Winter wear on bike

[Leodis]

Just wondering as this is my first full winter and on a new bike, the bike it looks like it is corroding in front of my eyes . I clean degrease lube as much as I can, degrease once a week and full clean every few weeks but I can pysically see it dieing in front of me. The disc rotors are rusting and that damn salt is everywhere, a fella from EBC told me to use warm water and spray the bike after it has got wet but I am not sure what this really is doing.

Is this normal?

 

[DCLane]

Yep - the Decathlon Sport 7.1 I'm using this winter is in an awful state.

However - it'll get properly sorted out once the weather gets better.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Unfortunately, that's life....not much help I know. But if you use a bike it will get mucky, use it in winter it will get mucky-er.

Stop caring....life will get easier and less stressful.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

+1 ^^ but do clean and lube within reason while developing a more relaxed attitude to the minutae of de-wintering.

 

[Leodis]

Thanks, been looking after it pretty good but it is disheartening to see it corrode like this.

 

[I like Skol]

Not sure what is happening with your bike? My bike has done 3 winters and hasn't been cleaned for the last two! The discs never rust, not sure if they are stainless, whatever came on the bike. The only thing that seems to suffer badly is the chain which needs oiling every 4-5 commutes when wet and salty to stop it rusting and keep it quiet. The rest of the bike looks in good shape with a few small signs of ali corrosion under the paint around some of the rack and guard mounting points.

I do wonder if your obsessive cleaning and degreasing is stripping the bike of any protection? A bit of oil soaked road grime built up over the summer is a wonderful protective layer come the salty winter time. It works well for me anyway, I can't even see what make my rims are but they will clean up a treat if I wanted to

 

[Mo1959]

Must admit, I get a bit paranoid about the bikes just now too. Nearly every ride seems to be wet and mucky and when you don't always have much spare cash to replace components it can be a bit worrying. I hate hearing the sound of the chain getting gritty when I'm out. Really need to relax a bit more with my bikes.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Cycling can be cheaper than most other transport but rarely free.

 

[Danny Tuff]

Thanks, been looking after it pretty good but it is disheartening to see it corrode like this.

Be interesting to see where you're keeping it? - In the garage ? The winter cold overnight can really harm your bike. Throw something over it so its frost free.

 

[totallyfixed]

I think the clue might be in the constant degreasing.

 

[Leodis]

Be interesting to see where you're keeping it? - In the garage ? The winter cold overnight can really harm your bike. Throw something over it so its frost free.

In a porch where the boiler is, pretty dry and warmer than outside .

I think the clue might be in the constant degreasing.

I don't degrease the skewer and thats been hit bad. I thought degreasing = removing the built up crud and the lubing = better performing bike

 

[fossyant]

My all year round bike still looks like new after five years ! What are you doing to it ?

 

[Leodis]

My all year round bike still looks like new after five years ! What are you doing to it ?

The frame looks new so does the groupset but its the cheaper steel on the rotors. the skewer springs and spesh around the disc rotors mainly. I wash and dry off after its been wet on the salted roads and clean the chain and lube 1-2 weeks, with the odd lube mid week and clean the discs every week. Take for example the pedals, checked yesterday and the springs caked in rust and salt, lubed them and its all ok but it was a shock.

The rotors are not as bad as this but its the none stainless which is showing rust

 

[fossyant]

Just slap some grease on the springs - no-one sees them !

 

[sazzaa]

I think it has something to do with the amount of salt on roads, my bike is the same and I see gritters nearly every night on my street. It's pretty depressing seeing all the silver bits on your brand new sparkly bike turn a dirty shade of orange...