(logo whooshes)
- The winter is the enemy for so many cyclists out there
and quite often you actually find them hibernating
up until spring time.
However, get yourself some decent clothes and you can beat,
or at least be protected against those elements.
Your bike though, that requires some specialist care,
doesn't it?
Or does it?
Here's some great little hints
and tips so that you can carry on being a warrior
of the road each and every winter.
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Wash your bike.
Now, the frequency of having to do that obviously depends
on the frequency of use.
But clean it whenever it needs doing please.
Now I know many of you out there
are just gonna be rolling your eyes
and say, Jon, that's all you ever talk about,
cleaning the bike.
But a clean bike is not going to let you down.
Or at least it's less likely to let you down.
Now, by getting away with all of that accumulated dirt
and gunk and rubbish,
you're actually gonna be saving yourself some money
because accelerated wear of parts simply isn't gonna happen
and you're less likely to be finding yourself
on a Saturday afternoon making a distressed purchase
so you can go riding the following day with your mates.
However, it is winter and don't make the same mistake
that a lad I once knew did.
Mid-winter, he washed his bike at the top
of his parents driveway, the water went down the driveway
and froze overnight meaning his parents
couldn't get to work the next day.
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Now if you follow my previous tip which you are going to do,
you're gonna be getting through a fair bit of bike cleaning,
let's face it.
So, how about we save some money at the same time?
Now, you are gonna have to spend out, of course,
but I reckon, in the long run, you're gonna save some cash.
So, head on down to your local car accessories shop
and buy some concentrated car shampoo.
That way you can normally add a really small amount
into a bucket of water, wash your bike
and that's gonna save you quite a bit of money
compared to buying a pre-diluted bottle of bike cleaner.
The same can be done of course with degreaser.
You're gonna be riding the cleanest bike this winter,
aren't you?
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Okay, this one, it does involve splashing out a little bit
of cash to start with
but hopefully it'll save you a lot more money down the line.
So, in the winter, our chain here, that attracts a lot
of dirt and grime, let's face it,
because generally we're using a wet lube
and everything tends to stick to it
and then it acts as a cutting paste around your drive train.
So, how about then we ditch
the super light slotted gold chain
that you may have fitted and, well, replace it
with a more economical version.
The same can be done with your cassette too.
Because generally, those components at the lower end
of the price scale, tend to be made
of harder wearing materials,
better to invest in these winter parts sooner
rather than having to replace those summer parts sooner.
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During the winter months keep a ultra-close eye
on your tires and not just the tread pattern for wear.
By that I mean, after each and every ride,
simply go over the tire and carefully inspect it
to make sure that no flint has been washed into your path
and then become embedded into your tire.
The same can be said for glass, thorns, anything like that.
If you do find them, simply get yourself a pick
or a knife, carefully remove them, put them in the dust bin
and then fill those holes.
What are we gonna fill them with though?
Something like Shoe Goo, you could use that,
which is like a rubber cement.
And also the rubber cement which you find
in an inner tube repair kit, that is absolutely ideal.
Gives you a longer lasting tire
as well as preventing any carcass rot
which can happen on some tires.
Now, another solution you could find
is actually to fit yourself with some winter specific tires.
They tend to be made of a slightly tougher compound
and also a puncture resistant belt.
(upbeat music)
Okay, if you're fully immersed in winter riding
you will know the importance of these.
Some decent bicycle lights.
Now personally I recommend USB rechargeable ones
because they tend to be better sealed,
therefore, protected against the elements
just that little bit more
and well there more economical, better for the environment,
and you're not gonna find yourself scrabbling around
at the worst possible time looking for some new batteries,
07:00 a.m. in my case on the way to work,
so providing of course you remember to charge them,
they're gonna see you through many winters I reckon.
(bell ringing)
Little bit of a tip here,
if you don't pay the electricity bill,
at work for instance, why not charge 'em up there?
Money saving.
So there we are, just a few ways
that you can save some money during the winter months.
And well, I've definitely saved myself an awful lot of money
over the years, in fact, when I open up my wallet,
quite often moths fly out, that's how often I get it out.
Now, what are your winter tips and hacks for saving money
on your bike though?
Let me know down there in the comments section
and maybe I'll be able to make another video from it.
I absolutely love seeing how you save money
because, well, I don't like to spend money.
I think I've said that a few times now.
Now, don't forget too, to like and share this video
with your friends, give it a big old thumbs up,
share it with someone
who's a bit of a tightfisted so-and-so like I am,
and also remember to check out the GCN shop
at shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com
and now for another great video,
this one, how to winterize your bike, click just down here.