Lifestyle: mothball or drive through? Whether you give your bike a break in autumn and winter or keep pedaling - a quick bike check and some care is absolutely necessary these days.
1. Guarantee vision and visibility
The lighting system is in constant use during the darker months of the year, so commuters always drive with their lights on in the mornings and evenings. Achievements such as hub dynamo, double cabling and LED lamps turn the previously weak and defective bicycle lighting into a powerful, carefree lighting system. "Functional adaptations from automotive engineering such as daytime running lights, brake lights, high and low beams elevate cyclists to the status of equal road users today", explains Sebastian Göttling from the lighting manufacturer Busch & Müller (www.bumm.de). Retrofitting is quick. In addition, many bike dealers offer inexpensive updates. A general function check is sometimes even free of charge, for example at specialist shops participating in the Licht:Check campaign (www. Fahrrad-lichtcheck.de).
2. Improve traction and puncture protection
The risk of a flat tire tends to increase in autumn and winter. "In the twilight and darkness you often don't see shards or other tire killers early enough", points out René Marks from tire manufacturer Schwalbe. Protection is provided by puncture-proof tires such as the Schwalbe Marathon Plus (www.schwalbe.de).
Furthermore, tires only perform optimally with sufficient air pressure. "Everyday tires generally have the best running properties at an air pressure that is close to the maximum value specified on the tire sidewall", explains Marks. “On the other hand, if the road is slippery, you can let some air out. This increases the contact area and thus the traction of the tire.” However, the minimum value, which is also indicated on the tire sidewall, must never be fallen below.
By the way: Even if the wheel is not moved for a while, you should pay attention to the tire pressure. "A flat tire can cause kinks to crack", warns Marks and recommends inflating the tires to the specified maximum pressure before mothballing.
3. Check the brakes
A bicycle's brakes should work properly at all times of the year. Brake pads and rims should be replaced immediately when they are worn. A useful tip from Tobias Erhard from component manufacturer Sram (www.sram.com): "There are markings on the brake pads and rims that provide information about the degree of wear." It is best to leave such safety-relevant interventions to the experts, who are also happy to take over the complete autumn/winter check. For example, the association Service und Fahrrad e. V. (www.vsf.de/winterservice) offers a special winter check every year at a moderate off-season price.
4. Ensure a supple chain
Water in all its aggregate states as well as road dirt increase wear on the chain, which is noticeable at the latest through squeaking noises and the formation of rust. "These 'deficiencies' put a strain on the cyclist's nerves and material in equal measure," notes Dieter Schreiber, German spokesman for the lubricant company Finish Line (www.finishlineusa.com). Above all, according to Schreiber, the increased friction costs a lot of driving power. As a minimum treatment, the expert recommends regularly wiping the chain clean with an oily rag.
If you take your bike out of service in winter, you can treat the chain of links to a little more care - for example in the form of a thorough cleaning. "Special cleaning devices not only clean the chain, but also clean the entire cleaning process", says a happily Schreiber, who, by the way, has the inventors of this device in his program with the company Finish Line. “Simply fill the Chain Cleaner with some degreasing liquid, attach it to the chain and let the chain run through. If the link train is then lubricated as usual, smooth running and increased service life of the drive are guaranteed.”
5. Maintain functions
The immovable parts on the bike also need attention: where there is direct contact with bare metal, penetrating moisture can lead to contact corrosion - with the result that you can no longer get the seat post out of the frame. "Components such as seat posts, pedal threads or quick releases should therefore always be provided with a little grease or assembly paste", is the advice of Sram man Erhard. Moving parts like the shifter can use a little spray of oil from time to time. Erhard also points out that contact of the lubricant with brake pads, rims and brake discs should be avoided as much as possible.
If you heed these handful of care tips, you can spend the autumn and winter days in the saddle carefree and safely. The less the bike is exposed to the weather or moisture and dirt, the lower the maintenance effort. “Bikes like covered parking”, knows Andreas Hombach from street furniture specialist wsm (www.wsm.eu). Hombach has alternatives for cyclists who cannot offer their vehicle a dry roof in the form of a basement, garage or carport: "From the saddle cover for short-term parkers to our special bicycle garages, the accessories market offers clever solutions that keep the bike dry, safe and functional for longer." There are even folding garages that can be pulled over for child trailers, for example from the trailer specialist Croozer (www.croozer.de) for 39,95 euros.