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Winter weather conditions are very different from other seasons. And if you do not plan to part with your bike until spring, you need to carefully prepare. All the features of winter riding are due to low temperatures, snow and ice. In the city, the streets are also sprinkled with all sorts of chemicals and sand, from which not only shoes deteriorate, but also the transmission is eaten up faster. Therefore, an important aspect will be not only the choice of tires for the winter, but also the constant cleaning and lubrication of the transmission.
Features of winter riding are due to the fact that the type of coverage is constantly changing throughout each section of the road (loose snow, rolled snow, open ice, bare asphalt) ... Therefore, the grip of the coated tire is constantly different. Whereas on shallow, loose snow, the ride feels similar to slightly damp forest ground, on ice the rubber turns into skis.
The most important thing for safe riding is choosing the right rubber. It is best if it is studded with metal spikes. There are tires with factory studs on sale, they are made correctly, the studs are securely fixed, they do not push the camera, but it is not cheap, and not everyone can afford it. Such rubber can be made independently by screwing self-tapping screws between the tread (from the inside to the outside). The disadvantages of homemade rubber are less reliability and more weight. Self-tapping screws should protrude from the tire no more than 2mm, and for two-row rubber there should be about 150 pieces, for four-row rubber - about 300 pieces. On such rubber you can go on the ice already. It should be noted that the weight of such tires makes your bike significantly heavier. For riding on rolled snow, you can use another device - screeds. They are tightened on the tire at a distance of 5-10 cm, alternating the sides (right and left), from which the tie lock is tightened. The lock should be on the edge of the tire. They are less reliable than spikes, but making such a tire is much faster, it is lighter in weight, and if you did not ride for a very long time, you can use the tire by removing the ties. If you do not ride on the road, you can simply choose a high quality bicycle rubber with a large tread. Cheap rubber will quickly lose its elasticity, the snow will be packed into the tread and it will simply turn into a slick.
In the cold, the grease thickens in the bearings, so they run worse and the load on them increases. The lubrication in the suspension fork also changes its properties, the fork performs significantly worse and may just behave as stiff. Speed ​​selectors are also exposed to low temperatures and the springs will not work well. It is desirable to use them less. Also, snow or frost collects on the cables, which, when shifting speeds, can get into the cable shirts, melt from friction, and then freeze at rest, for this you need to thoroughly lubricate the bike.
Separately, you need to pay attention to the brakes. In winter, disc brakes are optimal for safety. Adding to the bike, snow behaves like mud in summer, on the rim it forms a film of water, the pads will simply slide over it. If you use rim brakes, be sure to warm up the pads more often by braking, so the water film will evaporate faster. There are no problems with disc brakes, even if the rotor is covered with snow.
Roads and sidewalks are sprinkled with chemical salts and sand, these are reagents that are harmful to the transmission, which, when hit, have a bad effect on metals and greatly accelerate wear. If you do not want to frequently change the chain and sprockets, it is better to choose a better fit for the winter, and regularly take care of it, as a result, it will be cheaper and the ride comfort will be higher.


And finally, safety rules if you have entered the area with ice. It is better to simply overcome this area by relaxing and not making sudden movements (do not twist the pedals, do not twist your head and body, do not brake, do not try to turn). In general, if you do not have studded tires and do not want to stretch out on the ice with your bike, it is always better to go around the ice.
From the above, some may conclude that it is better not to use a bike at all in winter. Riding a bike in winter is great! Otherwise, you deprive yourself of the pleasure of a unique ride, healthy pastime, beautiful winter landscapes! You just need to prepare for this process and be ready to pay more attention to your faithful two-wheeled friend!

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