If you plan to continue to bike to and from work this winter, you need to make sure that your bike is ready for winter weather. Here are a few tips to help you get your bicycle ready for winter riding.

Treat Your Bike Frame To Resist Rust

One of the biggest challenges of riding in the winter time is keeping your bicycle in good shape. All the salt on the road can quickly eat away at the frame of your bike. Washing your bike and keeping it clean is one good way to make sure that your frame does not become rusted during the winter months. However, you can take further steps to protect your bike from rust as well.

You can spray your bike with a rust inhibitor spray. First, you will need to clean your bike and remove all dirt and build-up from it. Then, you'll want to take your bike to a well-ventilated area and put on a mask and some goggles. Finally, you'll want to remove the cap on the rust inhibitor spray you purchased from your local auto parts store and spray your entire bike frame with it. Work top to bottom, left to right with sweeping motions.

Once the rust inhibitor dries, apply a second coat to your bike. This should protect your bike frame from getting rusty this winter.

Apply A Slippery Coating

In order to keep your bike clean and keep the dirt off it, after you apply the rust inhibitor and let it dry, you should apply a slippery coating. A slippery coating is a silicone spray that is designed to create a slippery surface on your bike frame so that dirt and mud just slides right off instead of getting stuck to your bike.

Just like with the rust inhibitor, you should spray this on your bike frame in a well-ventilated area while wearing goggles and a face mask.

Lubricate Your Bike Chain

Next, you need to lubricate your bike chain. Keeping your bike chain lubricated will make it last longer and will make it run more smoothly over your cassette and your chain set. It is best to apply lube to a clean bike; you should apply the lube after you wash your bike and apply the rust inhibitor.

Use a wet lube for your chains. Wet lube works best on bike chains in the winter months because they continue to work effectively even when it is rainy, snowy and freezing outside. Web lubes also tend to last longer than other types of lubes designed for your bike chain.

Make sure your bike is ready for winter by applying a rust inhibitor coat and slippery silicone coating to the frame. Don't forget to lubricate your bike chain as well. You can pick up most of these supplies at a local auto parts store.

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