Posted by Paul Hoyle on 18th Dec 2024
Drop into the New Year with confidence!
1- Ensure you keep your MTB clean
Ensure you regularly clean your mountain bike, we recommend using a hose pipe and MTB - specific cleaning products to protect against corrosion. Avoid using a jet wash when cleaning your mountain bike to protect and maintain the health of bearing seals.
We have a range of cleaning products available here
2 - Go tubeless!
An excellent choice to avoid getting stuck in a wet muddy trail changing an inner tube. Tubeless offers excellent protection for your MTB from punctures when the trail isn't dry and predictable, and the wet winter months cause your line to falter. We have a wide range of tubeless products here.
3 - Lube your chain
Ensure your MTB chain is cleaned and lubed using the correct lubricant for your weather conditions to maintain the lifespan of your drivetrain. For winter months a wet lubricant is usually the best to apply available here. However refer to your local trail conditions.
4 - Light up the trail
Wherever you are riding this winter, consider adding a pair of lights to your mountain bike and stay safe out there.
5 - Look out for tyre wear
Keep track of tyre wear and debris, to ensure you have maximum grip and traction through the wet winter months. Also ensure you are running the correct tyre for your trail conditions on your mountain bike, check out our range here.
6 - Fight the mud and protect components - add a mudguard
Consider adding a mudguard to your mountain bike, protect yourself, riders behind you are your components such as fork seals from excess mud spray. We have a wide range of MTB mudguards and sizes available here.
7 - Check your bolts
Ensure you regularly use a torque wrench to torque up bolts to the correct setting, please refer to your manufactures handbook for correct torque settings. Checking and torquing bolts on your MTB protects both the components on your mountain bike from damage and the rider from component failure.
8 - Consider a service
Riding in wet conditions can take its toll on your MTB components, especially the grease in areas such as the headset and bottom bracket. Consider booking your mountain bike in for a service if you suspect your bike requires extra attention - contact us and get your MTB booked in!
9 - Check your tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is essential to gain traction on the trail, heavier riders might find a higher tyre pressure such as 30 psi provides the optimal pressure. Whilst lighter riders might want to lower pressure to 20 psi on an MTB.
10 - Check your brake pads!
Over time, frequent braking causes brake pads to wear down. This wear poses a safety risk, as worn brake pads reduce braking performance. Riding with deteriorated brake pads can also harm other components of the braking system, like the rotor. Slippery winter conditions often lead to increased braking, making it essential to stay vigilant and regularly check your brake pads on your MTB and change them if needed. We have a range available here.
