Here’s how to take care of your spoke wire wheels in the winter

Cleaning

Flush dirt and debris: first use water to flush large pieces of dirt, snow and debris from the spoke wheel, paying attention to adjusting the flushing angle to avoid direct water impact on the hub and other key parts.
Wipe dry: Wipe the spoke wheel dry with a clean, soft rag to ensure there is no residual moisture to prevent water from freezing or causing parts to rust.
Detail Cleaning: Use a brush to carefully clean the crevices between spokes, hubs and rims, which tend to harbor dirt. At the same time, check the treads of the tires and clean any small stones, glass shards, etc. embedded in them to avoid punctures during the ride.

Checking and tightening

Check spoke tension: Tap the spoke to hear the sound and determine if the spoke tension is even. If the sound is not even, it means that there is a difference in spoke tension and needs to be adjusted. Generally speaking, it is necessary to check the spokes once around 5,000 to 10,000 kilometers and tighten them all according to the torque if they are loose.
Check the condition of the components: check whether the wheel hub has axial or radial distortion deformation, if found should be corrected in time. Check whether the wheel rim has cracks, deformation, etc., if any damage should be replaced in time.

Lubrication

Hub and center shaft lubrication: The bearing parts of the hub and center shaft need to be lubricated regularly. You can use a syringe or a special oiling tool to inject the right amount of grease into the inside of the bearings, which reduces friction and makes the wheels and cranks rotate more smoothly.
Chain lubrication: If the spoke wheel bike is paired with a chain drive, the chain needs to be oiled after cleaning it. Choose a lubricant that is suitable for your bike’s chain, drop the lubricant onto each link of the chain, and then turn the pedals a few times to evenly distribute the lubricant inside the chain. Be careful not to over-oil, as too much oil will attract dust, which is not conducive to the maintenance of the chain instead. In humid environment, wet waterproof lubricant is more suitable; while in high speed and high temperature environment, ceramic lubricant is more suitable. Dry Teflon lubricant, on the other hand, has a low coefficient of friction and is not easy to get dust, which is suitable for chains that need to be kept clean and reduce friction.

Storage Precautions

Avoid prolonged compression: If the bicycle is not used for a long time in winter, it should be stored hanging or with the wheels removed to avoid deformation of spokes or excessive local stress on tires due to prolonged compression.
Moisture and rust prevention: Store the bicycle in a dry and ventilated place to avoid metal parts from getting rusted by moisture. You can apply a thin layer of anti-rust oil on the chain, spokes and other parts that are easy to rust.

Overall, the maintenance of spoke wheels in winter is crucial. Through meticulous cleaning, reasonable inspection and tightening, proper lubrication, and correct storage, you can ensure that your spoke wheel maintains good performance and condition during the cold season, extends its service life, and provides riders with a safe and stable riding experience.