Post Ride Maintenance

[realSaint]

Hello!

I have a question that I hope maybe could get answered by some of the mechanics (and others with experience in wet-ish, cold-ish climates) out there.

It's still snowy and wet alot, right now, but I'm riding on the roads (another month or two before the trails are dry) and I'm wondering what would be an adequate post-ride maintenance procedure. One thing I'm worried about is that my bike has a steel frame (RM Hammer) and I don't want it rusting out. Since I don't have the bucks (or a credit card...ugh) to have more than one bike right now, I'm going to be relying on this pony for at least another season.

Next, what about WD-40. It is significantly less expensive than the other chain-lube stuff, but some of the mechanics here seem to want to sell me the more expensive stuff.

Finally, is there any good technical manuals on bike repair/maintenance so that I could save a bit, become more self-sufficient in these regards. I'd rather go to the shop twice a year, instead of every other month to get my rig looked after.

Oh, and thanks for the responses on my question for ethical manufacturers. I've decided that I'll stick with my Rocky, for now, and just keep rifling away the odd dollar for a new bike next summer. The narrowed focus is good, though.

Sun is out. Gotta go ;0)

T.

[rockyrider]

WD-40 is a penetrating oil, not a chain lube. It works well at washing chain lube out of the chain. The more expensive chain lubes are actually intended to stay put in high pressure high wear situations. In wet conditions, use wet formulation lube, it's more tenacious (especially Phil's Tenacious Oil).

Weigle's Frame Saver (http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Frame+Saver&vendorCode=WEIGLE&major=6&minor=7) is what you need for the steel frame.

Park Big Blue Book of Bike Repair (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=5206&category=49)

[longhaultruker2]

park's book is well illustrated too (i have a copy),another book i've come to love is zinn &and the art of mountain bike maintenance by lennard zinn.it uses drawings instead of photo's in the detail shots that are pretty good.i've had it for a few years now,and it was the main reason that ican (for the most part:rolleyes: )and do my own work.got mine at book-a-million for $21.95.

thanx for the tip about the frame saver rr,thats something i hadnt givin any thought to.i should've since i have an ugly (looks worse than it is) chain suck scrape!

the hammer should be a good ride.rr and i both have a blizzard,and mine is my only trail worthy geared bike (that's assembled anyways:o )...i love it.

once you start doin yer own work,you'll not only have that warm fuzzy feelin of d'niy,you'll be more in tune w/ yer bike and catch potential probs earlier.have fun!:)

[myron]

nice pic man

[myron]

I use many cheep things, synthetic motor oil in a refillable oil can,bar and chain oil for chainsaws($1.39 Qt and super messy/sticky) lately I tend to use nothing at all. Lot's of sand in my area,so chain life is super short no matter what. You can buy larger cans of generic silicone spray at autoparts stores for less than the ol WD,works just as well to displace moisture,but has little to no lubricating properties. Remington makes a teflon dri-lube spray that is super effective,but at $6 a can it's a bit spendy.

Park online repair info (http://www.parktool.com/repair/byregion.asp)
Jim Langley basic repair info (http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/wrench.html)
Jenson (http://www.jensonusa.com/) as well as other (http://www.nashbar.com/tech/ins_manuals.cfm) online retailers normally have sections for repair tips and even component instruction manuels

[PutAwayWet]

Hey Myron, why not use wax lube? That seems to work for me no matter how much sand I'm in.

[Trailer Rails]

Bla, Bla, Bla


I just think it is funny, a guy named "PutAwayWet" is commenting in a post ride maintenance thread. :D

[Spalls]

My bikes are perpetually wet. I have been using White Lightning of late, and previously used a Pedro's product (can't remember the name, it came in a spray can) that was a similar waxy, non-sticky material. Both have worked quite well; I seem to get more life out of chains than most folks I talk too. I hose everything down after a ride and then lube the hell out of anything that wiggles, pivots, or slide on anything else. Not very elegant, but it works for me.

[DirtRagArt]

I just think it is funny, a guy named "PutAwayWet" is commenting in a post ride maintenance thread. :D

Maybe his name's a testiment to wax lubricants, though.

[plume_mtb]

Hey Myron, why not use wax lube? That seems to work for me no matter how much sand I'm in.

well I've never used a wax based lube but I know they're not suitable for wet conditions.

dumonde tech light is the best chain lube I've used to date. Pedro's makes a pretty good one too, I think it's called chainj.

for a post ride procedure, clean and dry your drive train, lube chain, pulleys, and derailleurs, maybe even some lube on the cables if you're feelin' fancy.

[myron]

my bike is currently covered in fresh wet mud laying on it's side in the garage. life is good.

[ThingTwo]

I found a 4oz drip bottle of a Teflon based, non-petrol all-purpose lube made by and labeled DuPont at a local hardware store in their mechanic's tool section that looked, smelled and tasted just like the real thing. It is oddly similar to typical small moving part lubes you'll find at cycle shops like Pedro's and Finish Line but for around 1/3 the cost. In fact I think they may have a dry version as well... :)

Oh, I like to towel off all steel and chain after a good soak or romp in the mud. Then lube as needed. Cables... I switched up to continuous housing but I still try to dry out connections at derailleur(s), shifters and so forth. Also try to dry out trapped water in and around sealed bearings. That helps a bit.

[tryandgetme]

http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/safety/MSDS/WD-40.htm

WD-40 is 50% stoddard solvent, which is a degreasing solvent (also known as white spirit, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spirit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40). Gives you an idea about how not good it is for your chain, its doing the opposite of what you want it to. I use it for cleaning the grease out of my hubs when I'm cleaning and repacking them. Good for freeing things up, useless for lubricating them.

[PutAwayWet]

I just think it is funny, a guy named "PutAwayWet" is commenting in a post ride maintenance thread. Hey, the name describes me - not my bikes!!! :p

Seriously, though - I get a ton more chain life with wax lube all the time than I ever did using dry lube when it's dry and wet lube when it's wet. The biggest issue in chain wear is dirt, IMHO.

[brown group]

well I've never used a wax based lube but I know they're not suitable for wet conditions.


i've used the pedro's ice wax for years riding in all kinds of wet mucky crud. the wet part is a carrier for the waxy lubricant. you put it on and let it dry ideally and all you're left with is the wax. perfect for wet conditions. if you put it on and go ride in the wet while it's still wet it'll wash off.

[realSaint]

Am going to have to break down and buy the expensive stuff - especially now, while I'm still getting the rain and sporadic snow. I'm hoping it works well for extreme dry conditions, too, which my part of the world becomes after May. I've been spraying the citrus degreaser on my bike after every ride, and marvelling at the gunk that drips off the bike (and the citrus-y smell)... don't know now if that is a good thing. Oh, and while I've been, up to now, spraying WD into the frame, I'll think about switching to the more specific protectant (thanx for that tip). Want that Hammer to last a while, because it is very sweet (and I'm very poor).

But I'm in Ontario for a week and away from the mountains, and I'm realizing that Windsor is far flatter than I remember. Ripping around on my little sisters' commuter, although, well, hey.... a bike is a bike (!)

Thanks for the tips-- you guys (and girls) are cool.

[rockyrider]

Thanks for the tips-- you guys (and girls) are cool.why yes... yes we are. :D

Keep that steel frame happy... and it'll return the favour.

The only thing you'll find is that lube that stays put in the wet tends to collect dust and grime in the dry, so you either need to clean/relube more often, or use a dry lube in the hot/dry weather.

[longhaultruker2]

nice pic man

many tanx:D

[myron]

ok you. I finally bought a $2 pan and a pound of parafin wax.(in keeping with the cheep theme) Degreased the chains and boiled them in wax last night. We shall see.

Hey Myron, why not use wax lube? That seems to work for me no matter how much sand I'm in.

[tryandgetme]

Post ride maintenence (http://www.sleeman.com/en/html/beer/sl_brands/honey/index.htm)

[bitchslapmadman]

White Lightening Epic for the winter. It degreases and seals all in one. After EVERY ride in the foul months I whipe down the chain when I get home and after an hour when it's dry I apply a very small amount of Epic. My chains have remained rust free and run smooth and quiet. I ride all year round and i do not drive motorized vehicles so I get a ton of bad weather riding in.

[myron]

cooked a pan of parafin in the garage last night for chains.... got so smokey I couldn't see in there. Took a bit for me to realize what was happening. Turn the burner dowm a bit next time,and don't load the pipe.

[rockyrider]

Post ride maintenence (http://www.sleeman.com/en/html/beer/sl_brands/honey/index.htm)That works as chainlube too?

[tryandgetme]

after enough of them you won't care about chain lube