Originally Posted by
elcruxio
Let's face it, even if you do occasionally see sub freezing temps, your conditions don't expose bikes to any significant amount of salt stress.
Your average annual snowfall is a tiny sprinkling every now and then. You're riding on practically dry or at most, damp roads. So tell me, how is salt going to get on your drivetrain in any significant way?
A ton of salt. Your bike ends up coated in white color after just a short period of time. When there is snow on the ground the ice makes the snow melt, and you are riding through pools of salt water. When it is dry, the salt becomes a powder like dust, and sticks to your bike.
Maybe you guys use less road salt in Europe but here in North America your bike gets salt on it during the winter as if you threw it into the ocean.