Post Rain Maintenance...
 

Quick question for you guys. 2 months ago I purchased a 2011 Specialized Sirrus Sport. I am in love with my bike and try extremely hard to keep her in good condition.

The past couple times I went riding I got caught in the rain unfortunately. I just wanted to know if there are any specific steps I should be taking to help ensure the short and long term health of my bike?

My immediate concern stems from waking up this morning and looking over my bike and noticing a small build up of rust on the exposed part of the front brake cables. I thought this was unusual for an only 2 month old bike.

If you ride in the wet and do not undertake heroic measures (e.g., extremely meticulous post-ride wipe-downs), you will see rust on certain exposed parts, such as the inside surfaces of bolt heads. I recommend learning to live with it.

I regard full-coverage fenders, with large/long mudflaps, as the best protection against the ravages of road spray, with its delicious mix of toxic and caustic chemicals. A front fender with a low mudflap is especially valuable in protecting your bottom bracket, crankset, feet & pedals, and chain from spray. Perhaps others can advise you on how to fit full fenders on a Sirrus, if it's possible. A seatpost-mount rear fender -- IF it's mounted suitably close to the tire, as they commonly are not -- can protect the rider's rear end, but it's only partially effective in protecting the bike.

Watch for drivetrain rust, especially on the chain, which can shed its lube quickly in the rain. You might try a tenacious lube, such as Pedro's Syn Lube. Other lubricated contact points, such as brake pivots and the ends of shift and brake cables, will need attention too. I tend to be seriously aggressive about regularly cleaning and lubricating my bike during rainy and snowy periods, though others with a more laissez-faire attitude will probably report perfectly good results.

Fenders w/mud flaps...I use Phil Wood Tenacious oil on my chains, I also have chain guards.

Aaron :)

I just clean and lube the chain on a regular but not daily basis, even though in winter it rains most days. My mtb has just a little sign of corrosion, but is not a problem.

I would give it a nice wash down after the rain and remove any dirt from places they aren't supposed to be. Make sure you clean the chain and basically all of the drive train good and I like to clean and re-lube after any wet situation.

When it is rainy here it usually stays that way for a few days. I dry off all steel parts and lightly clean/lube the chain every time after riding in the rain. Once the bad weather moves out I clean the bike and re-lube. Wet lube for chain, and dry lube for everything else. A bit of park tools grease on the front and rear derailleur springs if it has been washed away.

My Sirrus did the same thing.
Specialized put some crappy chrome on these bikes.
I dont ride in the rain, but I do live near the beach so I expect some rust. Good chrome doesn't rust like this though.
The curved brake tube and the release bracket it clips into, the skewer nuts and levers, and the front derailer bracket all rusted prematurely. My bike mechanic went over/above last visit and replaced the curved tubes free of charge :)

After a rain, I clean and lube the chain, cogs, jockey pullys and rings. I also clean the rims and bike generally. It takes quite some time for rust to really bite anywhere else but it will happen. I use stainless cables.

I extend the kickstand.Most of the bike is aluminum,painted or stainless.I do a weekly service,well,weekly.

After a rain ride: While the bike is still wet, before all the grime dries and sticks, spray the bike off with a hose. Spray, not blast it off with a stream. After the bike dries, lube. Especially the drivetrain.

You may, of course, get more meticulous than this; as meticulous as you like, but for mechanical purposes, there's no need.

Do not forget to check the drain hole at your bottom bracket. It tends to get clogged with gunk.

Re-lube the chain. Riding in the rain is the only time the bike gets "washed" til the end of the season (when it gets to friggin' cold to ride).

Worried about rust? Treat the bits on the bike with Boeshield T-9.

So it seems the main thing seems to be to clean and re-lube my chain. I happen to have some lube laying around I bought from Sports Authority. Not sure if it's good or not. Let me know. It's called White Lightning Clean Ride.

http://www.sportsauthority.com/produ...entPage=search

What exactly constitutes everything else? What else should I lube up? And sorry for my noobism but where are the Deraileur springs?

Again sorry for the ignorance but do you care to explain to me where this is? Not even sure what is considered the bottom bracket...

Check the remedial mechanics class..

The bottom bracket is the cylindrical object that serves as the axis for your cranks. Your pedals are connected to the cranks. The drain hole is at the very bottom and center of your frame. Go here http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help

Google Sheldon Brown as well.

FWIW not all bottom brackets have drain holes...

Use the Park Tool site for how too's.

Aaron :)