"There is no bad weather."
02-24-16 | 01:44 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
… I try never to ride my pristine CF bike in nasty weather, though cold and clean roads are fine. …
I ride two CF bikes in bad weather. But not all at once. 
CF and bad weather go perfect together. Nothing to rust or corrode, no? …
Definately can't complain about the temps lately. February this year is a cakewalk compared to last year. Last year was a bunch of small snow storms one after the other. Was off the bike for almost the entire month, if I recall. You must have been pretty hosed with all the snow up in Boston last year...
CF and bad weather go perfect together. Nothing to rust or corrode, no? …Definately can't complain about the temps lately. February this year is a cakewalk compared to last year. Last year was a bunch of small snow storms one after the other. Was off the bike for almost the entire month, if I recall. You must have been pretty hosed with all the snow up in Boston last year...
It sounds like your advice on not riding the bike is from people with OCD. If road salt caused damage, bikes wouldn't last. By the time it really caused parts to wear out, assuming you take reasonable care, you'll be 30 years older.
As owner of an expensive CF bike myself… I would think that road salt must be corrosive, and while it might not wear out parts for 30 years, it may strip away the final metallic finish on the aluminum parts, and perhaps dull the paint on the CF, if only for aesthetics, for what that is worth.
Of more concern I think is that road salt is abrasive, and can more effectively damage the drive train that way. And since the salt is used to melt snow and ice, it produces standing salt-water containing road grime, and very often even more abrasive sand, that can be thrown up into the drive train. I’m not particularly inclined to wash my road bike that I use so frequently for commuting, and for which I don’t have easy facilities (in an urban condo)...
Of more concern I think is that road salt is abrasive, and can more effectively damage the drive train that way. And since the salt is used to melt snow and ice, it produces standing salt-water containing road grime, and very often even more abrasive sand, that can be thrown up into the drive train. I’m not particularly inclined to wash my road bike that I use so frequently for commuting, and for which I don’t have easy facilities (in an urban condo)...
Rust never sleeps, and salt is the enemy. The effects of moisture alone can be mitigated with proper lubrication, but salt eat parts and can wreak all kinds of havoc.
So obviously keeping it as clean as you can is important, take out every bolt and grease the crap out of it.Grease and lube everything often. Make sure you remove and grease your seatpost often! Salt spray finds it's way down into it and seizes them up.(not on CF frames) I just use standard teflon grease, and I use Boeshield T-9 spray lube for winter. I over lubricate most everything. I'd rather clean dirty lube off than try to remove rust or a stuck seat post. Chains do get rusty easily, much of it is light surface rust that cleans off ok if you keep on it. But I expect that and I replace my chain every spring on my winter commuter.
It's the cost of doing business if you want to keep your bike in good shape. In the meantime save your money for a winter beater, it can be less costly in the long run.
So obviously keeping it as clean as you can is important, take out every bolt and grease the crap out of it.Grease and lube everything often. Make sure you remove and grease your seatpost often! Salt spray finds it's way down into it and seizes them up.(not on CF frames) I just use standard teflon grease, and I use Boeshield T-9 spray lube for winter. I over lubricate most everything. I'd rather clean dirty lube off than try to remove rust or a stuck seat post. Chains do get rusty easily, much of it is light surface rust that cleans off ok if you keep on it. But I expect that and I replace my chain every spring on my winter commuter.
It's the cost of doing business if you want to keep your bike in good shape. In the meantime save your money for a winter beater, it can be less costly in the long run.
02-24-16 | 02:51 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 1
From: still above ground
Bikes: 2016 Specialized crosstrail comp disc
Come to Florida during a tropical storm.
Rain in torrents so hard that each drop feels like a needle and the wind blowing so hard you can't stay steady.
There is no good reason to ride a bike during one of these beauties
Rain in torrents so hard that each drop feels like a needle and the wind blowing so hard you can't stay steady.
There is no good reason to ride a bike during one of these beauties
02-24-16 | 03:22 PM
#29
meh
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,742
Likes: 1,129
From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Exactly!
I've rarely skipped a day of riding because of the weather. Every reason stated in this thread (hail, gale-force winds, pouring rain, cold, etc), I've been out in it and been "happy". I will 'adjust' my ride because of the conditions, like avoid busy roads; or take a break under a bridge while the hail is intense. After a winter of biking in the snow, ice, sub-zero temps ... that first spring day with sun and 55F feels SO AMAZING!
Riding in adverse conditions isn't for everybody, I get that. I will not ask anybody to ride in conditions they are not comfortable with. On the other hand, don't make blanket statements about how 'dangerous' it is to ride in 'bad conditions'.
(I am too young for 50+, but I'm getting damn close to joining this club)
I've rarely skipped a day of riding because of the weather. Every reason stated in this thread (hail, gale-force winds, pouring rain, cold, etc), I've been out in it and been "happy". I will 'adjust' my ride because of the conditions, like avoid busy roads; or take a break under a bridge while the hail is intense. After a winter of biking in the snow, ice, sub-zero temps ... that first spring day with sun and 55F feels SO AMAZING!
Riding in adverse conditions isn't for everybody, I get that. I will not ask anybody to ride in conditions they are not comfortable with. On the other hand, don't make blanket statements about how 'dangerous' it is to ride in 'bad conditions'.
(I am too young for 50+, but I'm getting damn close to joining this club)
02-24-16 | 06:29 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
I have quoted [MENTION=99453]scoatw[/MENTION] about Winter Riding, "Gear and gumption."
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 02-24-16 at 06:45 PM.
02-24-16 | 06:45 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Exactly!
I've rarely skipped a day of riding because of the weather. Every reason stated in this thread (hail, gale-force winds, pouring rain, cold, etc), I've been out in it and been "happy". I will 'adjust' my ride because of the conditions, like avoid busy roads; or take a break under a bridge while the hail is intense. After a winter of biking in the snow, ice, sub-zero temps ... that first spring day with sun and 55F feels SO AMAZING!
Riding in adverse conditions isn't for everybody, I get that. I will not ask anybody to ride in conditions they are not comfortable with. On the other hand, don't make blanket statements about how 'dangerous' it is to ride in 'bad conditions'.
(I am too young for 50+, but I'm getting damn closeto joining this club)
I've rarely skipped a day of riding because of the weather. Every reason stated in this thread (hail, gale-force winds, pouring rain, cold, etc), I've been out in it and been "happy". I will 'adjust' my ride because of the conditions, like avoid busy roads; or take a break under a bridge while the hail is intense. After a winter of biking in the snow, ice, sub-zero temps ... that first spring day with sun and 55F feels SO AMAZING!
Riding in adverse conditions isn't for everybody, I get that. I will not ask anybody to ride in conditions they are not comfortable with. On the other hand, don't make blanket statements about how 'dangerous' it is to ride in 'bad conditions'.
(I am too young for 50+, but I'm getting damn closeto joining this club)
So am I. But at 73 I've come to accept it.
This has been the first winter ever I've stayed on a bike and not had to go "underground" to basement stationary recumbent. Credit to mild weather this year along with my adding a suitable winter bike going into the season.
02-25-16 | 08:56 AM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 23
From: Thornton, CO
Bikes: 2003 Orbea Orca, 2003 Bianchi Imola, ? Waterford
I've rarely skipped a day of riding because of the weather. Every reason stated in this thread (hail, gale-force winds, pouring rain, cold, etc), I've been out in it and been "happy". I will 'adjust' my ride because of the conditions, like avoid busy roads; or take a break under a bridge while the hail is intense. After a winter of biking in the snow, ice, sub-zero temps ... that first spring day with sun and 55F feels SO AMAZING!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
gearbasher
Advocacy & Safety
69
08-25-12 05:37 PM
