OK, so apart from the obvious "don't ride in the cold", has anybody got any suggestions for avoiding gear freeze?
Was out last night (around the zero degree mark) and both front and rear failed. Rear first (XT shifters, XTR mech), then front (XT shifters and mech). Not sure which end had the problem (ratchet mechanism in the shifters?).
I use a water displacer after cleaning the bike (juice lube JL69) and it's been suggested that spraying something like that before a freezing ride might help.
Open to other suggestions?
My mate washes his bike religiously, and his gear cables freeze accordingly. Hopefully Middleburn cable oilers will solve the issue.
Hopefully Middleburn cable oilers will solve the issue.
Looks promising. Thanks.
try wd-40 or gt-85 after a ride to displace any water after a ride...just make sure you avoid your disc brakes!!
if it happens out on the trail then Hora would suggest pissing on the frozen bits to de-ice them... 😀
singlespeed!
singlespe...
Damn! Beaten to it 🙂
[i]singlespe...
Damn! Beaten to it [/i]
or piss on it - guarenteed to work for at least a few minutes.
a bit more cleaning oil in the back of the rohloff 😉
Full length outers for rear mech, had no issues last night in -4 and XT rear mech, front mech the mud froze solid around it so nothing that could be done there.
OK, so apart from the obvious
What, singl... ah bugger it.
Middleburn cable oilers are the shizzle, they make it very quick and easy to clean, lube and remove water from the cables making them like new. You need to lube the mechs too but it's the cables that are usually the cause of the problem.
Yep... water in the cables. Replace inners and outers and lube lightly with a wax-based lube like Finish Line.
It's not the mechs; the joints in the paralellogram are too good for water to get in.
XT here and have been using Middleburn cable oilers for years, Bike gets washed religiously after every wet/muddy ride, and suitably lubed incl the Oilers. Never had a frozen cable. Have sometimnes had mechs stuck due to build up of ice/frozen mud though.
singlespeed!
Amen to that.
Only thing you can really do is get rid of as much water as possible- service cables (cable oilers make it easy but not essential) and fit sealing ends if you haven't already, clean and lube mechs (and shifters if possible, some are pretty well sealed).
But stuff does clog up with ice, especially if you're riding in snow melt, that's a harsh environment for anything mechanical. I give my mechs a loving kick every time they seem to be full of snow, before it can get too stuck. And then, if that fails, it's Bear Grylls time.
freezing fog gets you as well ...
i was sscuppered by it the other night - hub and cables froze up 🙁
And then, if that fails, it's Bear Grylls time.
You're doing it wrong, it's meant to go on the frozen part not in your mouth.
No no no man, you're supposed to walk home while drinking your wee to survive.
Aren't you?
No?
Oh.
Nah, you save it for your recovery drink when you get home
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[quote=DaveyBoyWonder said]OK, so apart from the obvious
What, singl... ah bugger it.
pissing on it actually.
Seriously. Your pee is sterile basically. We get sheep poo ALL OVER us by comparison.