Hello i just got a Raleigh MOjave mountain bike. I want to ride a little this winter and i want to know what you think I should do to it to get it ready. I have a rack i'm going to put on. I still don't know if i'm going to get spike tires or not. Thanks!

Start getting the right clothing for winter riding. The bike can work as is for the early winter. Depending on your local weather you may not need studded tires. Only if you have a lot of ice will you need the studded tires. If you think that you will be riding it some wet or slushy conditions get some plastic mountain bike fenders from Planet Bike or something. Even when the weather is good you will want fenders on a winter bike because often when the weather is nice there is still some snow and slush or muddy conditions on the road left over from the last storm.

Also, if you are serious about winter riding you can look through the thread showing peoples winter bikes they have built up. This will give you some ideas.

To winterize the bike, pack any adjustable bearings fully with grease.
Grease cables, threads, stem, seatpost, pedals and any other metal-metal contacts.
Use carwax on the frame and wax any exposed metal except the rims: bolt heads, exposed cable.
Select a dry or wet chainlube according to conditions.

FENDERS FENDERS FENDERS!!!!

So important.

Did I mention you're gonna need fenders? Full fenders? You will. Need 'em; fenders, that is.


Fenders.

+1 and get some good lights front and back. Also put them on you helmet as-well. Be seen!

Fenders are great for year-round riding, and very nice for sloppy winter conditions. Your mountain bike should fit them fine, particularly if you ditch the knobbies for something more road-worthy (like a 1.5-1.7" smoother tire).

A rack is great if you also have a set of panniers or baskets. Otherwise it just sits there not doing much, other than holding a rear light and possibly acting as a partial fender.

Winter clothing you probably already have -- do a search on this forum, there's a million threads about it.

Biggest thing is just to make sure you have the tools to change a flat and find some way to carry an extra long sleeve t-shirt or jacket or something just in case you stop and get cooler for any reason. I nearly always have a sweatshirt in my front basket that I seldom use.....but just in case.

What kind of winter do you have, the 8 month snow blizzard kind, or the more clouds than in summer kind?

Studded tyres are particularly good when there's ice or hard packed snow on ground. If it's just loose snow, studs don't do much. Any loose snow tends to turn into the hard packed kind on streets if it stays more than just a couple of days.

In sub-freezing temperatures simple mechanical problems can be a PITA to deal with. Where I ride, I concentrate on getting home instead of being equipped to do a roadside fix. I'll change a flat tyre (but not try to fix the flatted tube until back home). If I break a spoke, I'll rather disconnect the rear brake and limp home, risking minor rim damage than try to deal with it outside. Depending on how cold it actually is, even trying to apply an emergency wire spoke may be a stretch.

Fortunately, for some reason, I get surprisingly little mechanical grief with during our winter months.

--J