water in carbon frame of ribble sportive

[xroads]

I noticed today whilst lifting my bike, a water swishing sound. I was surprised as the water bottle wasnt in the bottle holder.
As I swayed the bike, I could hear the water going up and down the cross tube.
My mistake was to let the water leak out of the headset, as this made the headset gritty. New replacement integrated headset is now on order, as the dirty water had ingressed into the sealed bearings. About half a pint of water was drained out!

When I took the headset apart I could see signs of corrosion, as the water had been condensing up there for some time. The bottom bracket appears to feel okay.

The bike is a ribble sportive. The only points of possible water entry I can think off is the seatpost clamp, or more likely the front derailleur gear cable which passes through the carbon frame near the rear wheel and exits somewhere under the bottom bracket. I think the exit hole for the gear cable on the underside must have gunked up and held the water. I have now cleared it, so will keep an eye out after any future wet rides.

I am still however concerned, as the exit hole on the underside is still about a centimetre from the lowest point, so could still hold some water.
Any tips on how to deal with this problem? Ideally there should be a drain hole at the bottom of the bottom bracket.
Have any other carbon frame owners experienced this?

 

[PeterD]

Hi
Have come across similar problems with carbon frames. We have sometimes taken out the seat post and angled the bike upside down so any water collected on a wet ride found its way out through the seat tube. Depends on the frame geometry whether this option would work on your bike.

Peter

 

[fossyant]

The water was in the headset area ? Very odd ? - Ensure the bearings (new ones) are greased up with a waterproof/quality bike grease (Finish line)

I'd also apply a bit of grease (or if finickity - carbon setting paste) to the seat post -

 

[xroads]

The water only got into the headset when I stupidly tilted it that way.

 

[snailracer]

A rusty headset is more likely due to spray from the front wheel blasting out the grease, not condensation. Condensation is not intense enough to blast out grease, nor does it contain enough salt/contaminants to accelerate the subsequent corrosion.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

it's not just carbon; when i did 8 hours of very wet sportive my alu frame had plenty of water in it until i took the seatpost out. having all that in won't have helped me up the climbs in the last hour…

 

[HLaB]

After the Ken Laidlaw Sprotive last year (it rained for 105 miles) I had to take of my seatpost and my bars and subsequently forks before I got rid of all the water trapped in my carbon frame.

In the past I've had to only take the seatpost out of alu frames, IME there never as bad.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

After the Ken Laidlaw Sprotive last year (it rained for 105 miles) I had to take of my seatpost and my bars and subsequently forks before I got rid of all the water trapped in my carbon frame.

In the past I've had to only take the seatpost out of alu frames, IME there never as bad.

not just me then. think how much easier the holly bush climb could have been…

 

[fossyant]

Should have purchased a classic steel bike - none of that water mallarky in any of my 3 steel machines......

 

[xroads]

Atleast with steel/alu frames, you can drill a drainage hole. Wouldn't dare on my carbon frame.

 

[02GF74]

eeeeek!!! 1/2 a pint?!?!?!

is the top of you seat post sealed or open ot the elements (air, fire and water)?

would sealing the top of the seat post not solve the problem?

can't imagine water came in via the headset nor the cable guide - you been doing a lot of riding in the rain, and have no mudguards?

 

[zacklaws]

I get it in my carbon frame, I do not know where it gets in, but despite having a drain hole under the bottom bracket, whenever I lift my bike up on to its back wheel, water drains out of the drain holes in the rear chain stays, yet they both slope down to the BB when both wheels are on the ground. Perhaps my drain holes blocked under the BB, but it has done it since new. I have thought about the seat post clamp area and maybe cut a piece of innertube out and roll it over the clamp to make a waterproof seal between the seat post and the frame.

 

[02GF74]

I get it in my carbon frame, I do not know where it gets in, but despite having a drain hole under the bottom bracket, whenever I lift my bike up on to its back wheel, water drains out of the drain holes in the rear chain stays, yet they both slope down to the BB when both wheels are on the ground.

You are assuming that the seat tube is drilled for the chain stay - how do you know that the tubes are butted on and then bonded? (whatever the correct terms are).

Why would there be homes in the chain stays if the frame is carbon? These holes are in steel and aluminium frames to allow the hot gases to escape when they are brazed or welded together.

 

[zacklaws]

You are assuming that the seat tube is drilled for the chain stay - how do you know that the tubes are butted on and then bonded? (whatever the correct terms are).

Why would there be homes in the chain stays if the frame is carbon? These holes are in steel and aluminium frames to allow the hot gases to escape when they are brazed or welded together.

I don't know why there is holes in the chain stays? there is two either side which water drains out of. The frame's a Trek Madone.

 

[Alun]

I also get water in the frame of my Ribble Sportive after riding in the rain, I think it gets in though the seatpost, as I haven't noticed it when using a rear raceblade. I can drain it out via the drain holes at the end of the chainstays by standing the bike on it's rear wheel before I put it away. Never had anything like half a pint though.