Carbon Bike In Winter

shoesmith81
shoesmith81 Posts: 6
edited November 2014 in Road general
I've just purchased a new carbon bike from a friend. It's in mint condition. he suggested that I should keep it in the house until after winter until the spring because of salt on the roads and getting it filthy.

I'm itching to get it out though. I'm in two minds. What's would you do? I'm new to carbon bikes and my friend said that riding in the wind on a carbon can be a bit dangerous.

What are your thoughts? Ride it or keep it in the house until after winter?
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Comments

  • ravenvrider
    ravenvrider Posts: 198
    Personally if roads are dry then use it...if wet and washed after should be ok...I'm to lazy. Wouldn't worry about wind.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    The salt will wear components faster (cassette and wheels) but it's not going to melt a carbon frame like the sun will.........

    Wind is no different for Carbon, Alu, Steel, Ti.

    Ride it. Some have Summer and Winter bikes, I personally have 1 that gets ridden throughout the year - mudguards go on in winter and it's cleaned after every ride. Can't see the point in having a special bike and not riding it for 70% of the year in the UK.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    edited November 2014
    You posted this in the Beginner section as well.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    It's not just salt on the road - because the roads get damp you get more dirt that is damp and will stick to your bike & gear.

    It's not an issue if you either don't worry about your frame getting dirty or clean it more often.

    Dirt itself will not harm your bike frame - it will only harm if it gets rubbed against it - as it's like a rubbing compound. Dirt will harm your gear as by it's very nature the gear is rubbing against other components.

    Personally, I just use a silicone spray on the frame and suitable lube on the chain and clean off with a hose more often. Because I've got several bikes I don't use the best bike unless it's really nice.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    I just throw my carbon bike away after every winter ride and buy a new one...
  • CptKernow
    CptKernow Posts: 467
    I thought you had to ride a steel bike in the winter?! I think it's because they are more resistant to the salt and water. Oh, and they are more comfy - since the roads get bumpier in winter...
  • homers_double
    homers_double Posts: 8,293
    Dinyull wrote:
    The salt will wear components faster (cassette and wheels) but it's not going to melt a carbon frame like the sun will.........

    Haha.
    Advocate of disc brakes.
  • Brakeless
    Brakeless Posts: 865
    shoesmith81 wrote:
    I've just purchased a new carbon bike from a friend. It's in mint condition. he suggested that I should keep it in the house until after winter until the spring because of salt on the roads and getting it filthy.

    I'm itching to get it out though. I'm in two minds. What's would you do? I'm new to carbon bikes and my friend said that riding in the wind on a carbon can be a bit dangerous.

    What are your thoughts? Ride it or keep it in the house until after winter?

    Not sure how riding in the wind on a carbon bike can be any different to any sort of frame. The only difference in wind would be if you've got deep section wheels.

    I've got a 5 year old carbon bike that I've ridden for the past few winters and the grit, wet and general winter muck have worn out a few chains, cassettes and a couple of bottom brackets but have had no adverse affect on the frame whatsoever.
  • 964cup
    964cup Posts: 1,362
    I have a summer bike and a winter bike. Both are carbon. The winter bike has disc brakes, a mechanical groupset and bigger tyre clearance. My Regents Park bike is also carbon, and that goes out in all weathers. You will need to clean your bike, and especially chain, cassette, jockey wheels, wheel rims and pads more often to mitigate wear. I would also avoid carbon rims - not just because wet stopping performance remains worse than alloy, but also because the abrasive effect of water-borne road grit will ruin them. Alloy rims will also wear faster, but are cheaper and the wear is more manageable.
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    Ive got a carbon frame and don't even give this a thought.

    I thought the thread title was about the frame getting so freezing cold it shatters. :shock:
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Carbon has nothing to do with it at all. Bikes in general get more punishment in the winter due to the salt, water and dirt on the roads getting into the components, particularly the gears, cables, headset etc.

    The frame is actually the least of your worries, and in fact carbon being non-corrosive is probably the best bet for a winter bike anyway!

    I always give my bike a quick hose down after every ride, summer or winter.

    The only thing which is a concern is if you fall or crash, carbon can be expensive to replace!
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,580
    You need to hang the carbon bike on the wall and leave it there.
    Take it outside and the rain will dissolve it, the cold will make it brittle and it'll shatter on any bump in the road, the wind will blow you under a lorry, and the sunshine will melt it. Then add in the salt...... :shock:
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    CptKernow wrote:
    I thought you had to ride a steel bike in the winter?! I think it's because they are more resistant to the salt and water. Oh, and they are more comfy - since the roads get bumpier in winter...
    No steel is too susceptible to corrosion and should be packed away with some sachets of silica gel over winter. Titanium is the only bike frame material you should use if it rains, snows or the humidity is above 70%RH.
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,377
    964Cup wrote:
    I have a summer bike and a winter bike. Both are carbon. The winter bike has disc brakes, a mechanical groupset and bigger tyre clearance.

    You have a mechanical groupset?! What's that like?

    I had an Alu frame for winter that I have used for 4 consecutive winters and it was my summer bike before that. I went and bought a C40. That was the mistake. I clad it in Record 10 (off the Alu frame) and furnished the winter bike with a mix of second hand Chorus and Centaur, plus a set of SKS crudcatchers.
    The C40 was meant to get a re-spray and be restored to it's former glory for the odd ride in dryish weather.
    After the first shot on the old Alu machine, all 9.4kg's of it, lights, twin bottle mounts, all clean and sparkly I though f*ck, this is just not cricket. I've gone soft. So I swapped the crudders over to the C40 and the Alu frame is going to be hung on the wall in retirement.
    Very happy now on the vintage Colnago and I now have a whole box of spares, if only the weather would relent. I still feel guilty that I am riding a legend with crudcatchers and lights fitted, (with a pair of legs not worth recycling) when it should be in cotton wool but I guess it was built for riding, wasn't it?
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • CptKernow
    CptKernow Posts: 467
    Ai_1 wrote:
    CptKernow wrote:
    I thought you had to ride a steel bike in the winter?! I think it's because they are more resistant to the salt and water. Oh, and they are more comfy - since the roads get bumpier in winter...
    No steel is too susceptible to corrosion and should be packed away with some sachets of silica gel over winter. Titanium is the only bike frame material you should use if it rains, snows or the humidity is above 70%RH.

    Sorry, was being facetious...
  • sigorman85
    sigorman85 Posts: 2,536
    Just ride it ...Jesus palm to face
    When i die I just hope the wife doesn't sell my stuff for what I told her I paid for it other wise someone will be getting a mega deal!!!


    De rosa superking 888 di2
  • crikey
    crikey Posts: 362
    I think you need new friends.
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    sigorman85 wrote:
    Jesus palm to face

    Make sure you take the nails out first
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    For the love of imaginary being do not get it wet.
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    DavidJB wrote:
    For the love of imaginary being do not get it wet.
    Except to wash it you mean?
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Ai_1 wrote:
    DavidJB wrote:
    For the love of imaginary being do not get it wet.
    Except to wash it you mean?

    You mean you use non-ionised water to clean yours :shock:
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 52,377
    Stueys wrote:
    Ai_1 wrote:
    DavidJB wrote:
    For the love of imaginary being do not get it wet.
    Except to wash it you mean?

    You mean you use non-ionised water to clean yours :shock:

    You mean you don't take your bike to Communion and wash it holy water :shock: :shock:
    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • Yellow Peril
    Yellow Peril Posts: 4,466
    Oak, an oak frame is the only bike that should be ridden in winter. Hundreds of years of building crooked houses and boats with sails has confirmed this.
    @JaunePeril

    Winner of the Bike Radar Pro Race Wiggins Hour Prediction Competition
  • Matthewfalle
    Matthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Carbon in the winter? I'm saying nowt for risk of being accused of being a flames/troll/hobbit but seriously?

    It's up to you at the end of the day but seriously?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    Most carbon bikes cant take proper mudguards. The mudguards for race bikes are just a compromise and unacceptable if, like me, you must have a silent bike. Maybe your friend thinks the bike is so light that you'll get wisked away in a gust? There is a theory that carbon frames dont like being constantly wet on the inside but I'm not sure if it holds much water.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    on-yer-bike wrote:
    There is a theory that carbon frames dont like being constantly wet on the inside but I'm not sure if it holds much water.

    Wow.

    :lol:
  • DCI Gene Hunt
    DCI Gene Hunt Posts: 138
    Imposter wrote:
    I just throw my carbon bike away after every winter ride and buy a new one...


    Ive just spat my coffee out from laughing :D
  • upperoilcan
    upperoilcan Posts: 1,180
    My Cervelo S5 makes a wonderful winter bike,it's just a shame I can't squeeze some 25's on it.

    Admittedly I only ride when it's dry with some winter wheels on it !!
    Cervelo S5 Ultegra Di2.
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    upperoilcan wrote:
    My Cervelo S5 makes a wonderful winter bike,it's just a shame I can't squeeze some 25's on it.

    Admittedly I only ride when it's dry with some winter wheels on it !!
    If you only ride in the dry then I'd argue it's not really getting "winter bike" use as such.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Carbon in the winter? I'm saying nowt for risk of being accused of being a flames/troll/hobbit but seriously?

    It's up to you at the end of the day but seriously?

    If you are going to put forward an argument then put one forward. Otherwise what's the point of your post?

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