Winter Proof Your Bike With Evans Cycles

Jan. 14, 2013 - PRLog -- The harsh winter weather can take its toll on your bike. Muddy roads, icy mornings and sudden downpours can be pretty tough on your ‘wheels’ as can the road grit and salt put down on roads and pathways to clear ice and snow. So when the weather gets grim it’s important to give your bike some extra TLC to keep it clean, functioning and well maintained throughout the season.  To help, Evans Cycles, the UK’s leading independent cycle retailer has outlined some essential care tips designed to see you and your bike through the rough winter conditions:

o   Keep your wheels clean. Dirty wheels can create slippery or uneven braking surfaces so make sure they are completely grime free

o   Rain, ice and the methods to combat them can create rusting. Make sure you dry off your bike and where possible keep it indoors and away from the elements

o   Keep the gears and chain clean and lubricated to make for a smoother, more efficient ride

o   For more information on cleaning and maintenance visit the Evans Cycles Cleaning Guide (http://blog.evanscycles.com/mountain_biking/bike-maintena...) blog post, written by the experts at Muc-Off.

If you’re using your bike regularly it’s recommended to have it serviced annually. This will help keep it running smoothly and ensure it is in a fitand roadworthy state. Evans Cycles offer 3 levels of service, with their most comprehensive being the Gold service (http://www.evanscycles.com/servicing), as well as Silver (http://www.evanscycles.com/servicing), andBronze (http://www.evanscycles.com/servicing) options. There is currently 50% off on Bronze servicing, and 20% off Silver and Gold.

If you’re relatively new to cycling it’s important to learn the basics of bicycle maintenance so you’re not caught out by a puncture or other mechanical niggle. Evans Cycles run Fix-It classes in every store, designed to provide you with the skills to carry out basic maintenance on your bike to ensure it functions as efficiently as possible between your major services, therefore prolonging the life of your bike and its components. Each place on a course costs £15 for a 1 hour session including a training manual and maintenance goodie bag.

Whilst it’s important to look after your bike there are also a few things you can do to make your riding in the winter a little more enjoyable, here are some tips from the guys at Evans Cycles on preparing your bike for the winter:

o   Fit mudguards and puncture resistant tyres.

o   If you’re riding in the dark at all make sure you have a set of lights, it’s important to see and be been.

o   Always carry a spare inner tube or puncture repair patches, mini pump or CO2 cylinder, tyre levers, and multi-tool for those unexpected punctures.

Throughout February Evans Cycles are offering free fitting with all accessories purchased in-store to help keep you riding this winter.