Why Your Wheels Deserve Special Attention
Your wheels are the most exposed and dynamically stressed part of your entire bike. They're the first thing to slice through a puddle and the last thing to stop spinning, bearing the full brunt of mud, grit, and moisture. While any bike needs care, understanding how weather specifically impacts your high-performance wheelset is the key to ensuring its longevity and reliability, season after season.
The #1 Enemy: Water & Grit
Whether it's a creek crossing, a surprise rainstorm, or a post-ride washdown, water is the primary adversary of your wheels. When combined with trail grit, it creates an abrasive paste that can wreak havoc on precision components.
- Hub Bearings: This is the most critical area. Even with modern seals, persistent exposure to water—especially from a high-pressure hose—can force moisture and grit past the seals and into your hub's bearings. This leads to contamination, corrosion, and that tell-tale "gritty" feeling, which is a sign of premature wear.
- Freehub Mechanism: The fine teeth and pawls inside your freehub are highly susceptible to contamination. Grit and grime can cause pawls to stick, leading to inconsistent engagement or, in worst-case scenarios, a complete failure to engage.
- Spoke Nipples: Alloy nipples can corrode over time, especially in wet or salty environments (like coastal areas or winter roads). This can cause them to seize to the spoke, making future wheel truing difficult or impossible without replacing the spokes and nipples.
Your Post-Ride Care Protocol: The Non-Negotiables
What you do in the 15 minutes after a wet ride is the single most important factor in your wheels' lifespan. This is the professional mechanic's workflow.
- The Gentle Rinse: Wash your wheels, but do it smartly. Use a low-pressure hose or a bucket of soapy water. Never spray a high-pressure jet directly at your hubs, bottom bracket, or pivots.
- Dry, Dry, Dry: This is the step most riders skip. Use a clean, dry towel to wipe down your entire wheelset—rims, spokes, and especially the hubs. For a pro-level job, use a leaf blower or a small data-vac to blow water out of every crevice, including the spoke holes and the space around the valve stem. A dry wheel is a happy wheel.
- Lube the Drivetrain, Not the Brakes: Once the chain is dry, apply a high-quality lube. Be extremely careful to avoid getting any overspray on your brake rotors. A single drop of lube on a rotor can contaminate your brake pads, leading to loud squealing and a loss of power.
Seasonal Considerations: Tubeless & Tires
Extreme temperatures can also affect your wheel system, particularly your tubeless setup.
- Sealant in the Heat: In hot, dry climates, tubeless sealant can evaporate much more quickly. It's a good practice to check and top off your sealant every 1-2 months during the summer to ensure you're protected.
- Tires in the Cold: In freezing temperatures, the rubber compounds in your tires can become harder and less pliable, leading to a reduction in grip. Be mindful of this on cold days and adjust your riding accordingly.
When It's Time for a Professional Service
Even with perfect maintenance, every wheelset will eventually need a professional overhaul. If your hubs feel rough, your freehub sounds unhealthy, or your wheel refuses to stay true, it's a sign that it's time for an expert touch.
Our professional mechanics specialize in the art of the wheel. We offer comprehensive hub overhauls, bearing replacements, and precision wheel truing to bring your investment back to peak performance. Learn more at our Wheel Repair & Service Page.