E-bike in winter: Care and maintenance tips for safe riding

Riding in the winter can be a daunting task. The days are shorter, you’ll often be riding in the dark and the temperature can drop well below zero (depending where you live in the world). But none of that means that you have to stop riding!  

Here are our top tips to keep you and your e-bike safe and warm while riding in the winter.  

It’s well known that batteries don’t perform as well in extreme cold. It is completely safe to ride in sub-zero temperatures, but the colder your battery, the lower the range. Knowing how to care for your e-bike battery when the weather gets colder will help to extend its life span.   

If you aren’t planning to ride your e-bike in the winter, be sure to store it indoors and as close to room temperature as possible. You should leave your battery partially charged, rather than fully charged or dead, in order to extend the battery life. The battery percentage should be between 60 to 40 per cent for the best results.  

Storing your battery indoors at room temperature as often as possible is the best way to extend the battery’s life. Keeping the battery warm means the cells won’t get damaged. If keeping the e-bike itself inside due to space limitations isn’t possible, and your e-bike has a removable battery, you can leave the bike in an indoor area, cover it with a tarp or similar and bring the battery inside with you.  

If you’re commuting on your e-bike, consider bringing your charger to work with you and topping up the battery during the work day. 

Winter is a great time to put performance on the back burner. The roads are slippier and you might find you’re riding in the dark more often. In more extreme weather conditions such as heavy snow, blizzards, freezing rain and black ice, we’d advise staying off the bike if possible. 

If you do have to ride in the winter, make sure to allow yourself extra time to get to your destination, so that you can ride slowly and cautiously. If your area gets a lot of snow and ice, consider investing in a good set of studded tires for more traction and confidence on slippery surfaces.  

When you do set out for a winter ride, make sure your lights and your bike are charged, and your bike is in good working order before leaving the house. Check the weather forecast and be sure to have a contingency plan if the weather takes a turn to make sure you can always get home. Trains can be unreliable when the winter weather hits suddenly, so it might be wise to ride closer to home if possible. 

Before setting out for a ride in the winter, there are a few things you’ll want for yourself and your bike to make your rides more enjoyable. Dressing for winter weather is important as it’ll improve your enjoyment of riding. We recommend investing in a few key items of clothing: 

• Merino layers: known for its insulating properties, a merino wool will keep you warm. Look for merino base layers, socks and headwear. 
• Rain jacket: it’s likely to rain and snow in winter and keeping yourself dry with a good rain jacket is important for staying warm. For added visibility in the dark, consider brightly coloured jackets with reflective elements.  
• Warm gloves: your hands are more susceptible to the cold than other parts of your body. Keep them warm with high quality gloves, so that you can operate the brakes and bike computer safely. 
• Long tights or trousers: not only will you be warmer in longer legwear, but you’ll be also a bit more protected from debris on the road as your ride. 

Making sure you’re warm and comfortable while cycling in winter isn’t the only good piece of advice we can give. Your e-bike also needs extra bits of gear to keep trudging through the cold conditions. 

• Mudguards: protect you and your bike from the worst of the rain, snow and slush with a set of mudguards or fenders. 
• Lights: the days are short and you may find yourself riding in low light conditions are lot more often in winter. Make sure you can see the road ahead and that you are visible to others on the roads with a good set of bike lights.  
• Waterproof bags or panniers: there’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination to find all your spare clothes soaked. Get yourself a waterproof backpack or set of pannier bags to carry your gear in. 
• Winter tyres: in countries that get a lot of snow, winter tyres are an absolute must. They have metal studs in the tread to increase grip in slippery conditions. Consider also reducing your tyre pressure slightly in winter to improve traction. 

As it gets darker earlier, you will likely find yourself riding in the dark more often, especially if you’re regularly commuting by e-bike. Riding in the dark can be an unpleasant experience but it doesn’t have to be. Having the right safety equipment will ensure that you can see and others can see you, giving you more confidence to keep riding, even in bad weather. Because of this, bike lights are essential for winter riding.  

Alongside traditional bike lights, both a front light that mounts on your handlebars and a red rear light that mounts on your seatpost, a helmet mounted light is helpful for lighting your way in the dark. If you are riding in areas where there are many cars on the roads, wheel or spoke mounted lights grab the attention of others on the road to ensure that you’re seen.

It’s no secret that winter is a dirty time of year for your bike. Grit, snow, slush and mud are an all-too-familiar sight throughout the winter months. While salt is great for melting the ice, it can mean rusty bikes if you’re not careful. 

After each ride, you should wipe it down with a damp cloth to remove any debris. Not only will this keep your bike looking nice but it’ll extend the life of components such as your chain, cassette and wheel bearings. You should also make sure not to store your bike while wet. Giving it a quick dry after each ride will also help to prevent any rust from forming.  

When possible, frequent deeper cleans are a good idea. Use bicycle specific cleaners and lubricants to keep all the moving parts running smoothly. If you use a dry lube in the warmer months, consider switching to a wet or all-round lube that will stand up better against the harsher conditions, though be aware that the more viscous all-weather lubes will mean you may have to clean your drivetrain more often .You should be sure to clean your frame and wheels frequently as well. Cleaning your e-bike is similar to cleaning a traditional bicycle but you must take care to remove the battery first.  

If you need to transport your e-bike during the winter, make sure to keep the battery warm and the bike protected from the worst of the elements. When putting your e-bike on a bike rack, remove the battery and transport it inside the car. Cover the bike with a tarp or bike cover, taking care not to obscure your car’s lights when doing so.