How to store your bike properly in winter
In short: Before your bike goes into its winter break, you should clean it thoroughly, dry it, oil the chain and pump up the tyres. After that, it belongs in a dry place with as even a temperature as possible – ideally in your home rather than a damp basement. If you hang the bike up, the tyres won't be bearing weight on the same spot for months.
Why is it worth preparing for the winter break?
A bike that's put away dirty and wet rarely looks any better in spring. Road salt and grime attack the chain, sprockets and bare bolts, and moisture collects in bearings and cables. Taking an hour in autumn saves you hassle in March – and often a trip to the bike shop as well. This is especially true for bikes with high-quality components, which quickly get expensive to replace.
How do I prepare my bike for winter?
- Clean: Clean the frame, rims and drivetrain with lukewarm water, a soft sponge and a little bike cleaner. Don't point a pressure washer at bearings and hubs – it forces water inside.
- Dry: Wipe it down with a cloth and then leave the bike in a warm room for a few hours until gaps and threads are dry too.
- Look after the chain: Degrease the chain, let it dry and oil it lightly. After a few minutes, wipe off excess oil with a rag so dust doesn't stick to it. Shift onto the big chainring at the front – that way the chain is taut and easy to reach.
- Check the tyre pressure: Pump the tyres up to the pressure printed on the sidewall. Inner tubes lose air over the weeks, and a flat tyre under load can develop pressure marks.
- Quick check: Look over the brake pads, cables and bolts. Anything you notice now can be repaired at your leisure over the winter – bike shops usually have more time then than in spring.
- Remove accessories: Take off battery-powered lights, bike computers and bags and store them indoors.
Where is the best place to store my bike in winter?
Three things are crucial: dry, as even a temperature as possible, low risk of theft. The overview shows how the typical places compare:
| Place | Moisture | Temperature | Theft protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | dry | even | good |
| Garage | depends on the building, often condensation | fluctuating | medium |
| Basement | often damp, especially in older buildings | cool, fairly constant | often poor (shared basement) |
| Garden shed | often damp | strongly fluctuating | poor |
| Outside under a cover | condensation under the cover | frost | poor |
Don't write off the basement altogether – a dry, lockable basement room works. What to watch out for there is covered in the guide Storing and securing a bike in the basement. Tip: an inexpensive hygrometer quickly shows you how damp a room really is.
Leave it standing or hang it up?
If a bike stands on the floor for months, its weight always presses on the same spot of the tyres. With well-inflated tyres this is usually not a problem, but with slow air loss, pressure marks or cracks in the sidewall can develop. If you hang the bike up, the tyres are completely relieved of load – and the bike takes up no floor space.
Two options are particularly suitable for the winter break:
- Horizontally by the top tube: The bike hangs on the wall like a picture. Needs little depth and fits well in a hallway or living room.
- Vertically by the front wheel: Saves width but needs room height. More suited to a garage or workshop.
How to fix a mount securely to the wall is explained in our installation guide.
What's different with e-bikes in winter?
With an e-bike, everything above applies – plus the battery. You should remove it and store it separately, dry and frost-free. How much charge it should have and what temperature is ideal is specified by the manufacturer. More detail here: Storing an e-bike battery in winter. Many e-bikes weigh around 20–28 kg, making them too heavy for most wooden wall mounts; a floor stand is the safe choice here.
When does a Bicycledudes mount work for the winter break?
Our mounts hold the bike horizontally by the top tube and are designed for around 20 kg (Henry and Max around 18 kg). That suits road bikes, gravel bikes, fixies and many city bikes with a diamond frame. If you don't just want to store your bike in winter but also want your helmet, gloves and lights within reach, a version with a shelf or storage compartment is a good choice; the 8-sided stacks are simple and affordable. Find out how our bike wall mount is made and who is behind it on our homepage.
Not suitable: our mounts don't work for step-through and trapeze frames without a top tube, or for e-bikes over 20 kg. Floor stands or metal solutions are better suited for these.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave my bike outside in winter?
It's possible, but it's not good for the bike. Wet, frost and road salt take their toll on the chain, bolts and bearings. If there's no other option, clean it regularly, oil the chain and use a breathable cover.
Should I let the air out of the tyres?
No. Pump the tyres up to the recommended pressure. If the bike stands on the floor, check the pressure every few weeks – or hang the bike up, then it hardly matters.
Can I store my bike in an unheated garage?
Yes, as long as it's dry. Problems arise when a wet, cold bike is moved into a warmer environment or vice versa – that's when condensation forms. Dry the bike well beforehand.
Do I need to take the bike in for a service in spring?
Not necessarily. If you looked after it before winter, checking the tyre pressure, having a look at the brakes and a little chain oil is usually enough. If you're unsure, your local bike shop can help.