Basic Tips for All Weather Maintenance

If you ride your bike all year, or even just cruise to the store now and then, you know what happens when the skies turn that classic Pacific Northwest shade of gray. Rain changes everything. Your riding habits stay the same, but your maintenance routine needs to adjust with the season.

We are kicking off a new blog series that will walk through one specific home or trailside repair at a time. To start, here are the top 3 most common maintenance steps to keep your bike running smoothly regardless of weather. More in depth articles will be forthcoming, but adhering to the 3 tips below will reduce your off-seat time more than anything else you can do!

Lube Your Chain

Most cyclists think in two seasons: wet and dry. The bike industry does the same with chain lube. Wet lube for wet weather. Dry lube for dry. Simple.

Rain washes lube off your chain faster than you might expect. Wet lubes are thicker and designed to cling to your chain, helping them last longer in sloppy conditions.

Brands like Finish Line and Muc-Off make wet weather lubes that work great during the rainy months, and we keep them stocked here at NW Pro Gear. Just remember that wet lube is sticky. It attracts dirt and grit. More is not better. We will be sharing a full article soon on how to lube your chain properly, so keep an eye out for that.

Check Your Tire Pressure

What causes most flat tires? Nails? Glass? Bits of wire?

Most of the time, it's low tire pressure.

When your tires are underinflated, they flatten out more against the road. That larger contact patch makes it easier for debris to work its way through the rubber and into your tube. The low pressure also increases your risk of a pinch flat, sometimes called a snake bite, which happens when the tube gets pinched between the rim and an obstacle like a curb or pothole, often leading to a double hole, or 'snake bite' puncture.

Every tire has a recommended pressure range printed on the sidewall. It can be tough to read since it is often black lettering on black rubber, so a flashlight and/or magnifier can help.

In wet weather, it is usually best to stay toward the lower end of the recommended range. That gives you a slightly larger contact patch for better traction without dramatically increasing your flat risk.

If you want to make pressure checks quick and easy, we carry digital gauges from Topeak, Shimano, and Lezyne. We also have a detailed blog post that dives deeper into tire pressure if you want to learn more.

Check the Life of Your Brake Pads

This is especially important for rim brake bikes, but the general idea applies to both rim and disc brakes.

Rim brake pads come in different compounds. Some are designed specifically for wet conditions. These pads use a more aggressive material that helps clear water and grime from the rim. Wet braking has never been the strong suit of rim brakes, but using the right compound makes a noticeable difference.

To check rim brake pad wear, look for the wear indicators molded into the pad surface. Most pads have grooves cut into them. When those grooves are almost gone, your braking power is too. Many wet weather pads are also red or salmon colored, though not all of them are.

If your wear lines are disappearing and it is time for new pads, ask your local bike shop which compound is best for the season. Brands like Kool Stop, Swiss Stop, and Clarks offer multiple options, and we are always happy to help you choose the right one.

When you are ready to lube smoother, roll faster, and stop better, swing by NW Pro Gear. We are your local full service shop for new, used, and electric bikes, proudly serving the Lents neighborhood of Portland for more than 11 years.

Chainrings and cheers. ;D