WINTER RIDING
Each winter we discuss “WINTER RIDING”. There are a few tems I felt we should cover on this topic much like we did about a year ago. Repeating some lessons learned can sometimes be helpful. I hope this helps you.
.Even if you don’t ride during the winter, your bike can still be abused. . Moisture seeps everywhere, so be sure to lube the cables. Lube the chain more than when you’re riding so the links won’t rust.
Avoid storing your bike near a heater. It will dry out the tires. And keep it out of direct sunlight. The material used in bicycle tires breaks down faster when exposed to sunlight.
If your bike is made of steel try to keep it in a warm place all winter. In an unheated garage, the metal can get cold enough for condensation to form inside the tubing. That can cause rust. If your have one of the newer aluminum frames this is not as big an issue.
Try to hang your bike for storage over the winter. Setting on the tires can cause you a problem when you inflate them in the spring.
If you are still riding, here are some tips I’ve collected from year round riders. Stay seated. And keep your weight centered over the crank area. If your weight is too far back, your rear wheel will bog down. If your weight is in front of the crank area, your front wheel will plow down into the snow rather than skim through it.
Try to move the bike with your whole body. Steer wide when turning and twist your hips to make turns. It’s a lot like riding through gravel, as you’ll skid a little on turns.
Lower your tire pressure at least 10 psi below where you normally ride. Some riders lower tire pressure as much as 20 psi. The deeper the snow, the less tire pressure you need. The idea here is to maximize the amount of tire surface to keep you in control.
For most riders, the riding season is gone. So, as we discussed last month, it’s a great time to get the bike in to the bike shop for its annual tune-up. You can save some money this time of year as most bike shops are running Winter Tune-Up Specials. It’s also a good time to brush up on basic repair stuff, and make sure you are ready for spring Find a good Bicycle maintenance manual at your bike shop or at the library. Some bike shops have Winter Clinics that cover basic bike maintenance. And, as always, we recommend keeping those legs in shape by using your trainer or exerciser.