Cold Weather Maintenance

I live in the “Midwest” and I still want to ride during the winter. Typically the winters here are cold and rainy. I want to see if anyone knows of special maintenance that should be done during these cold months. I clean and lube the bike regularly but with temperatures getting below freezing shifting isn’t as smooth and the drive train doesn’t sound the same. Is there a special lubricant for cold weather? What other precautions should I take before taking the bike out on cold days?

I have a 21 year old Trek. It has a 7 speed freewheel and friction down tube shifters. This is my winter machine. Every summer when I'm riding the better machine, I give the winter bike the once over.
Once the winter riding season begins, the Trek gets a squirt of chain oil once every two weeks. That's about all I do to it all winter.
Point being...if you have a beater winter bike...they're low maintenance.
It helps in a pinch as a loaner also. Something to think about.
I ride all winter in Wisconsin. Enjoy the season.

I ride all winter and live in Eastern Washington (it is about 10 degrees F right now). I use ProLink because is replaces water. I wipe the chain down after every trip. After a dirty or wet ride I also wipe down the derailers.

Can't keep it as clean as the summer, but gets me through the winter. I give it a good cleaning in early March. I also switch to a lesser expensive wheels and go with Gatorskins in the winter.

Does anyone still use wax on their chain?

I also have noticed that during the cold months, things done shift like they do in warm weather or when I work on it in the garage. Does anyone have similar experience and/or suggestions on how to fix it?

The wax-based lube I've tried (Finish Line) is too thick in the summer, would really be a drag in winter. I like Prolink year round; believe it would be the ideal winter lube as well.

I use Rock n Roll in the warm weather (March-Nov) and Prolink in the winter (Dec-Feb). I use Prolink because I pick up a lot of grit and pretty much lube my chain after each ride. I have not had good luck with the wax base in the colder weather, too thick and doesn't work well in the wetter conditions.

Wax lubes suck in any weather, but they especially suck in cold, wet weather.

Clean and lube your dirvetrain more often. If you are picking up a lot of grit then you might want to use a Connex link and periodically take your chain off and completely clean it in a solvent.

__________________
"You are like the wind and I like the lion. You form the tempest. The sand stings my eyes and the ground is parched. I roar in defiance but you do not hear. But between us there is a difference. I, like the lion, must remain in my place. While you like the wind will never know yours." -- Mulay Hamid El Raisuli, Lord of the Riff, Sultan to the Berbers, Last of the Barbary Pirates