Less than a Month old and already turning to Rust?

[Jezston]

I've had a Kona Dew Plus for about six months now - although it got nicked a couple of months ago, and I got a new one a few weeks back.

Just gave it a quick clean on my lunchbreak as it had been accruing a fair amount of crap with the poor weather we've had lately and with it's lack of mudguards ... and was a bit shocked to find a LOT of orange on it.

The chain, gears, brake discs and several screws on the bike are all covered in little orange and brown spots!

Now, it appears all the other bikes in the bike rack at work are similarly attired, so is this something I shouldn't be worried about? Or is something seriously amiss with my bike? Should I have been a lot more thorough with my looking after it in the last few weeks?

 

[Landslide]

...it had been accruing a fair amount of crap with the poor weather we've had lately...

...and the resultant grit/salt on the roads.
Unfortunately, you need to be much more fastidious about cleaning the road grime away and re-lubng ASAP.

 

[ChrisKH]

I'll be honest and say maintenance isn't my best point but my commuter bike started developing rust on certain of the components after 6-8 months. I put it down to hard use, a very wet winter combined with lots of gritting and cheap componentry. I expect it to a degree now and I only think I can avoid by upping my maintenance schedule and wiping the bike down after every wet ride which isn't practical for me. Even my son's bike, which doesn't go out in the wet developed some spots simply by being in the garage.

 

[ianrauk]

As Landslide says it's all the salt that has been laid down during the bad weather. It just eats into bare metal. It's not the bike. The good thing is all the parts you describe are easily cleaned and/or replaced. Keep it clean and keep it lubed.

 

[jimboalee]

Finnegan's Waxoil, Furniture polish and Mr Sheen.

 

[mickle]

Replace your standard bolts with stainless steel ones.

 

[on the road]

When I've been out in the rain I always clean my bike as soon as I get in.

 

[Paul_Smith SRCC]

You will be amazed how mention that this time of year, applied especially to those who may have a Sunday bike, they put it away wet and come back the next Sunday and the transmission has rusted.

Can echo the others as to why, plus second what 'on the road' said, it is important to clean the bike as soon as you get in, especially after a wet ride at this time of year.

Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk