Bicycle Mechanics - Riding in the rain

Looks like we may be getting some rain for the Lancaster metric century.
What concerns you most regarding the bike
I have Chorus w/Eurus wheels my son Dura-Ace w/Easton Circut wheels both carbon frames
Any issues with the bottom brackets? Wheel bearings, etc
We realize the bikes will need a through cleaning / chain relube anything else?
Thanks

If you are in Lancaster County, PA, there will probably be an excess of horse manure plus fine grit produced by the steel carriage wheel rims grinding up the pavement surface. It is a beautiful place to ride but when those roads are wet the gorp thrown up by tires is exceptionally obnoxious. I usually take an older bike to ride around Lancaster. Better yet, rent one. Seriously, start by hosing and/or wiping everything down and then do a through inspection and relube at the least. Enjoy the riding!

Looks like we may be getting some rain for the Lancaster metric century.
What concerns you most regarding the bike
I have Chorus w/Eurus wheels my son Dura-Ace w/Easton Circut wheels both carbon frames
Any issues with the bottom brackets? Wheel bearings, etc
We realize the bikes will need a through cleaning / chain relube anything else?
Thanks
A few hours of rain, even if it is heavy, will have no effect on well-made bearings... as yours surely are, given that you have fancy top-of-the-line components!

Basically, the only maintenance is to wipe off water and mud. Especially be sure to dry the chain, as it can develop surface rust VERY quickly (almost overnight) if you don't dry it. Relube the chain if it gets noisy, but if it seems fine the next time you ride it, don't worry about it.

Your bearings will be fine, they are well sealed. You could use a hair dryer to remove all water from the drivetrain to avoid rust

The fine spray that comes off of the tires can find its way into the shifters and cables. These are areas where I have had problems in the past. I would plan to flush out the shifters with WD40, and clean and lubricate the cables. I would also spray the chain with WD40 and then re-lube the chain and shifters with your favorite chain lube. I've also had problems with cloth rim tape holding water against the spoke eyelets leading to corrosion and premature eyelet failure, but that may have been an unusual case. If you want to go to the trouble remove the tires, tubes, and rim tape to dry the rims. This seems extreme but it would have saved my $800 wheel.

Al

Just ride your bike. Its not the Wicked Witch of the West, it won't melt if water gets on it.

If you ride in the rain constantly, just do the routine repack of all bearing a little more often, starting with the headset, most likely bearings to get contaminated.

Just ride your bike. Its not the Wicked Witch of the West, it won't melt if water gets on it.

If you ride in the rain constantly, just do the routine repack of all bearing a little more often, starting with the headset, most likely bearings to get contaminated.
+1

Honestly! Bikes are made to ride in all kinds of conditions. I've ridden my road bike on snow, ice, gravel, in rain, hail, snow, mud... enjoy the ride and wipe water off of it afterwards :)

Something I picked up somewhere was putting grease around the headset bearings, on the outside. THis is an extra barrier against water.

Something I picked up somewhere was putting grease around the headset bearings, on the outside. THis is an extra barrier against water.
You can also use a short section of an old inner tube to keep dirt out. This is especially good for old JIS headsets w/out dust caps...

I generally just ride my bike free from worry that the elements will wear it out. If that happens, I'll either fix it or get a new bike. Bikes are a fun piece of equipment - and I enjoy riding/maintaining mine, having the LBS upgrade components, etc. But I don't regard them as I would some exclusive automobile that, if maintained in pristine OEM condition will somehow appreciate in value in 30 years.

I would say to just ride your bike, follow the advice here on basic preventative maintenance, and not worry about it. Of course, my comment is moot, since you are already out there, hopefully, doing your thing.

Good luck.

Caruso

The fine spray that comes off of the tires can find its way into the shifters and cables. These are areas where I have had problems in the past. I would plan to flush out the shifters with WD40, and clean and lubricate the cables. I would also spray the chain with WD40 and then re-lube the chain and shifters with your favorite chain lube. I've also had problems with cloth rim tape holding water against the spoke eyelets leading to corrosion and premature eyelet failure, but that may have been an unusual case. If you want to go to the trouble remove the tires, tubes, and rim tape to dry the rims. This seems extreme but it would have saved my $800 wheel.

Al

Vaseline around the spoke ferrules.

Protects it against water entry so you dont get rusty nipples ;), gets a bit dirty however, but wipe it away and the rim will be sparkling underneath.

Did it on my rear wheel, but never bothered with the front.

Front wheel under the rim tape was rusting like crazy (now replaced), rear wheel looked just like the day I bought the bike.

I live in Scotland and right now I'm really worried as the weather forecast tells me that we are about to have a whole day of sunshine. As I'm only 67 years of age I've never experienced anything but rain and I'm very worried as to the problems sunshine may cause my bike. Is there something I can do to prevent these? Are my bearings likely to run dry and is my chain going to seize up?
Is it worth the risk or should I just stay in that day and play safe.:rolleyes:

If you are in Lancaster County, PA, there will probably be an excess of horse manure plus fine grit produced by the steel carriage wheel rims grinding up the pavement surface. It is a beautiful place to ride but when those roads are wet the gorp thrown up by tires is exceptionally obnoxious. I usually take an older bike to ride around Lancaster. Better yet, rent one. Seriously, start by hosing and/or wiping everything down and then do a through inspection and relube at the least. Enjoy the riding!

Fenders would definitely be a help here, wouldn't they? Skunk stripes are bad, skunk stripes made up of wet gritty horse poop, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeach!!!!!!

Wel it never did rain, but thanks to all who gave good advice for when it does!

I live in Scotland and right now I'm really worried as the weather forecast tells me that we are about to have a whole day of sunshine. As I'm only 67 years of age I've never experienced anything but rain and I'm very worried as to the problems sunshine may cause my bike. Is there something I can do to prevent these? Are my bearings likely to run dry and is my chain going to seize up?
Is it worth the risk or should I just stay in that day and play safe.:rolleyes:
:roflmao: :beer:

Are you *sure* you're in Scotland? Check around, make sure you haven't been kidnapped and taken to a parallel universe!