

Zefal offers many solutions for your mountain bike, including universal fenders that can be mounted front or rear and feature unique mounting systems and modern design.