1. dry bum
There is nothing more unpleasant than a cold, wet seat cushion. The Ritze L mini mudguard from Riesel Design is simply clamped under the saddle and keeps your bum almost dry. Price 12.95 euros. www.riesel-bike.com
2. clean frame
Splashing water often runs into the inside of the frame via the clamping gap on the seat clamp. An old road bike inner tube keeps the seat post dry and protects against corrosion on the inside.
3. dirt trap
The Mudhugger mudguard on the fork is easy to fit with just a few cable ties and keeps significantly more dirt away from the upper body than a conventional mudguard. Price from 21 euros. www.themudhugger.eu
4. winter tyres
Winter tyres are not compulsory for mountain bikes like they are for cars, but they do increase the fun factor. The coarse tread of Schwalbe's Dirty Dan tyres provides grip on wet trails. The narrow 2.0 version (only 29 inches) also increases the tyre clearance on the frame. This leaves more room for mud. Price 58 euros per tyre. www.schwalbe.com
5. thermos flask
If you get on your bike in sub-zero temperatures, you'll soon have nothing but ice cubes in your water bottle. Insulated models such as the Syncros Icekeeper keep your drink ice-free for much longer. Price 12.95 euros. www.syncros.com
6. visibility
Don't worry, you don't have to disfigure your bike with cat's eyes. The Reflex reflective stickers from Riesel Design are much more discreet and still increase visibility at dusk. Price 9.95 euros. www.riesel-bike.com
7. paint protection
Muddy overtrousers or thick overshoes quickly scratch the paintwork on the top tube or rear triangle. Transparent paint protection film ensures that the paintwork will still shine next spring. Price: complete frame kits from 60 euros at www.easy-frame.com
8. reflector
A hunger pang, a stop at the Christmas market or an icy road. There are many reasons why people misjudge the length of their planned tour, especially in winter. The small Vegas-R-II rear light from Lunivo makes the way home safe in an emergency. Price from 12.95 euros. www.lunivo.com
The right bike care for the winter
Road salt is the natural enemy of every metal component on the bike. With a few simple maintenance tricks, you can win the battle against rust and corrosion and enjoy your bike again next summer.
TIPS
Brake check
Brake fluid absorbs water, especially in damp weather. The functionality and longevity of the brakes suffer greatly as a result. Bicycle brakes are much more sensitive in this respect than car brakes. It therefore does no harm to change the brake fluid after the winter, even if the brakes are still working well. If the brakes start to cause problems, it is often too late for a service. With the bleeding kit from Trickstuff, you are equipped for every brake system. Brake fluids are available at any petrol station or directly from the brake manufacturer. Caution: Be sure to check whether the brakes work with DOT or mineral oil. Price (bleeding kit): 29 euros. www.trickstuff.de
Cleaner
Chain cleaning devices make chain maintenance extremely easy. The dirty little scrubber from Juice Lubes is easy to fit, brushes the chain from every side and works perfectly in combination with WD-40. Price approx. 15 euros. wwwjuicelubes.co.uk
Water displacer
WD-40 is the mother of all penetrating oils and was developed in the 1960s for the aerospace industry. The main property of WD-40: it displaces moisture from every nook and cranny and thus perfectly protects metal components from corrosion. Temperatures in space are well below zero degrees, which is why WD-40 also performs perfectly in winter on earth. Price from 3 euros in any DIY store.
Spare bearing
Bearings suffer particularly in winter. As a rule, the lower headset bearing is the first to give up the ghost. But that doesn't mean you have to buy a whole new headset. On www.castlecc.de there are individual replacement bearings for almost every headset. Price per bearing from 15 euros.
