[RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
As others have said it depends on the conditions. I personally won't ride my Riv in New England until the spring rains have washed away most of the salt as that stuff will simply eat a steel frame, and corrode the hell out of everything else. I have a beater mountain bike that I used to commute on during the winter. But right now I have a mixed mode commute and use a Bike Friday folder so I can take it on public transit as needed. In terms of lube, something that'll stay on your drivetrain. How often? As often as possible. You really want to get the grit and more importantly the salt off the bike ASAP. I have a friend who would truck his bike into his shower and just rinse it down every time he got home (he was riding @15 miles each way year round at the time so there was a LOT of muck on the bike). Enjoy! Ethan On Jan 30, 8:44 pm, Mark Hall onmybikem...@gmail.com wrote: Got me 63 AHH all fendered up and out on the wet and dirty roads now. First time I have ever really done much winter riding. Need some recommendations about how often and best method to keep the bike - drivetrain, derailleurs, etc - clean. Been thoroughly enjoying riding in the wet and with dark clouds above. mark -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
If you live in a northern city that uses salt it can be a chore. A couple years ago someone - I believe on this list - suggested going to a self car wash and rinse the drive train down using the low pressure pre-wash cycle only. I use this to get the encrusted stuff off, then take the bike home and finish the job with my regular cleaner and park brush. If you go this route be very careful not to use the high pressure function on the wash wand. Also be prepared for snide remarks from car owners who frequently seem to think bike cleaners' money is not as good as theirs. On Jan 30, 7:44 pm, Mark Hall onmybikem...@gmail.com wrote: Got me 63 AHH all fendered up and out on the wet and dirty roads now. First time I have ever really done much winter riding. Need some recommendations about how often and best method to keep the bike - drivetrain, derailleurs, etc - clean. Been thoroughly enjoying riding in the wet and with dark clouds above. mark -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
I've spent a number of winters with steel frames encased in salt. I do clean them regularly, but all the same, rust does form. Isn't it a protective seal against further corrosion, though? I've convinced myself that it's all largely cosmetic and that any steel frame can withstand salt thrown at it for three months of the year. On Feb 1, 1:15 pm, geezer bair.m...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Mark, You don't mention whether they salt in your area or not. I live in northern Michigan where they salt with a vengeance. I can't ride anything nice in the winter here because of the salt. Even when things clear up a bit, any puddles on the road are corrosive. Kiss bare aluminum good-bye, cosmetically. Tiny paint chips on a steel frame become rust spots in minutes. Its awfully disheartening. The only solution I have found is to ride a craigslist beater in the winter. Old non-suspension mountain bikes work best. (We call them DUI-cycles around here!) Clean them periodically at the quarter-wash and use a non-sticky lube on the chain. I look for a bike with fender eyelets, decent chainrings and cassettes and a smooth bottom-bracket, then give them a tune-up in the fall. Don't fall in love with them, because they're disposable! It amazes me sometimes how much of a licking those old 6 and 7 speed bikes will take and keep on ticking. Mike -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
On Tue, 2010-02-02 at 09:18 -0800, Rick Smith wrote: I've spent a number of winters with steel frames encased in salt. I do clean them regularly, but all the same, rust does form. Isn't it a protective seal against further corrosion, though? no some forms of aluminum corrosion do act that way, but not rust on steel -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
Hi Mark, You don't mention whether they salt in your area or not. I live in northern Michigan where they salt with a vengeance. I can't ride anything nice in the winter here because of the salt. Even when things clear up a bit, any puddles on the road are corrosive. Kiss bare aluminum good-bye, cosmetically. Tiny paint chips on a steel frame become rust spots in minutes. Its awfully disheartening. The only solution I have found is to ride a craigslist beater in the winter. Old non-suspension mountain bikes work best. (We call them DUI-cycles around here!) Clean them periodically at the quarter-wash and use a non-sticky lube on the chain. I look for a bike with fender eyelets, decent chainrings and cassettes and a smooth bottom-bracket, then give them a tune-up in the fall. Don't fall in love with them, because they're disposable! It amazes me sometimes how much of a licking those old 6 and 7 speed bikes will take and keep on ticking. Mike -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
[RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
I take the lazy man's out. I avoid riding when the temps are just above freezing - just too much snow, salt and slush to battle with. At 10 - 20 degrees I can ride with much less muck. A couple of years ago I rode to work with temps in the mid thirties. By the time I arrived, the bike, right down to all 72 spokes, was covered in frozen slush and the (indexed) FR was...toast. I spent last spring and early summer recovering from foot surgery; in late summer I developed a severe back strain, which developed into a frozen shoulder so now spend more time in PT than on the bike. I'm hoping to get through 2010 without having my nose out of joint, and pointed into the wind! Michael On Jan 30, 8:44 pm, Mark Hall onmybikem...@gmail.com wrote: Got me 63 AHH all fendered up and out on the wet and dirty roads now. First time I have ever really done much winter riding. Need some recommendations about how often and best method to keep the bike - drivetrain, derailleurs, etc - clean. Been thoroughly enjoying riding in the wet and with dark clouds above. mark -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
Re: [RBW] Re: Cleaning a Winter Drivetrain
Clean early and often, doesn't matter much how. Convenience and available time regulate your technique. Relube, too. Keep high pressure away from bearings, modern lubes are better, marginally, than gear oil, or Sturmey Archer Cycle Oil, which are amazing magnets for grit. Less lube is more, usually. Have fun experimenting for your conditions! On Sun, Jan 31, 2010 at 11:58 AM, MichaelH mhech...@gmail.com wrote: I take the lazy man's out. I avoid riding when the temps are just above freezing - just too much snow, salt and slush to battle with. At 10 - 20 degrees I can ride with much less muck. A couple of years ago I rode to work with temps in the mid thirties. By the time I arrived, the bike, right down to all 72 spokes, was covered in frozen slush and the (indexed) FR was...toast. I spent last spring and early summer recovering from foot surgery; in late summer I developed a severe back strain, which developed into a frozen shoulder so now spend more time in PT than on the bike. I'm hoping to get through 2010 without having my nose out of joint, and pointed into the wind! Michael On Jan 30, 8:44 pm, Mark Hall onmybikem...@gmail.com wrote: Got me 63 AHH all fendered up and out on the wet and dirty roads now. First time I have ever really done much winter riding. Need some recommendations about how often and best method to keep the bike - drivetrain, derailleurs, etc - clean. Been thoroughly enjoying riding in the wet and with dark clouds above. mark -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en. -- Bill Gibson Tempe, Arizona, USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups RBW Owners Bunch group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
