Whatever you ride, winter will be hard on your bicycle

Most cyclists agree a good bicycle should be protected from the ravages of winter. It's how you achieve it that causes disagreement.

Mothballing an expensive bike in favour of a cheap hack while roads are covered in grime and salt is a school of thought considered perverse by those who don't believe in keeping things 'for best'. More importantly, one person's £500 winter bike is another person's year-round pride and joy.

Whichever camp you fall into, it pays to prepare for the months ahead. Winter is hard on a bicycle.

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Grit and road salt play havoc with both the appearance and efficiency of any bicycle used come rain or shine. Regular wet weather cycling washes away chain lubricant, and accumulated grit stuck to oiled components causes premature wear.

It's a ridiculously simple advice, but the best way of protecting a bicycle over the winter months is to give it a good wash at least once a week and keep components well lubricated.

There's a bewildering choice of specialist cleaning products on the market, but all you really need is a bucket of hot water, a squeeze of washing up liquid, a hand brush, can of WD40, chain oil and a handful of old rags.

Once you've washed and rinsed off the bike, WD40 does a good job of driving moisture out of components - just keep it away from tyres, rims (if you have calliper brakes) and discs. If you have disc brakes, it's worth investing in disc brake cleaning spray.

Protection for you and your bike - whatever the weather

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The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

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