Published on 04-12-2024

How can you prepare yourself as a cyclist for winter conditions?

Does your bike need winter maintenance?

'Pay attention to the brake cables. If there is moisture in them, they will freeze and you will not be able to brake. This can also happen while cycling, for example if your bike has been in a warm shed. How can you prevent this? Remove the cables and lubricate them. Regular chain oil is fine. This prevents them from getting damp and freezing. If you see that the cables are rusty, it is better to replace them. Rust makes them run less smoothly.'

And your chain?
'Lubricate your chain well. But do not clean your chain. That will cause more trouble than benefit. There is a good chance that you will wash away more grease when you polish it than you will get back on it later. And often you push the dirt into the links when you polish it, which makes the chain wear out even faster. The best thing is to lubricate each link with a drop of oil. There is chain oil for dry and wet conditions. Ask the bike mechanic for chain oil for wet conditions. It stays in place best in the winter. If you have to buy a different chain, get a stainless steel or rust-resistant chain. Then you have already ruled out a source of dirt - rust.'

What should you do with your electric bike in the winter?
‘Batteries don’t like freezing temperatures. So store batteries in a frost-free place.’ According to Bosch, you should let the battery reach room temperature before charging it.

Cars increasingly have winter tires. They are also available for bicycles. Is it of any use to you?
Winter tires give significantly more grip on a snowy road than a regular tire. Users report that it also works very well in the rain. Buying two extra tires for the winter may be a bit expensive. You can also make do with one tire. The grip of the front wheel is the most important thing. If that slips, you can easily fall. So if you don’t want to spend too much, a winter tire on your front wheel is also fine.

Are studded tyres even better?
‘Tires with studs are only useful when you have to cycle on ice, i.e. black ice. On a clean road surface, the tyres make a lot of noise, they wear out quickly and you have to pedal harder. You could put them on your bike on black ice, but that is of course a lot of hassle. If you really find icy roads annoying, you could equip an old spare bike with studded tyres.’

What can you do if you don’t have winter or studded tyres?
Riding with soft tyres
‘If it is slippery, you can let some air out of the tyres, then the tyres are wider and you have more grip. Most people don’t have to do that. Almost all Dutch people ride with tyres that are too soft.’
Lowering the saddle
‘Another tip that costs nothing is to lower the saddle. Then you can always put your feet on the ground when you are in danger of falling.’
Read the road surface
‘You have to read the road surface when cycling. If paving stones or asphalt are glistening, there is a good chance that there is a layer of ice. Be careful at bridges, the road surface always freezes sooner there. And keep enough distance from the edge. There is often ice or frozen snow along the edges of the road.’

Any more tips?
If you have ridden through brine, rinse your bike with water. This prevents a lot of rust.
If your lock is difficult to open, us a lockspray. Lubrication should actually be done preventively.
If your bike has been outside, there may also be a layer of ice on the rim, which means you can no longer brake properly with a rim brake. So check when you ride away. Remove the ice by braking lightly for a while or scrape it off with a plastic card.
You can defrost a frozen lock with a heated key (you must have a lighter at hand) or by blowing warm air into it and heating the lock with your hands.
A frozen saddle with frost or sleet is also a problem. A saddle cover not only helps against rain but also against frost and ice on your saddle (just like foil on a car window).
In winter, the sun is low. Polaroid sunglasses are especially useful in winter to prevent the annoying reflection of the sun on the road surface.
Cycle on gritted cycle paths. To find out where gritting is taking place, click here. Plan your route and select 'More options' - Gritting routes.