Road salt and Rivendells

[Michael]

 

I am going to try commuting thru the winter. Not in snow/slush. Just on the dry days.

In the winter, there is a dusting of salt on the road after the snow melts away and the roads dry up around here.

Will riding on dry roads with salt residue be bad for the frame/components?

I am hoping the longboards will minimize probs.

[Matt Beebe]

I do this, and fenders and front mudflap definitely do the job of protecting your bike's jewels.   I have the regular SKS fenders, but the longboards are no doubt far better for keeping the salt away.   Also, frame-saver is pretty effective.

I wish they didn't salt the roads so much around here, but not for the bike's sake;   it's just... they way, way over do it with the salt trucks.   The roads and bordering soil are rendered grainy white at the slightest hint of precipitation.

[Marc Irwin]

The long boards will definitely reduce any problems, but, yes, the dry residue ends up on the bike like dust. In the winter here in Michigan, I simply wipe the frame more often. I leave a damp cloth in the garage and clean the bike more often.

Marc

[Ron Mc]

Boeshield.  Wax your paint with a good carnuba wax or even better - Butcher's Bowling Alley Wax.  Then Boeshield everything else,.  Occasionally rinse the salt, wax again, boeshield again.  For your rims, after you apply the boeshield, swipe the brake surfaces with denatured alcohol.  

I take very valuable fishing reels to the salt water, and am a metallurgist and corrosion engineer with a PE license.