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As per title, I'm after some advice about using and storing my bike over winter. Well, alright, I admit I'm probably not going to be riding in minus 20 (will be XC skiing instead then) but I will be riding at sub-zero temps often in the winter. Also, the bike is stored in an old stone barn, and isn't much warmer than outside in winter - so it could easily see -20°c.
The bike is recently acquired but in very good condition. It has a Fox RP3 rear shock and RS 426 Revelation 130mm forks (dual air).
Is there anything I should be doing differently to use, store and maintain the bike and its components in that kind of weather/temps ?? Bringing inside isn't really an option but I suppose I could construct a little home for it in the barn and cover it with rugs !! 😀
Any advice or tips welcome (except telling me to move somewhere warmer - I like winter).
Not really - oil will get thick and gloopy, so maybe go for loads of thin light oil on the chain instead of anything thicker. Shock seals could be affected by cold - though probably not much as they're mostly synthetic, and not much you can do about that anyway.
I think it'll be fine - bikes are tough.
Nothing.
The only thing I've ever heard of going wrong is the freehub freezing. Which can be solved by pissing on it (or if it's one you can take appart I suppose you could put some heavy engine or gearbox oil in there instead of grease).
Appart from that, wash and dry the bike as normal (I suppose drying might be more of an issue), then wipe/polish it with some oil or grease and an old rag, that should protect it from any road salt.
I had a gear cable freeze up once, water had got into it. You might check the specs for the fluid in your disk brakes.
My shifter/cable froze last weekend- thats was because I'd driven there with the bike on the roof at silly o'clock. There was frost allover the frame when I got the bike off the top.
So if you also do this- I recommend liberal amounts of WD40 etc sprayed..
not WD40 - it'll flush any grease or oil out of everything it touches.
coat all the cables with a light oil before they get wet or run full length outers with decent seals at the ends.
Cable oilers to expunge any moisture.
GT85 or similar on mechs to help stop them freezing.
Might be worth storing the bike upside down so that the fork seals remain moist.
[quote=wwaswas ]not WD40 - it'll flush any grease or oil out of everything it touches.
Is there [i]anything[/i] on a bike that actually needs WD40?
Is there anything on a bike that actually needs WD40?
No. Very occasionally useful for desticking things, but it's scary how many people think it's a lubricant, then wonder why their bike turns in to a solid lump of rust.
Don't fill frame with water.
Oops I mean GT85
Keep 'em coming - thanks so far.
So, is it OK to store my bike upside down ?
WD40 [i]is[/i] a lubricant- one of the major ingredients is light mineral oil. Just, not a suitable one for bikes. (water is a lubricant too). GT85 isn't much different, it just has a tiny amount of ptfe in it so they can say "CONTAIN TEFLONZ" on the can.
What cold temperatures can do, is bring out issues that never normally bother you. Frinstance, my old freehub used to freeze up. Not because it was cold, but because it had a fair amount of water in it, and it was cold. If I'd maintained it better, it'd be fine.
shifter - Member
Don't fill frame with water.
What about orange squash !?? I can't fit a bottle cage on my frame so I installed a long straw in one of the bolt holes on the top tube. Is that bad ? Will it kill my bike ?
What about orange squash !?? I can't fit a bottle cage on my frame so I installed a long straw in one of the bolt holes on the top tube. Is that bad ? Will it kill my bike ?
It'll be OK as long as it's mixed 50:50 with anti-freeze.
Basically everything will stiffen up, chain, gears, etc. But if you're not riding it then it won't do any long term harm.
Riding is different though. Coldest I've ridden in is -12 and you start to get icicles forming on the stem, moisture from frost/snow freezes on the chain,cassette, etc but if you keep on rollin you'll be fine. Although if you're starting with a frozen bike it won't be so good.
There was some talk of the seals on Shimano brakes failing at sub-zero temperatures.
Might be worth looking into of you have 'em
APF