Maintenance after long rainy ride
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,836
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 892 Post(s)
Liked 2,053 Times
in
1,074 Posts
Maintenance after long rainy ride
Over the weekend I rode a 600km brevet, almost all in light to medium heavy rain. It included twenty or so miles of gravel/dirt roads. At times my shoe covers were coated with a layer of mud and grit, later cleared off by rain.
Due to a last minute issue, i had a rear fender only, so you can imagine how much crap was flung onto the drivetrain.
Frame is steel, bearings are cartridge. Chain is newish, wheels are new, BB is pretty new.
I wonder what level of cleaning is recommended.
The next day, I hosed the bike down, washing away as much grit as possible from the drivetrain, disc calipers, derailleurs, and other surfaces. I then cleaned the exposed surfaces with a rag and Simple Green, rinsed, and wiped down what I could. Finally i applied chain lube, and sprayed WD-40 in all pivot points.
Brake pads are shot, so those will be replaced.
I wonder if i should go to the next level, disassembling jockey pulleys, replacing cables, even inspecting and potentially replacing bearings.
Due to a last minute issue, i had a rear fender only, so you can imagine how much crap was flung onto the drivetrain.
Frame is steel, bearings are cartridge. Chain is newish, wheels are new, BB is pretty new.
I wonder what level of cleaning is recommended.
The next day, I hosed the bike down, washing away as much grit as possible from the drivetrain, disc calipers, derailleurs, and other surfaces. I then cleaned the exposed surfaces with a rag and Simple Green, rinsed, and wiped down what I could. Finally i applied chain lube, and sprayed WD-40 in all pivot points.
Brake pads are shot, so those will be replaced.
I wonder if i should go to the next level, disassembling jockey pulleys, replacing cables, even inspecting and potentially replacing bearings.
#2
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,780
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3583 Post(s)
Liked 3,396 Times
in
1,930 Posts
Thoroughly clean drivetrain. Assess bearing smoothness, replace/repack as needed. Assess cable movement, replace as needed.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,835
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 674 Post(s)
Liked 739 Times
in
430 Posts
Ditto the above. I assume you were careful with the hose, and didn't direct a jet of water into the bearings. Cartridge seals aren't that good.
RD jockey wheels are easy enough to clean out when you get a chance. If you have external cable housing, the important piece to check and service is the loop at the RD. I have a bike with the loop run up the seat stay rather than the chain stay, and I have more problems with that than anything else in the rain.
Sometime soon you may want to take wheels off the bike to check the hubs, maybe even remove the crankset to check the BB. You may get a different feel in the bearings without the mass.
And service your frame pump if you have one, before it's too late and you need it. Ask me how I know.
RD jockey wheels are easy enough to clean out when you get a chance. If you have external cable housing, the important piece to check and service is the loop at the RD. I have a bike with the loop run up the seat stay rather than the chain stay, and I have more problems with that than anything else in the rain.
Sometime soon you may want to take wheels off the bike to check the hubs, maybe even remove the crankset to check the BB. You may get a different feel in the bearings without the mass.
And service your frame pump if you have one, before it's too late and you need it. Ask me how I know.
Likes For andrewclaus:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
Excellent advice. These things lead a rough existence with almost complete neglect until the day you really need them. I've had the same experience! One way to help them survive is to wrap electrical tape over the valve end to keep out dirt and water when they aren't in use.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,665
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,059 Times
in
743 Posts
I recommend NOT using WD-40 on any lubed joints and bearings unless you plan on using it just for cleaning and use proper lubes afterwards. It has a solvent that will dissolve grease and WD-40 is a very poor replacement.
Likes For Crankycrank:
#6
Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Corn Field County, Illinois
Posts: 57
Bikes: 2023 Cervelo Soloist 2007 Specialized Tricross 2017 Colnago CRS 2001 Schwinn Homegrown
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times
in
22 Posts
Remove the seatpost and invert the bike. If any water drains out leave the seatpost out for whatever time it takes dry.
Likes For crowbike:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 978
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 504 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 637 Times
in
355 Posts
Over the weekend I rode a 600km brevet, almost all in light to medium heavy rain. It included twenty or so miles of gravel/dirt roads. At times my shoe covers were coated with a layer of mud and grit, later cleared off by rain.
Due to a last minute issue, i had a rear fender only, so you can imagine how much crap was flung onto the drivetrain.
Frame is steel, bearings are cartridge. Chain is newish, wheels are new, BB is pretty new.
I wonder what level of cleaning is recommended.
The next day, I hosed the bike down, washing away as much grit as possible from the drivetrain, disc calipers, derailleurs, and other surfaces. I then cleaned the exposed surfaces with a rag and Simple Green, rinsed, and wiped down what I could. Finally i applied chain lube, and sprayed WD-40 in all pivot points.
Brake pads are shot, so those will be replaced.
I wonder if i should go to the next level, disassembling jockey pulleys, replacing cables, even inspecting and potentially replacing bearings.
Due to a last minute issue, i had a rear fender only, so you can imagine how much crap was flung onto the drivetrain.
Frame is steel, bearings are cartridge. Chain is newish, wheels are new, BB is pretty new.
I wonder what level of cleaning is recommended.
The next day, I hosed the bike down, washing away as much grit as possible from the drivetrain, disc calipers, derailleurs, and other surfaces. I then cleaned the exposed surfaces with a rag and Simple Green, rinsed, and wiped down what I could. Finally i applied chain lube, and sprayed WD-40 in all pivot points.
Brake pads are shot, so those will be replaced.
I wonder if i should go to the next level, disassembling jockey pulleys, replacing cables, even inspecting and potentially replacing bearings.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,836
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 892 Post(s)
Liked 2,053 Times
in
1,074 Posts
Excellent advice. These things lead a rough existence with almost complete neglect until the day you really need them. I've had the same experience! One way to help them survive is to wrap electrical tape over the valve end to keep out dirt and water when they aren't in use.
Likes For downtube42:
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,836
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 892 Post(s)
Liked 2,053 Times
in
1,074 Posts
Thanks, good info. Looks like I have some more work to do this weekend.