Grit

[buggi]

Is grit (the sort they put down for freezing temperatures) bad for a carbon bike? my mate told me it can crack the lacquer if it gets ground in (like if it gets in the bottom bracket).

I've got a 75 miler tomorrow. i'm well unfit. i could do with taking the carbon bike coz it's lighter and faster, but i don't want to wreck it obviously. so i could just take my winter bike which is heavier and slower.

What do i do? It's going to be -5 overnight, so chances are they will grit, but probably only the main roads??? need to decide by 4.30 as have to ride over to my mum's and leave the bike (she's only 2 mile from the start so i'm leaving it there overnight)

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I wouldn't worry. You get all sorts of sincere horror stories about carbon fibre, melts in the rain, doesn't like sun, cracks if you change gear too hard etc etc. All of them are rollocks.

The carbon forks on my winter hack have survived four years of gritted roads and they still look like new.

 

[Wigsie]

Take the Carbon... it will be fine! just wash it down and give it a nice clean afterwards.

 

[beanzontoast]

I thought from the thread title this was going to be about the magazine that American youth of the 1960's were encouraged to sell in the back of action comics to earn pocket money... I always wondered what it was, and now I know!

 

[buggi]

Right, phoned the guy at Cult Cycles (the organiser) and my professional cyclist mate Giles. Giles reckons its too early to get my good bike out (he's just had to chuck what was a perfectly good chain away) and, more importantly, the guy at Cult Cycles say the carbon would be fine but "as it's -5 overnight what if i come on ice in the morning, i might fook the good bike up"

so, i'm taking the winter alu bike. it's got more grippy tyres and as you know i have a habit of fooking myself up when i fall off (one broken collar bone and one fooked pelvis in the last 2 years!). Never mind the bloody bike!!! if i wanna give up, there's always the train home

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Wise choice buggi. Keep your best bike for best

 

[fossyant]

Take the best bike....I'll be out on my best bike tomorrow........... it's dry, yes salty dust about..... just wash it when finished....... Won't ask why Giles has thrown a chain away - not using the right lube then.....Finish Line Pro Road Ceramic on all my bikes, mud, commuter, training and best. Have a good ride though - bikes are meant for riding !

 

[Joe]

I ride the carbon bike all through the winter. Just give the chain a wipe down after every ride and the whole thing a bit of a clean if it's really grimy. Bikes are for riding!!

 

[Aperitif]

I would put a nice 'gob' of grease on the underside, where the cable runs pass through the guide - or vaseline, and wipe it off afterwards etc...
Safe ride buggi

 

[MacB]

I would put a nice 'gob' of grease on the underside, where the cable runs pass through the guide - or vaseline, and wipe it off afterwards etc...
Safe ride buggi

Maybe, but don't forget Teefs years of rugby when he mentions vaseline on the undercarriage

 

[snorri]

Giles reckons its too early to get my good bike out and, more importantly, the guy at Cult Cycles say if i come on ice in the morning, i might fook the good bike up"

Well buggi, I don't know about the rest of the field, but it looks as if there are two guys running scared of you on your carbon.

 

[Over The Hill]

I only have one bike for each job (road, family, folder) so it is a bit unknown to me.
I don't know why they call it "grit" but mostly they bung down rock salt on the roads not grit.

I cannot see how salt can cause any problem to a carbon fibre frame but in theory at least it can get into all the bits that have any metal in them and corrode them. Washing the bike can force the salt further into the gaps.

That said has anyone got a winter bike that they have actually experienced more problems of corrosion with more than their summer bike?

Summer is full of dry dust that sticks to all the oily parts of the bike and surely must then form an abrasive paste that will wear moving parts.

 

[buggi]

Take the best bike....I'll be out on my best bike tomorrow........... it's dry, yes salty dust about..... just wash it when finished....... Won't ask why Giles has thrown a chain away - not using the right lube then.....Finish Line Pro Road Ceramic on all my bikes, mud, commuter, training and best. Have a good ride though - bikes are meant for riding !

Bcoz he went in for his dinner and forgot to clean it and it completely siezed up LOL

Well buggi, I don't know about the rest of the field, but it looks as if there are two guys running scared of you on your carbon.

OMG!!!! you are sooo right!

That said has anyone got a winter bike that they have actually experienced more problems of corrosion with more than their summer bike?

you have quite a valid point there.

o well, too late to change my mind now because the old bike has been taken to my mums. that said, it has got more "grippy" tyres on it and i reckon it's gonna be a tad slippy in the morning, so probably the right choice.

Hmmm.... that's if i even get my ass out of bed it's fookin freezing out there!

 

[Aperitif]

Maybe, but don't forget Teefs years of rugby when he mentions vaseline on the undercarriage

Naughty boy. I used it around my ears...what does that tell you Al?

 

[Will1985]

Buggi, how did you do? I spotted some Phuk-dis riders on the start list but forgot what your forum name was to match it up.

I saw plenty of nice shiny carbon bikes out and even some guys riding carbon wheels + tubs which might have been a bit of a risk.

I managed to come off before Ullenhall (less than 8k in!) on a patch of ice trying to avoid a spooked horse. Minimal damage to the bike (a few cuts to the bar tape), plus ripped shorts and overshoes.

Ended up doing 162km including riding there and back from Selly Oak.