Winter Bike Maintenance
In winter, make sure your tyres are in good shape, changing a flat with frozen fingers is no fun.
Common Knowledge
In winter, make sure your tyres are in good shape, changing a flat with frozen fingers is no fun. Also, run a heavier chain lube than you do in summer – I like Pedro’s Ice Wax, 60ml (R60, 011 627 5080 pedros.com) – and reapply it whenever you wash the bike or the drivetrain sounds dry. Because you lube the rollers, not the links, you can hear a dry chain before you see it – a smooth-running bike is nearly silent.
Uncommon Wisdom
You can wash a bike in winter, but be sure to wear rubber gloves to keep your hands dry and warm. I cut a water bottle in half and pour degreaser into it. Then, using a two-inch-wide paintbrush, I paint degreaser onto the chain, chainrings, deraileurs, brakes and other moving parts.
I like Pedor’s Oranj Peelz, get the Pedro’s Bike Care Kit that includes, a bike polish, degreaser, chain-cleaning brush and lube (R350). Paint it on, then fill a bucket with warm, soapy water (dish soap is fine) while the degreaser works for a few minutes. Rinse off the degreaser completely with a hose, then wash the bike with warm, soapy water. Rinse it again, then put it inside to dry. Then lube all the parts on your bike that move.
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