Winter Proof Your Ride: Essential Off-Season Care For Your Mountain Bike & Gear

From deep cleans to tune-ups, here's everything mountain bikers need to know to keep their gear in peak condition over the winter. 

A rider is performing bike maintenance

Properly preparing and storing your mountain bike and gear during the winter months (or your "off-season") will protect your investment, save time on spring maintenance, and be ready to hit the trails rolling. Here's my winter prep to-do list and what I do to get my gear ready for storage.

Deep Clean Your Bike

Give your bike a bubble bath. Get all the dirt and mud out of the nooks and crannies, and scrub the drivetrain. Use a bike cleaner and brushes, and rinse everywhere thoroughly. Avoid high-pressure hoses, especially around any bearings and seals. 

Use a rag to wipe your bike dry to leave it sparkly and water-spot-free.

Use a rag to wipe dry your drivetrain and chain. 

Inspect & Lubricate the Drivetrain 

Once clean and dry, inspect your drivetrain for wear. Check the cassette, chainring, pulleys, and chain. Replace anything that's worn out. 

Chain Ring: Replace if you notice skipping or slipping while pedalling, especially under load, or if the teeth appear worn down, hooked, or visibly uneven.

Cassette: Replace if you experience skipping or slipping, especially in easier gears, or if the teeth appear worn down, sharpened, or have noticeable notches. If the chain doesn't stay engaged properly on the cogs, or you notice uneven wear patterns.

Chain: If you have a chain checker tool, you can quickly assess wear by measuring the chain's elongation. A chain is typically considered worn when it reaches 0.5% to 0.75% stretch (depending on the bike and manufacturer), meaning it's time for replacement before it starts wearing out the cassette and chainring.

Apply chain lube to prevent any rust from forming on the chain.

Check & Protect Suspension & Dropper Post Seals

Wipe down the stanchions of the fork, rear shock, and dropper post, and apply a little suspension lubricant. Cycle it through several times to work it into the seals. Wipe off the excess.

Inspect Brakes

Inspect your brake pads for wear and replace them if necessary. If not, clean the pads and rotors with a clean rag or paper towel and isopropyl alcohol.

To check if your brake pads are worn out, inspect their thickness and look for any wear indicators—pads should not be thinner than 1-2 mm. Signs like reduced braking power, squealing, grinding noises, or uneven wear across the pads suggest it's time for a replacement.

Inspect Tires & Sealant 

If you have tubeless tires, check if the sealant has dried up. Remove the dried sealant bits and top up with fresh sealant if needed. 

Inflate tires to roughly 2/3 of regular tire pressure to prevent creating flat spots (this happens if the tire goes flat and stays in one spot for too long). 

Remove & Charge Electronics

Remove any electronic components, such as electronic shifting or a cycling computer to charge and store them in a cool and dry place. 

Storing Your Bike 

It's best to store your bike indoors, out of direct sunlight, in a dry, temperature-controlled environment to avoid rust or corrosion. Keeping your bike off a cold cement or uninsulated floor is also ideal for avoiding moisture issues. 

You can even go one step further and cover your bike with a breathable cloth to keep dust off. 

Storing the bike upright on its two wheels is the ideal position, but if you need to hang it to save space, hang it from the rear wheel to prevent air bubbles in the brake lines. 

Service 

Since you won't be using your bike, now is a great time to get it in to see a mechanic for a proper suspension service if it hasn't been done yet this season or for any other maintenance or service it needs. 

Clean & Inspect Your Gear

Empty your riding packs—get rid of those food wrappers!

Give everything a clean or wash. Once clean, inspect for any signs of wear or damage (especially your helmet and shoes). Make a list of any items or supplies that need replacing and add them to your Christmas wish list. 

Store your gear in a dry and ventilated space, and protect it from any potential rodents. 

Season Recap 

Take a few moments to reflect on your season. What were the highlights or accomplishments of your season?

What do you want to conquer next year? We can help! Join one of our Indoor Classes to keep your skills sharp and progressing during the winter. 

If you're a beginner - novice level rider, join our Groundwork Fundamentals Class.

If you're an intermediate-advanced level rider, join our Level Up Workshop Series.

Sign up today, unlock your full potential, and hit the trails at full throttle in the spring!