Winter tips and tricks!

[Bongofish]

So now heading into colder weather I e been wondering more and more how to store my bike. Battery in house every night? Whole bike in house ? Leave bike in shed with blanket over it?

So thought it would be a great idea to start a thread where people can post there tips and tricks on looking after, riding, and maintaining your e bikes in winter!

Look forward to reading some tips .

 

[Kaelidoz]

At 0°c I'll definitely keep the battery inside.
The whole bike will stay inside, at home. At work I'll leave the bike in the shed and take the battery inside just like I did when it was too hot in summer.

I'll fit a neoprene cover to ride it. Think I'm good to go.

 

[Airz]

Actually storing lithium ion batteries in the cold is recommended as is storing them at about 40% charge. Just make sure you warm it back up again before you want to use it otherwise it won't perform very well. Just like most batteries its a chemical reaction so storing them at low temperature slows down the reaction and reduces the battery deterioration.
When I get back from a ride I usually charge the battery to around 40% and then only fully charge it the night before I plan to go out again.

 

[R120]

The new Giants have quite a neat feature which is a storage charge setting, where they stop the charge at 60% fo longer term storage.

Most manauls i have read recommend leaving the battery at 60-75% charge if they are not going to be used for a while.

 

[Bongofish]

Anything that I can throw over the bike in the shed (without the battery attached,I'll keep that in when it's properly cold) that will keep its temperature from causing damage?

 

[R120]

Decent bike cover should keep moisture away from bike

 

[Bongofish]

Decent bike cover should keep moisture away from bike

Would a blanket do the same. As I find bike covers are so fussy to out in right and coming back from. A night rude in the winter I would rather be able to give it a wipe down and then quickly cover it with a blanket/bed sheet then start having to line everything up to get it to fit correctly

 

[R120]

Dont see why not, maybe one of those blankets the removal guys use

 

[R80]

My kenevo’s been in the house since I’ve had it,my analogue bikes are “well jell”..

 

[Bongofish]

My kenevo’s been in the house since I’ve had it,my analogue bikes are “well jell”..

I would do this but my wife would hate me and I couldn't deal with the constant moaning. My bike gear already clogs up half the conservatory with helmets and jackets and shoes. I just hope keeping battery inside and covering the rest of bike up with a sheet in the cold depths of autumn/winter and spring will be enough.

 

[R120]

One of these terminal covers might be a good idea, i have one that i got for if i put the bike on a car rack

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NC-17-Prot...oding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HHET3GFD7Y05EV7TW9EZ#

 

[Bongofish]

How do people keep head and ears warm with a helmet on in wjnter? As most time going 15mph+ wind chill on ears is a real thing ??

 

[jonathan horticulturist]

How do people keep head and ears warm with a helmet on in wjnter? As most time going 15mph+ wind chill on ears is a real thing ??

Gore bike wear Balaclava.

 

[Gary]

How do people keep head and ears warm with a helmet on in wjnter? As most time going 15mph+ wind chill on ears is a real thing ??

Hair

 

[Bongofish]

Hair

Not all of us have thick locks of ear hair Gary......??

 

[Gary]

hahah

TBF I'm Scottish and grew up on one of the windiest East coast cliffs in the country. I don't really feel the cold. I get too hot if I wear a helmet so hardly ever do.

 

[mark.ai]

Gore bike wear Balaclava.

Yep agree, anything with Gore Windstopper is really good in the cold - like balaclava, hat, face mask etc

 

[Bongofish]

This posted a few hours ago for anyone interested

 

[Ark]

Actually storing lithium ion batteries in the cold is recommended as is storing them at about 40% charge. Just make sure you

why do all the websites say to store them at 10-20c then? which I wouldn't consider "cold" in the winter

Even Bosch website says

At what temperatures can, or should, I operate and store the components?​

For the drive unit and display components, the operating temperature is - 5°C to +40°C and the storage temperature is +10°C to +40°C.

The ideal storage temperature for the battery is +10°C to +20°C.​

Panasonic say room temp for storage and they make a lot of batteries so

https://eu.industrial.panasonic.com/sites/default/pidseu/files/downloads/files/panasonic_li-ion_handbook.pdf

Recommended storage for batteries is between 30%-60%

so I always charge mine to around 50 if I won't be using the bike for a few weeks.

 

[RiderOnTheStorm]

@Ark Yes, lithium-ion batteries require special care to maximize their longevity and lifespan. Here are some basic guidelines and best practices I've learned over the years:

• Length of time at full or zero charge is what degrades batteries. Never discharge the battery below 10%.
• Never keep the battery charged at 100% unless you're about to ride. For example, fully charge the battery only the night or morning before a ride.
• Charge the battery at room temperature (15-20° C). Charging at low temperatures, below 0°C will irreparably degrade the cells. Heat above 35°C when discharging or riding will degrade the battery.
• Store the battery at room temperature (15-20° C). When storing a battery for extended time, keep it at 50-60% charged. In storage, verify the charge every 6 months and recharge as needed.
• Batteries should not be recharged immediately if they are only slightly discharged. Recharge the battery only if between 10% and 20%
• Always let the battery cool down for at least 30 min after recharging it before going for a ride.
• Let the battery cool down for at least 30 min after the ride before recharging it.
• On first use, drain the new battery (10-20%) and fully charge it (100%) at least 5 times initially.

 

[Kingerz]

The new Giants have quite a neat feature which is a storage charge setting, where they stop the charge at 60% fo longer term storage.

Most manauls i have read recommend leaving the battery at 60-75% charge if they are not going to be used for a while.

They have always had that feature, just press the battery button.

 

[Kingerz]

Lots of advice is imaginary, possibly destructive, so contact your manufacturer or go to the source. For example Giant at here

 

[R120]

They have always had that feature, just press the battery button.

I think when my original post was made 5 years ago it might just have been a new feature