Fizzaly

Rear hub bearings let go, it was enough of an even it broke the top pulley on my derailleur, I have only my self to blame though. Been a busy winter with selling and buying a house and getting a new job led to me ignoring normal maintenance on the poor kuwie. Crank bearings didn't fair much better, time for a rebuild...

blakcloud

I love fixing my bike. Just me and the bike, quiet down time. There is something satisfying accomplishing a task and then moving to the next. Hopefully you get that same feeling when you are fixing your own bike. Just think that it is an early spring overhaul.

hueyhoolihan

reminds me of some grisly crime scene photos. disturbing...

Fizzaly

I really do enjoy working on it, I built it from the ground up just hate seeing her down. I knew I needed new wheelset just hoping the rear would last to the summer but I guess not.

wolfchild

This winter has been very hard to ride. And it's not over yet... I have three bikes to choose from, so if one of my bikes breaks down, I just grab another one. All my bikes are fixed gear or singlespeed so that keeps maintenance to a minimum.
The bike that I've been riding this winter is going to need a new bottom bracket some time soon. It's getting very loose with lot's of play in it. It's an isis bottom bracket and they last me on average of 3 winters before needing replacement. One of my other bikes has a square taper bottom bracket and they last a lot longer then isis. I also put a new chain at the start of winter and it will need to be replaced in spring. So yeah winters are hard on bikes.

acidfast7

In England, the winter is easy, if you're not flooded!

Fizzaly

I've never had a problem with my gears in the winter just bearings this year. I also never used to leave it outside when at work and I've been currently doing that which may come to an end as I found water pooled up inside bottom bracket.

acidfast7

I was quite impress that my **** FGSS has a hole in the bottom bracket to allow drainage ... so even if the components suck and wear out, at least I won't get a flood there!

wolfchild

My Surly also has a hole in the bottom bracket shell, but then my other two bikes don't.

acidfast7

I'm quite impressed actually. It's a bottom of the barrel of the bike here ... that was a nice touch!

wapiti

Drill one. It's easy.

GamblerGORD53

That white goop looks totally lame.
Go to the hardware store and get some Krazy synthetic grease. Good stuff and cheap.

Fizzaly

The kuwie has a hole but it's a screw hole for the cable guide, I also run an unsealed cup and ball bottom bracket.

ThermionicScott 

+1. It's good practice to have some way for water to get out if it gets in. I recently drilled one for my Bianchi after water intrusion ruined one end of the new spindle I'd put in a year ago. (Wondered why it developed play, then felt tight and notchy when I went to adjust it again months later. )

BTW, that avatar reminds me: have you guys seen the Lego movie yet?

Fizzaly

The white goop started life off red, the white color it changes is why I've since changed to park synthetic, it's much more water resistant.

JReade

Based on that pitting, I feel like that wasn't just damage from this winter.

Fizzaly

I'm assuming you're talking about the spindle? It was unused prior to being installed and I put it in the bike August of last year, since August I've ran it for about 2k miles of commuting, and two weekend mountain rides of about 300miles each.

JReade

Wow, I was way off! Is it just the road salt that tears through it? I've put that kind of mileage on my touring bike since I bought it, and that was 3 years ago....its a 1984 on the original spindle.

Fizzaly

No salt in Boise, I think water pooling in BB had some of the blame, and not checking it once since I put it in.