Does cycling in rain damage my bike?

Associate
Joined
13 Jan 2007
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2,424
Location
Belfast,Northern Ireland
As above, have a decent bike I need to use more often and was about to head out the door just as the heavens opened up. Not worried about safety as I'm not a retard....usually. More concerned that the wet will damage my bike or what can I do to protect my bike when I get in from the wet? Just using an old towel and drying it off is enough?
 
Man of Honour
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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13,262
Location
Northallerton/Harrogate
I'd just use an old towel to make sure it was dry properly and make sure it's kept well-oiled so it's less likely to rust, anyway. I think stone chips to the paint would do it more harm tbh.
 
Soldato
Joined
28 Oct 2006
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12,456
Location
Sufferlandria
As long as you look after it properly, it'll be fine.
Make sure your chain and any other moving parts are properly lubed up before you go out.
Wash off the dirty water and dry well with a towel when your home.
 
Soldato
Joined
10 Nov 2003
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14,034
Location
Surrey, by the river
If it's carbon fibre then it will melt in train water. I only clean my with the distilled tears of Thor Hushovd and those are very difficult to come by.....

As touch said, dry it off, particularly if it is steel so as to stop rusting. Clean and oil the drive train regularly making sure you wide off any excess. I spray my cassette with GT85 after most rides, especially in the wet, and then clean it every couple of weekends.
 
Last edited:
Associate
Joined
11 Jun 2009
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1,248
If you ride when there's salt on the roads, hose it down afterwards.

As long as you store it somewhere it can dry off (like a shed or garage) it will be fine.
 
Man of Honour
Man of Honour
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3 May 2004
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17,682
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Kapitalist Republik of Surrey
The winter weather will take its toll on your bike and there's not much you can do about it. It's not realistic to clean it every day if you're commuting on it. I tend to give it a clean over and oil once a week or so if the weather is bad. The main thing the rain tends to get is polished alloy parts and surface rust on steel frames. Mine are all a bit crusty anyway so I tend to 'clean' them with an oily greasy rag which protects the frame quite nicely while maintaining the patina.
 
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