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- CommentAuthormidnyterambla
- CommentTimeJun 17th 2009
I recently moved down to Charleston, SC for the summer. I've been commuting almost exclusively on my track bike to work. Being a town surrounded by open water on three sides, there is lots of weather. I've been caught in the rain numerous times.
In the short time I've been here, my chain has turned almost completely orange. I plan on replacing the track bolts and chain this weekend, but what preventative measures can I take?
I've been using a wax lubricant on the chain.
What about the (steel) frame?
Cheers,
-M/R -
- CommentAuthorRuffinit
- CommentTimeJun 17th 2009
Being from Washington State (where you don't tan, you rust) one of the things you learn is that rain is involved in everything you do. I averaged 7,000 miles a year with 85% of it commuting. You get wet. Your bike gets wet. State of mind for the most part. First off, I have a full-on touring bike. No appologies there. It has fenders, lights etc. YOU HAVE TO BE SEEN. I always kept it clean from road scum, brake pad/rim muck and it was always kept inside where it could dry off, both at work and at home. I also kept it waxed. The chain lube I used was silicon based, but there's better lube now. Especially in wet weather, you want a lube that you can feel when you touch your chain. There's a few discussions on the forum on this; just do a search. Best thing to do is to keep everything clean and waxed if possible, don't let a scratch or ding go without paint, make sure you have it inside so it can dry off. Change out anything that's mild steel to aluminum, stainless, or paint it.
Oh and BTW this same bike spent many many months and years at sea exposed to (limited) salt air, so I can say that the above works. Check out my Bridgestone (it's steel)... -
- CommentAuthorupthemaiden
- CommentTimeJun 17th 2009
I'd start with some aluminum chainring bolts if she rust on those bugs you, and I don't know if it's the right method or not, but the chain on my winter bike is usually heavily lubed and would definately turn anything it touched black with dirty grease. I just clean it often and try to keep the grease fresh. The bike I ride is the worst weather is an old cannondale mountain bike I paid $40 for as a single speed and put some fenders on. There's no room for nice bikes in awful weather. If your bike hasn't had any frame saver sprayed in it, i'd give that a shot so nothing starts rusting your frame from the inside out. I unfortunately don't have the convenience of bringing my bike inside while I'm at work, but the only real casualties I had over winter was a couple pairs of brake pads, and the vinyl cover on my cheap seat which just started to crack and split.
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