Winter

[Johnno260]

With the colder months here I was looking to see if I'm doing enough.

After each wet ride, I clean the bike and wipe it dry, I keep the drivetrain clean and lubed.

I had some pretty nasty stone chips, I covered these with some of those clear rub stickers, overkill maybe but I wanted to make sure nothing got under the paint and lifted it more.

I have been looking for some mudguards, I'm seriously considering some Crud Roadracer MK3's, has anyone used these and can offer any opinions on these?

Thanks in advance John

 

[NickNick]

When I gave my bike a thorough clean last week as I'd had to replace the chain, I decided to have a go at waxing it with a double coat of some old ultra gloss car wax I had floating around, hoping it would make it easier to clean next time. It seems to have done the trick, after the last couple of rides all it took was a quick wipe down with a damp rag and it was looking like new again.

 

[ianrauk]

You're doing all the right things. Remember to clean the crud from the brake blocks, it accumulates there and will eat your rims very quickly. After cleaning your bike, give it a nice going over with Mr Sheen (or suchlike) it really does help stop the crud from sticking.

Mudguards can be a cyclists best friend in the winter. In fact my commuter/touring bikes I leave the mudguards on permanently. I used to take them off for summer but now just cant be arsed and with the speed at which I cycle, there's no downturn in my performance

 

[confusedcyclist]

I used the MK2's for a while, they were OK until they snapped at the mid-section join when they got snagged on something whilst manoeuvring out of a cluttered garage, they're flimsy cheap plastic crap IMO. If you can fit SKS raceblades/chromoplastics, they're stronger and better quality.

If I cleaned my bike after every ride, I'd spend more time cleaning than I would getting about on my bike, but if you're only out for leisure, or riding infrequently and/or your time's not important to you, keep doing it after every ride! I only clean my bike if it gets really grubby, we're talking two/three weeks worth of daily road grime. That said, it pays to keep the chain and cassette clean(ish).

Edit: When running disc brakes, cleaning rims etc isn't necessary. I forgot what it's like to have to clean wheel rims regularly! I used to clean my road bike religiously (weekly). I'm more relaxed about it these days now I have a more sensible commuter with guards, the frame doesn't get as dirty as road spray is reduced significantly.

Frame dirt isn't a problem, it's the rock salt and excess grime this time of year that starts to gets into your components that damage springs/bearings etc. Keep everything lubed up nice and you can't go wrong.

 

[Johnno260]

I had heard of the Mr Sheen trick before, I should’ve mentioned I got some product from Muc Off it’s a type of polish but also kind of waxes the frame I’m applying this again soon.

The mud and water just bead off the frame afterwards it was good stuff.

I’m tempted to remove my TeamVision wheels and use the crap wheels that came with the bike for winter, I would need to move my Rubinos over as well, the old wheels have Gators and I'm not a fan.

I will clean the blocks as you said as well.

 

[Johnno260]

I used the MK2's for a while, they were OK until they snapped at the mid-section join when they got snagged on something whilst manoeuvring out of a cluttered garage, they're flimsy cheap plastic crap IMO. If you can fit SKS raceblades/chromoplastics, they're stronger and better quality.

If I cleaned my bike after every ride, I'd spend more time cleaning than I would getting about on my bike, but if you're only out for leisure, or riding infrequently and/or your time's not important to you, keep doing it after every ride! I only clean my bike if it gets really grubby, we're talking two/three weeks worth of daily road grime. That said, it pays to keep the chain and cassette clean(ish).

Edit: When running disc brakes, cleaning rims etc isn't necessary. I forgot what it's like to have to clean wheel rims regularly!

OK I will look at the RaceBlades as well hoping to see something in the sales.

With cleaning it depends, when I commuted to work the other week, once I was home the bike was more brown than blue, so it deserved some TLC and not to be thrown in the shed for another day.

If I'm on a morning ride and it's moderately wet it's wiped down and wiped dry, unless salt has been put down then it's always a proper clean, the drivetrain I always wipe off and re-lube it seemed crazy to not take care of those parts.

 

[confusedcyclist]

unless salt has been put down then it's always a proper clean, the drivetrain I always wipe off and re-lube it seemed crazy to not take care of those parts.

You just want to prevent stuff seizing up from road salt, road grime on the drive train will reduce lifespan, hard to say if degreasing and re-lubing daily vs once weekly/bi-weekly really adds that much lifespan. There's a trade off for how often you do a full clean and relube. I ride every day to get to work, so it's not exactly time efficient to do a full clean down after every ride. Find the balance that works for you. This is why people prefer to use cheaper components or have winter bikes for their runaround. You can afford to be a little lazier with a Tiagra groupset vs di2 dura ace.

 

[Johnno260]

I'm probably a little OTT but I figured it's worth spending the time on, my bikes only 105 spec, I could've stretched to an Ultegra but was worried about maintenance costs further along.

I do keep checking local adds to see if I can pick up a cheap winter hack, some Carreras come on occasionally if I see one cheap enough I will go take a look.

 

[screenman]

I'm probably a little OTT but I figured it's worth spending the time on, my bikes only 105 spec, I could've stretched to an Ultegra but was worried about maintenance costs further along.

I do keep checking local adds to see if I can pick up a cheap winter hack, some Carreras come on occasionally if I see one cheap enough I will go take a look.

What size bike are you looking for? There was a 52cm advertised on here a short while ago.

 

[vickster]

Cruds live up to their name IMO

Sounds like time to get a winter bike with full fixed mudguards look for a Ribble winter bike maybe, many roadbikes don’t take full proper mudguards

 

[Johnno260]

What size bike are you looking for? There was a 52cm advertised on here a short while ago.

My Merida is a 54, I did have a look at the 52 but was a little too small for me, also cost needs to be super low at the moment.

 

[Johnno260]

Cruds live up to their name IMO

Sounds like time to get a winter bike with full fixed mudguards look for a Ribble winter bike maybe, many roadbikes don’t take full proper mudguards

No must avert my eyes, Mrs John will kill me!

But yes those Ribbles already winter prepared are really nice!

 

[confusedcyclist]

Theres a benefit of running only one bike... less bikes to clean and maintain.

But, I like having two, in case one is out of action for maintenance.

 

[vickster]

No must avert my eyes, Mrs John will kill me!

But yes those Ribbles already winter prepared are really nice!

Sell another bike or the car to fund

You could build a SS for winter, super low maintenance, Planet X have a frame for £90

 

[Johnno260]

Theres a benefit of running only one bike... less bikes to clean and maintain.

But, I like having two, in case one is out of action for maintenance.

Well with riding to work every day I would say a 2nd is mandatory.