Originally Posted by
m_yates
(2) Will salt destroy my steel frame? Would an aluminum frame be a better winter commuter? I have spent around $1000 on setting my current bike up the way I like it and do not want it destroyed in one year.
I have no winter biking experience, however, I have owned a steel bodied car for many years in northeast winter conditions. The #1 thing to do to prevent corrosion is to wash off the salt. After each big snowstorm once the roads are clear and dried out I'll go to a DIY carwash and hose off the undercarriage.
I understand a high pressure hose is deadly to bike bearings since it'll wash out grease, but a gentle rinse and re-oiling will probably do wonders to keep corrosion at bay.
My bike already has some surface rust, which I've touched up, so I have no worries about seeing a little more this winter
