Riding 150 miles on salted roads?

Question

I want to ride 150 miles on recently salted roads (i.e. anti-ice) with my Fuji road bike. My question is, what ill effects will this have on the bike itself?

Answer 1

Salt is very bad for a bike. That's why they make sweat guards for your bike when using it on a trainer. The bike should be taken apart & cleaned after or the salt will corrode your bike & parts.

Answer 2

What you are planning is really not a nice thing to do to a bike. I ride through the winter in new england, and completely rebuild the bike every spring. I use a different bike in trashy weather so I don't have down time.
Salt it not only corrosive, but abrasive as well. It will grind down moving parts then procede to rust and/or pit them. If this happens on a ball-bearing race assembly, the pitting can eventually cause the ball bearing to disintegrate.

After 150 miles, you're talking about 8 -10 hours of salt/sand/water being ground into most of the non-sealed moving parts, most notable the chain/cogs and brakes.

As soon as is possible - before the bike dries, take it to a do-it-yourself carwash and rinse it on the LOW PRESSURE setting. Rinse only, no wax, soap, or other cleaners. Make sure to get the drivetrain well. Avoid spraying into any non-sealed bearings like hubs, headset, and bottom bracket. Then clean the chain and the cogs with a good brush system and degreaser. Relube with a quality lubricant like Pedro's Dry

As soon as you can get to it, rebuild the brakes. If you don't the salt will grind it's way into the pivots, and rust them.

When you can take the time, you should really take apart, clean, and lube all the bearing surfaces in the hubs, headset, and bottom bracket. If you neglect this maintinance after riding for that long in those conditions, you're asking for major trouble down the road.

Answer 3

I do it all the time on my Giant Road bike. Not a problem, after each ride I spray it down with "bike cleaner" (the stuff I have is pinkish in color) any bike shop should carry it. I tend to stay away from washing with all water / or hosing down the bike with direct water. I found that water is actually more damaging / corrosive. When you spray down the bike with bike cleaner, clean every centimeter. Use a different rag for the components and chain areas; also clean all parts of the cranks. When you are done wipe down with a damp water cloth. The final process should be a wipe down with the bike cleaner, by spraying the cleaner on the rag not directly on the frame / components. Look for a bike cleaner that has a cleaner and wax protector built in. When done lubricate the chain and components where needed. Most today are sealed,,, I realize this is a process, and the last thing you want to do after a long ride. Just try to clean the bike by the next day. Go ride!!

Answer 4

In general, salt is bad for metals. But bikes are made for riding. If we always did the "best" thing for our machines, we would leave them in a garage and wipe them with microfiber cloths everyday.

As long as you lubricate your bike well and wash it periodically in the winter, it should be fine. In my mind, a bigger problem is the sand and road grit that accumulates on your drivetrian in the winter. In my experience, the abrasiveness of this material can have more damage than the chemical effects of salt.

Answer 5

Not much as long as you wash it thoroughly when you finish your ride.

I would recommend spraying a good coat of WD-40 on all surfaces (painted included) before you depart, this will wash of when you clean your bike. Don't forget to lube your chain extra also.

Have a great ride, be safe, and good luck.

Answer 6

Ride like you mean it, but after each ride WASH IT OFF THOROUGHLY WITH CLEAN TAP WATER! Salt & de-icer will corrode the f*ck out of your drivetrain literally overnight! So wash the crap offf good.

Answer 7

that's not a lot the position one might want to experience the horse to, yet that the female interior the nursery rhyme rode one to Banbury pass. The Banbury pass in question is both a tremendous pass on accurate of Banbury hill, or a pass highway interior the realm. Banbury is in Oxfordshire, uk.

Answer 8

um.....
well it depends you want to wash it off when you stop if you dont the paint will peel and you will get rust spots
you might also notice a decrese in you brake performance.