5 top tips for preparing your bike for winter - video

I've had water (and grit) find it's way into my winter wheel's freehub and bearings, and into my bottom bracket bearings this winter, resulting in some alarming squeaking noises. It's not happened in previous years but I guess I have done more wet weather 'leisure' rides this winter.

I've now invested in some marine grease and applied under bearing covers and caps in the hope that it keeps the water out.

Hang it up in the garage or connect it to turbo and cycle indoors till the cold, wet weather has gone

Wider rubber at lower pressures and I swap to a weatherproof saddle (usually ride a Brooks). Mudguards are on year-round anyway, as were dyno lights when I was commuting

Most of the other winter changes/investment are in a seemingly futile quest to keep myself dry/warm...

tackling "country dark", my winter bike ran a SON dynamo set, a Candbeseen battery set, and various front and rear rechargeables on the bars, bar ends, saddle pack, rack plus helmet,spokes  and my right ankle. 

marathon plus tyres (for I am Spartacus)

I live in London . Ride the same bike same set up all year round . I never ride in the rain unless I get caught out in it  I’m fortunate enough to ride when I please . So no reason to change anything .  If your in the UK it rains more in the spring summer time  ,so what , you put on cold weather winter tyres  . I think this winter bike thing is a load of BS for “most people “ .  You live in Canada then fair enough. 

If it’s snowing “ fuck that “ been there done it . Riding a bike for me is about enjoyment and pushing myself physically. Not soaking wet and miserable with toes I can’t feel and thawing out your feet when they are frozen solid is fucking painful. Never again . 

It seems odd that the video recommends wide tyres and tubeless, but the Fairlight in the video appears to have neither? Perhaps David can explain more?

I'd say (and living in a part of the world where in the winter it's dark until after 10am and getting dark before 3pm) unless you only do short rides, run with 2 lights front and back. It's a gruesome feeling having your light fail at the furthest point from home. Ideally running one front and back with a steady light, and one flashing. Gives the flash for catching the attention, but a steady light is easier to gauge speed and distance against.