How to protect your bike from the gritters

Well gritted roads allow us to keep riding, even when temperatures are well below zero - and we're very grateful. But remember the salt can play havoc with your bike if you don't clean properly it afterwards

Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

Riding when temperatures have dropped to near or below zero brings a host of special challenges. There’s the number one concern of avoiding icy patches, the eternal debate over tyres and tyre pressure to worry about, plus the fact that you need to do all of this with limited feeling left in your fingers.

Amid the entirely reasonable concern over safety and comfort, it’s quite understandable that sometimes the condition of your bike gets overlooked. The first thing you want to do after a bitterly cold ride is get inside and get warmed up, not clean your bike.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan

Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.