A winter in Ioannina puts a bike through frost and fog off the lake, and on some days salt on the road. If you ride all winter, a check now is worth it. If you’re laying it up until spring, there are a few things to do before you put the cover on.

For those who ride through the winter

Start with the tyres. They grip less in the cold and the wet, and a worn or hardened tyre lets go far more easily. Check the tread and the pressures, with the tyres cold. How to tell when a tyre is finished, we explain in the piece on tyre wear.

For the brakes, the pads should have some life left. If you can’t remember when the brake fluid was last changed, ask us to change it before the cold sets in.

The days are getting shorter, so check that all the lights work, front and back, and the indicators.

Rain washes the lube off the chain and salt brings rust, so lube it more often than in summer. If you’ve ridden on a salted road, rinse the bike with plain water, not a pressure washer, and wipe it down.

The battery is usually the first thing to let you down in the cold. If the starter is turning slower than it did in the autumn, bring the bike in before the morning it won’t start.

If the bike is liquid-cooled, check the coolant level and make sure it has antifreeze in it, because the nights here freeze.

For those laying it up until spring

A battery left connected on a bike that isn’t moving drains slowly. Put it on a maintenance charger, or take off the negative lead (the black one) and charge it now and then.

Petrol goes off when it sits in the tank for months. Have a look in the service book before you lay the bike up for the winter, or ask us when you drop by.

Pump the tyres up to the right pressure and, if you can, put the bike on its stand so the tyres aren’t sitting on the same spot for months. For a cover, go for one that breathes, so it doesn’t trap moisture underneath.

In the spring

Before the first ride, check the battery, tyre pressures, brakes, lights and chain. If it has stood for many months, it’s a good idea to give it a service before you start.

For a check before the cold sets in, drop in at 63 Grammou Avenue Monday to Friday, or book a slot.