Baby it’s cold outside: Three tips for winter-proofing your ride

1. Keep it clean. Your bike’s best friend this winter? Soap and water.

Our first tip to help you keep your e-bike safe and in shape in the winter is to clean your bike after a muddy winter bike ride. As well as dirtying your bike, mud contains salt. And while your VanMoof is built with as many aluminum and rust-resistant parts as possible, some parts are a little more sensitive to salt and grit than others. If you ride every day, give your bike a weekly wipe-down with some water and soap. Our Bike Doctors also recommend greasing your chain once a month with the oil that comes in your toolbox.

2. Keep it calm. How to make sure you’re riding safely during winter

Wondering if you need different tires for the winter months? Or whether it’s even safe to ride your e-bike while conditions are less than perfect? Well, our advice, even if you’re an experienced speed demon, is to take it down a notch and go slower than you usually would. It’s no surprise that snow and ice can cause accidents, and even on our new two-wheel drive beasts like the VanMoof A5 & S5, it’s way safer to take that sharp turn at a more moderate pace. As the shorter days draw in, we’d advise you to always have your LED lights switched on to make sure that others can see you on the road. You can set your lights to ‘always on’ via the VanMoof app.

3. Keep it charged. How to show your battery some extra love

Where you store your bike in the winter is mostly a matter of choice. But, to protect its lifetime, batteries on both the VanMoof X3 & S3 and S5 & A5 can't charge below 0 °C/32 °F. That’s why it’s even better to store your bike inside at room temperature when temperatures outside hit an extreme low — it’ll charge better and take you further on those winter rides. If you prefer storing your e-bike outside, just make sure the battery isn't totally empty.

And if you happen to be one of those lucky ones who escapes the winter on a tropical vacation, don't forget about giving your bike a staycation: its battery will be happiest if you don't leave it outside for a long time without riding or charging it. If you do need to store your bike for a longer period, make sure its battery is charged to at least 80%. Because here’s the thing: batteries are not the biggest fan of cold conditions. The colder it is, the less efficient they get. The battery drains a bit quicker and the Turbo Boost can feel slightly less punchy, because it simply can’t deliver as much usable energy as it does when it’s warmer. So take it slow when you start your ride. Riding on a lower power assist level for the first few minutes will give your battery a chance to warm up properly.

Extra tip

All e-bikes have a hard time in sub-5C / 41F weather. With this in mind, we encourage our riders to store their bikes at room temperature inside during the colder winter months. We understand that may not be a possibility for everyone, but do take extra care of your bike to keep it running smoothly. We recommend letting the bike warm up a little before use, applying the tips above, and giving it just a little more love, care, and patience when it's frosty outside.

Okay then riders, you’re all out of excuses. Get out there and enjoy that winter ride.