2 weeks old and already rusting
 

It's been about 2 weeks and I am already seeing rust on the chain, and screws. Not the biggest deal but seriously!

I will hose it off but not going to be anal about wiping it down and stuff. If I wanted it to look like new I would then not ride it or even buy it.

Is the chain lubricated/greased?

I am not doing it all the time. I take it I should do it more often?

fNot if it's rusting!

OP: Chains are not rustproof and require regular maintenance, particular when riding in the rain.

"Hosing it off" probably isn't the best approach to rust prevention.

Oh well. I need to get the mud/dirt off it and hosing is the easiest option.

ride on man, it will be fine

Oh well then, it's going to get rusty. Water+ steel= rust.

When your chain (or anything made of steel) rusts, pits form and weaken the metal, so your chain, in addition to looking terrible and squeaking, will not last as long.

It is of course your investment, and your ride, so do as you wish, but if you want to keep it looking good and running like new, you might want to take a look at something other than "the easiest option."

Eh it's a chain and few screws. Easy and not expensive to replace. The bike is aluminum so the most important part won't rust. It's all good. Going to keep on riding.

Thanks for the input everyone.

Was there a point to posting this, then, apart from trolling?

""I will hose it off but not going to be anal about wiping it down and stuff""

^^ This is your problem. But I guess you just don't care.

Dirt and mud gets on the chain and soaks up chain lube. You wash it off and remove the now greasy dirt and replace it with water. Chain rusts.

Relube after cleaning. That's not being anal, it's maintenance.

Maybe an all time silly thread. I shall diagram it:

A. It's awful that the chain is rusting after 2 weeks because I wash it with water.

B. Washing it with water makes it rust.

C. Then I guess a rusty chain is no big deal.

But he forgot to price out the replacement chainrings and cassette that will be caused by extra wear from that rusty chain. Live and learn. Bikes are replaceable, time spent riding isn't.

Yes there was, I wanted input. Doesn't mean I have to take the advice. Trolling, people and their Internet terms.

You can replace the screws with stainless steel version and they won't rust. I'm thinking of doing that on my bike as I just annoyingly noticed my screw heads gathering rust.

Your chain really shouldn't be rusting if it's oiled well. I think you can buy a stainless steel chain to, but, it really shouldn't be rusting to begin with with oil on it.

Generally, I find that a bike with a poorly lubricated chain rides like crap. Creak, creak, weird snapping sound, creak, I think I can, I think I can.

Your OP is a complaint. Not a single reference to getting any input. Looks more like you were expecting "I know right..." and instead got "here's what you're doing wrong" and didn't like it.

Always do the easy and cheap thing first.

A coat of automotive wax will solve the entire problem apart from the chain.

Just slather it up in there, but not the braking surface on the rims. Doesn't even have to be wiped off.

Done.


-Tim-

Is the 2 week old bike already scratched up too? If you don't mind a rusty chain you might as well go for the gold!

And don't forget to (at least) rinse off metal parts that get covered in sweat during a hot summer ride, such as the headset bolt, stem bolts, perhaps metal barrel adjusters mounted to the downtube. Otherwise, those will get rusty pretty fast from all the sweat...At least, mine will.

Apply wet lube.
Wipe off.
You're welcome.

So you dont care that it doesnt look like new, but you are complaining that it doesnt look like new.


brilliant

Here we go
:popcorn:
:trainwreck:

LMAO...
I a been on many many forums for well over 20 years. I am tired of flame wars so the only people that will be doing the flaming is those responding to my OP.

As for all the flames, complaints, and digs this is my reaction:

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3977a661ad.gif

Don't you have something better to do?

Pro tip: If you have a steel steer tube and aluminum headset spacers a Dremel tool with the proper attachment is a great way to cut through the spacers so you can pry them off after they have electrochemically fused to the steerer tube due to lack of maintenance. Ask me how I know.

While aluminum does not rust, it can corrode/oxidize.

Cool. I have a Dremel and so far used it for two things:
1. To sharpen my hedge trimmers
2. Making a storage/disposable box for my razor blades (box-cutter and those that I shave with). I have that glued shut and a slit just the right size to slide them in. When filled I just tape the slot and throw away. I use Altoids tins in case you are curious.

Yeah. Because you really want something like that to happen. Welcome to my iggy list.

So I got this new bike and I saw that there were these metal stubby thingies poking out of the metal part of the wheel. I found that after a little fiddling that I could push in a thingie on the nubby things and some sort of trapped gas would be relased. I figured this trapped gas has to be a screw up, so I released all the gas and it was fine.

Totally unrelated thing, lately my bike is really hard to pedal and steer, and the wheels keep getting bent. Damn you, Bontrager!