My bikes are getting a real pounding from the combination of salt water, potholes and bad weather.
The essential thing is to keep your chain and rear cassette well oiled during this salty season. Even one ride in salty water can change your chain and cassette to a nice shade of orange; it is very corrosive for bikes.
Spraying with GT -85 spray will help keep the salty water away from the chain and prevent corrosion. I spray some GT-85, whenever it is wet and salty, either before or after. Keep away from brake blocks, but it can be used elsewhere on the bike to help clean and displace water. (- also makes a very good bike frame polisher)
I also use a heavy duty winter lube, at a period of about once a week. This Finish Line wet lubricant (green bottle) seems as good as any. It comes out in a foam and is said to help maintain the chain for a longer period. With so many variables, it is hard to judge how effective it has been in terms of chain length. But, it feels better than doing nothing and the chain runs nice and smooth.
After years of use, my rear dérailleur has broken. I could replace it, but I might as well wait for the salt on road season to finish. April is a good time to see if your chain and cassette need replacing. No point putting a new chain on at this time, if you can make it last until the spring.
Other Jobs Worth Doing
Greasing components like Pedals
On my winter training bike, my speedplay pedals got stuck to the cranks. I couldn’t remove them with an ordinary spanner. I had to take them to a bike shop, where they used a special lock spanner to remove them. However, they had to use so much force that the pedals were slightly squashed where the spanner turns.
The solution to this is to take off the pedals and place some grease on the spindles, this helps to prevent salt getting in and fixing the spindle to the crank. Other joints like brakes and bottom brackets will benefit from greasing. Though be wary, you are not supposed to grease carbon components.
Don’t Forget Your Lock.
Don’t forget to spray your lock. Otherwise it can become very tight and worse become impossible to budge. A quick spray of GT-85 will help keep rust at bay.
Washing Your Bike
My winter training bike.
If you are very good, with much free time, you will wash your bike after every ride. In practise, I don’ get around to this in winter. Fortunately, I can dedicate a winter bike to getting trashed. I will replace the chain and other components with bottom of the range components. If you have just bought a brand new bike, try to resist the temptation to ride it on every winter training ride. It may help show off on winter rides, but you’d be better off keeping it for better rides. My Trek Madone is safely in the loft.
Check Brake Blocks
At this time of the year, brake blocks can go down pretty quick so might need changing..
Related
Yes we never really push GT85 as a chain lube, but I have spoken to many cyclists and it comes down to personal preference,. Essentially GT85 will go a long way to protect the chain and cassette whilst in storage and is a good pre lube protector for dirty weather riding.
GT-85 is generally considered to be too light for use as a chain lube. But with lubes it seems to be a case of ‘whatever works for you’.