Having a dedicated winter bike in the UK is a proper thing. Normally it’s an aluminum frame, cheaper components – something that you know you’re going to mess up. I’ve been setting up my Grey Matter as a winter bike and it’s looking pretty good. But there are some simple rules for winter cycling to keep in mind – here are my top five: 

Definitely number one. You should look for a winter bike with the ability to mount full length mud guards – it makes a big difference. They make your cassette last longer, your chain, chainrings – everything works better and lasts longer if you keep the salt and grit off it. Where I live you also get a lot of farm waste on the roads this time of year as farmers are moving their livestock, so you really want to stop the spray from getting all over you. The people you’re riding with will appreciate it too. 

Put crappy tires on. Not crappy quality, but you’re looking for something bombproof, not looking for your race-day gear with the fastest rolling resistance. I’m putting Schwalbe G-One Allrounds on my Grey Matter. They are practically puncture-proof, and no one wants to be by the side of the road fixing a puncture in the cold.  

This one is a bit controversial: wax chain lube. There’s going to be some disagreement with me on this, but it doesn’t attract as much grit and dirt as oil-based. It takes a bit more maintenance though. You do need to really clean the bike after every ride (see #4, up next), and keep on top of rewaxing it, but again, you’re extending the life of your whole drivetrain. 

Keep on top of bike maintenance. You’re going to go through a lot of components in the winter: rotors, pads, cassettes, chains, chainrings – everything gets worn down faster. But if you keep on top of bike maintenance and clean the grit off as often as you can, you’ll save yourself time and money in the long run. To minimize wear, maximise maintenance. 

If it’s really that bad outside, use the turbo trainer. We just had a storm here and we have flooding, trees are down, we can get a lot of ice – it actually gets quite dangerous. There are days when you just need to stay inside or you’re risking an accident or injury. There’s nothing to prove by riding in dangerous conditions. But when you’re on the trainer, remember a few important things: first, intake a lot of electrolytes. You’ll be sweating a lot. Ventilation is also a big deal. It's easy to overheat and drive your heartrate up, so open a window or use big fans. And find things to distract you. I watch a lot of bike races on the turbo: cyclocross and the track league. Last, really make sure you’ve got your fit dialed in. You’re holding the same position for longer on the trainer – depending on your model, there may not be much lateral movement like what you have on the road. You don’t want to make it through the winter and hit spring with a knee issue. 

Bonus tip for surviving the winter! If you can, get away somewhere warm. I try to plan a trip to Spain every February with a bunch of mates and we just ride our bikes. It’s often as important for you mentally as physically to get into the sun as much as you can. Having a goal or a reward to focus on over the winter can really help your motivation.