Pressure washed my bike... is it really really bad?
09-09-23, 08:53 AM
#51
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
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Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
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It is important to recognize the NSK seals on those tests are not what most cyclist have. I know you know but it is worth saying that the seals have the majority of frictional losses followed by the grease. Consequently, many high end bikes have less effective seals and grease formulations that are not as effective against water intrusion. For example, NTN LLB have non contacting seals. Water will get in. These bearings are "only" $25 each and I doubt the bikes you have seen have had such bearings. And let's not even take about CeramicSpeed. The fact is, generalizing isn't easy to do. Blasting high pressure on the bearings and grease used on most my bikes would be damned foolish. My Mt bike and touring bike have very robust bearing seals and grease and would very, very likely not have an issue with my power washer. But really how hard it is to direct the water close to but not causing any potential ingress to the bearings. Thus, just don't be stupid with the spray. You'll be fine. If you have a grand of Ceramic Speed bearings, you shouldn't be washing your bike yourself anyways....
An LLB bearing is for race applications and not necessarily what you would find on most bikes. Phil Wood, for example, sells two different kinds of bearing…standard and Carbonyte. The standard bearings “have full contact seals to ensure maximum durability.” The Cabonyte come with the following warning
Because the seals in our Carbonyte bearings are not full contact as would be found in our Standard bearings, we do not recommend them for year around mountain bikers or our round the world touring customers. Our Carbonyte bearing is for racing and fair weather riding.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
