Commuting - Post-rain maintenance

I understand that there is maintenance that should be done immediatly after riding in wet or rainy weather. I'm not sure what they are. Say I have been riding in rain for 1.5 hours, what should I do for the bike when I get home?

Cheers,

Clean and dry it, then relube (with water resistant oil) the chain after drying it first and maybe cleaning it. A little drop of water resistant oil at pivots in mechs now and then. Check your hubs and regrease them once a season along with pedalaxels. I use Finish Line Cross Country lube, a syntetic oil. Man, it smells good;) . I also uses Finish Line syntetic grease, don´t smells that good though:mad: .

Anders K

The amount that it rains here, I just don't have the time or motivation to rinse and clean my bike after I ride home from a long day of work.

I relube often, clean when it is really bad, and change my chain every 1000 miles (!!!). If the brakes slip a bit more than I want, I clean with some rubbing alcohol. Otherwise, I don't worry. It's just going to get wet and dirty next time I go out anyhow.

Originally posted by Spire
I understand that there is maintenance that should be done immediatly after riding in wet or rainy weather. I'm not sure what they are. Say I have been riding in rain for 1.5 hours, what should I do for the bike when I get home?

Cheers,

The previous advice is great advice. One thing I pay attention to is where the tires splatter the dirty water, usually on the bottom of the downtube, bb shell. Chain is especially important since that is the only lubed part that is exposed. Pay special attention if you have steel parts or frame.

Just thought I'd share a funny story. I was riding in the rain just a few days ago. The tires formed a nice little skunk stripe up my back. However, I didn't notice that the color of the skunk stripe on my shorts was consistent with a bodily function. When I went into work with the shorts on and jacket off, it looked like I had reverse skidmarks:eek: I first had looks of shock, then the jokes came. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Good thing I brought a change of clothes.

Fenders are my next purchase.

Fenders really cut down on your maintainance time.
I dont do anything special after a rainy commute. Most of the time there is mud clinging to my bike, but I ride muddy tracks every day. With some wax on the frame, a bid of dirt does no real harm.

Occasionally Ill clean muck off the rims, and I keep the chain lubed, but the idea of cleaning a wet bike when I get home on a cold, dark, wet winter evening is just out of the question.

I just give it a quick spray with RP-7 to remove any corrosion that gets into it, and re-lube the chain if I find it necessary. I'm not in a habit of spending too long on it because in normal circumstances (i.e. not in the worst drought we've ever had), I'll just cop a tropical downpour the next day if I do.