samuelhoare7

Hi there,


I have a carbon seat post and a titanium frame road bike.


see attached photos


i am wondering

1)how often and how I should clean the seat post ?

2)should i use a general bike grease around the clamp between the seat post and frame

3) what should i use on the seat post itself ? e.g. a fiber grip paste ?

4) is this pinkish colour normal ?

5) for general bolts on the bike - e.g. in photos from the seatpost / saddle bolt - how is best to clean and maintain them e.g. clean with WD 40 or another degreaser and then dry and use a general grease before putting them back on ?


Thanks

samuelhoare7

ah i just realised i cant post photos as i have just joined the forum!

Andrew R Stewart 

1- Here in the Rust Belt I suggest about once a year although I know almost no one who does it this frequently. A lot of the real answer depends on the conditions and exposures of your riding. More wet, more body or road salt, more mud, more frequently is best.
2- With a non moving assembly anti seize compound is the usual industry application. Grease is for assemblies that have to move, like bearings or adjusting barrels. Having said that this question is much like asking what's the best soap. That you use some sort of soap somewhat frequently is what others around you care about Now when you add carbon fiber into the mix which doesn't like being compressed real tightly carbon paste or carbon assembly compound (a grease like jelly with fine grit the better bite into the carbon surface) is generally suggested.
3- See 2
4- I believe you can post photos to the gallery and ask us to go there
5- WD40 is not a true degreaser but as a first step quite good. If the part required a true cleaning the next step is to use a solvent (I like Clean Streak). I use TirFlow, Phil oil or grease on most all my assemblies, depending on their future access, how much "protection" I think they need and what's within reach at the moment I need something. Andy

KerryIrons

Any quality grease will do. I buy mine by the pound at my local hardware/automotive store. No need for degreasers - just wipe surfaces with a rag. For the seat post, a thin coat of grease usually works fine, but if the post slips you may assembly paste, which is just grease with some grit in it. Whether this is meaningful to you depends totally on your riding conditions as stated by another poster, but I redo my seat post every 10,000 miles or so.

Greg161

I like the Finish Line Fiber Grip lube for my carbon seat post to reduce slippage. WD40 is a Water Displacement for applying to exposed metal components to displace water. It is not a lubricant per se. How often you clean and reapply is also dependent on riding conditions such as wet environments.