Carbon Fibre bike in Muck & Rain or Winter Bike?!

Arequipa

Morning! I hope you are well!
I have a dilemma: I bought a carbon fibre racer and have started weekly spins with a local club.
Up until now, I havn't ridden my bike in rain/mucky/damp conditions.
Would you take a 2K bike out in wet & mucky conditions & clean/maintain itor invest in a 2nd hand,'Winter', bike.

Oh yea:

Could you recommend a website/youtube clip that explains how to clean a racing bike after lots of rain/grit/mud etc?!!

Thanks so much for reading!

Arequipa.

Lumen

Yes, you need another bike.

reilig

Lumen wrote: »

Yes, you need another bike.

I'd recommend 2 more bikes. 1 as a spare.

Your carbon bike isn't made of cardboard. It won't melt with rain or dirt. If you clean and oil it properly, it will last a very long time. If you have lots of money, go ahead and buy another one. If not, I see no reason why you would need another bike!!

ednwireland

Arequipa wrote: »

Up until now, I havn't ridden my bike in rain/mucky/damp conditions.
Would you take a 2K bike out in wet & mucky conditions & clean/maintain it
.

yes

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how-to-clean-and-lube-your-bike-18259/

Beasty

My carbon fibre has seen plenty of crappy weather over the last 3 winters. It gets a decent clean most weekends (with particular attention given to the drivetrain) and works as well now as it did when I bought it.

Tenzor07

Just have a clean bike on standby like I do...

Wheely GR8

I nearly bought an alu frame as my first bike because of this ,but I'm getting a carbon regardless.
If it looks well clean ,it'll always look well

Lumen

The crud is more of a problem for components than the frame - they will wear out more quickly than in summer.

Chain cleaning is the most important. Cleaning wheels and brakes will reduce rim and pad wear. Cleaning the frame is only important for your self-esteem, although if there's any salt on the roads should should rinse it all off post-ride with a low-pressure hose.

A clip-on chain cleaning device with a reservoir (e.g. the Park one) is quick and convenient.

Jawgap

The Five Minute Bike Wash

The 20 minute Bike Wash

I have a winter bike, but I still go out on the "good" bike mostly because it's a bit faster and therefore a bit more fun

manwithaplan

In my experience, a good cleaning routine is important but it can only do so much in winter. Salt, grit and mud take a toll even if you clean the bike regularly. They don't do any real damage to the frame but components can take a bit of a hammering. I had to replace the rear hub and one or two other bits after last winter, although I had used the bike a lot.

Ideally, you wouldn't use the 'good bike' in winter but you could make a few changes that would help - buy cheap wheels, put on full mudguards, that sort of thing.

When cleaning, take the wheels off and wipe them down with a wet cloth (no need for anything other than water). Pay particular attention to the braking surfaces. Leave the wheels off and wipe down your frame. If there is dried muck, you could brush that off first.

Then clean the brakes and derailleurs - wipe them first and than use some dry spray-on degreaser (clean streak or similar) to blast out what's left. Try to keep the degreaser off the brake pads (while you're at it you could pick out any shards that have caught in the pads - these will accelerate rim wear).

Put the rear wheel back on and clean your chain and cassette - give your chain a wipe with a dry cloth first, then use some degreaser - hold the can steady and back pedal. You could also use an old hard-bristled toothbrush to brush the chain, the jockey wheels, the cassette and the front chainrings. You could also use a chain cleaner.

Take the rear wheel off again and lube your brakes (just the pivot points) and your derailleurs (pivot points, springs and the hubs of the jockey wheels). Use the lube sparingly and wipe off any excess. Put both wheels on and lube the chain - one drop per link or a drizzle while spinning the chain if you're in a hurry - again wipe off any excess.

I usually use a bit of teflon spray on bolts on the pedals, bottle cages, stem clamps, headset cap, saddle etc but I suspect it's a bit redundant really.

A bike stand helps with all this but you can just turn the bike upside down, minding the hoods. You will speed up at it quickly enough but it's the one part of cycling I hate. Particularly because this is all best done on returning from a spin. I rarely have the energy or the will to bother at that point and let the bike moulder for a couple of days. I have a seven year old son that I am slowly luring into the process. One day, he'll look behind him and I will have quietly retreated to the couch with the paper.

daragh_

I really really really enjoy cleaning my bikes. Usually clean my good bike right after a spin. Is there something wrong with me? Should I seek help?

Eamonnator

daragh_ wrote: »

I really really really enjoy cleaning my bikes. Usually clean my good bike right after a spin. Is there something wrong with me? Should I seek help?

So do I. Maybe we could get a group therapy session going.

Lumen

daragh_ wrote: »

I really really really enjoy cleaning my bikes. Usually clean my good bike right after a spin. Is there something wrong with me? Should I seek help?

Eamonnator wrote: »

So do I. Maybe we could get a group therapy session going.

Come round to my place, I've got a house full of bikes for you to clean. I wouldn't even charge you for the privilege.

Arequipa

Thanks a mil: for your replies!

To clean or not to clean....I gave my old bike a clean b4 & think the patio was not pretty afterwards!!
My carbon racer is nearly a year old & in gr8 condition beacause I have only cycled in dry weather,...
I have an old Trek 4300 mountain bike & i ride this when weather is wet...:is a good workout, as is a lot heavier!!

My max spend on a Winter racer would be about €300?!!

Thanks for feedback : appreciate it!!

bogmanfan

I bought a nice carbon road bike last summer. Around November I bought a cheaper alu one to use as a 'winter bike'. Sold it a few weeks later. Just wasn't as nice to ride as the carbon one, and if the weather is really bad (frost/ice, lashing rain) I just stay indoors. In my opinion, there is no real need for a second bike, once you look after your main one.

manwithaplan

daragh_ wrote: »

I really really really enjoy cleaning my bikes. Usually clean my good bike right after a spin. Is there something wrong with me? Should I seek help?

Three "reallys"? You're beyond help.

LCRC_BAX

Get yourself a cheap 2nd hand hacker for training over the winter months. Put the dirty, wet miles into the cheaper bike and your good bike will stay good for much longer. Plus the feeling of getting on the good bike after a winter of pushing a much heavier machine around all winter is brilliant. Also - mud guards will mark a carbon frame, and they look wrong too!

dario28

Ive never understood the ride a banger bike mentality

Ride ur carbon bike , enjoy your carbon bike if said carbon bike parts last a bit less than they would have, who cares at least you've enjoyed using the bike and not putting up with some **** heap

Same thinking goes for people who buy a set of wheels for 1000 and use them a handful of times , dont get it

Jawgap

I don't think it's about riding a banger.

My winter bike has thicker, grippier tyres; mudguards; brackets for lights etc - it's still a good bike.

If I didn't have it I'd have to put all that on my "summer" bike and leave it on for the winter - as it is I can look out see what the weather is doing and just hop on to whatever bike suits without having to shift kit or ride with unnecessary accoutrements:)

petethedrummer

Maintenance cost is a reason. It's cheaper to replace a tiagra cassette than a dura-ace cassette. It wouldn't take much replacement of dura-ace parts to fund a winter bike.

Lots of people commute as part of training. I wouldn't like to take a €1000 set of wheels on my commute.

coolbeans

daragh_ wrote: »

I really really really enjoy cleaning my bikes. Usually clean my good bike right after a spin. Is there something wrong with me? Should I seek help?

Freak.

morana

I used to have a crap bike for winter training but when I got a new bike I just used the old carbon kuota for training. Its great and I deserve it.

You should use your cleaning time to check everything for cracks etc. Ilike cleaning the bike as well...

ednwireland

Arequipa wrote: »

My carbon racer is nearly a year old & in gr8 condition beacause I have only cycled in dry weather,...

dont get out much then

brayblue24

I bit the bullet and got a winter "hacker" 2nd hand last September for the same reason as the OP. It was a cheap old steel bike. Then I read its history. Then I thought about restoring it. Then I got it restored. Now I don't want it getting dirty as it's like a new bike.

While I waffled on a bit there my original point was meant to be that if you look at Adverts/ Donedeal on a daily basis you can pick up a deal. I got mine for €400 and it's a beaut but primarily it means no more winter damage to my carbon bike:)

Arequipa

Will check Done deal: thanks!
Might be some unwanted Christmas presents turning up!