On Thursday Dave commented about us maybe wanting a bike cover for the long trip. I did a quick google and found this.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Sports-Outdoors-Bike-Covers/zgbs/sporting-goods/194529011
They were not as expensive as I expected, but I am not sure they are compatible with a bike carrier.
Any thoughts on this matter?
Here are some comments about traveling across the country with a bike on a rack
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.mtbr.com/general-discussion/bike-cover-hitch-mount-bike-rack-218398.html
One would need to poke holes into the cover for it to fit any bike carrier we have. Riding behind a van is not a particularly harsh environment for a bicycle. I might put a Dollar General bag over my Brooks saddle if we have an all day rain forecast. These covers are indeed inexpensive. The most likely use for me would be to cover my bike if it had to sit out all night. The only night I foresee that as likely would be the Mammoth Hot Springs and then I'd propose we break them down enough to stick in your van.
ReplyDeleteOf course, my bikes are designed to take a licking except for rust and I've Weigled against that. For me, no cover.
Bruce
My van will have just our two bikes on my 3-bike carrier. I will have my lock-cable through the wheels and several bungees. I see no issues in the parks, just possible problems on the 1600-mile journey. We should bring them in the room at night just to protect against busy fingers. One of the recommendations on the bike forum was cover the critical parts with Vaseline and then remove it at the destination. Probably is better than a cover against road dust and rain. The other problem with a cover is it blocks driver's vision out of the back of the van. Bottom line for me: also no cover, but maybe a little grease.
ReplyDeleteI'm unsure just what one would coat with Vaseline. Maybe the headset and bottom bracket? An all day rain would necessitate a drive train lube but I wouldn't want Vaseline on my chain or shifters.
ReplyDeleteWhat does one put on a road bike chain for lubrication? I lube with a spray lube (wet type). Wouldn't that take care of protecting it on a trip? With a lot of rain, I would probably lube again upon arrival. I am not sure I even lube in the proper way--I notice my chain is always the messiest of any I ever ride with. What's the scoop on bike chain lube? I come from a dirt bike (motorcycle) background so I'm used to keeping the chain pretty well lubed all the time. Something tells me this may not be the way to properly lube a road bike chain.
ReplyDeleteI use Pro Link for my usual lube. It's more a dry than wet lube though it does take overnight to dry. I carry a 1 oz eyedropper bottle of half Pro link and half 30W motor oil in my underseat bag. Pro Link stands up to rain pretty well but an all day ride in a real soaker will wash it off so I like to have something with more sticking power along with me. That mixture makes the chain a mess to clean when I get home. My chains wore significantly quicker when I used Pedros Wet lube. I think it picked up more grit. I have tried White Lighting, the closes thing to paraffin dip for a dry lube but it went away with the slightest of showers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for researching the bike cover idea. I too am abandoning the idea. With a little luck we will have decent weather going out. If not, we will have to do bike prep before our ride. I know I will have to clean and lube my bike anyway when we get back.
ReplyDeleteMike, I have been told by the bike shop that after I clean and lube the chain, derailleurs, brakes, etc., to wipe off the excess lube so it does not attract more dirt and make a general mess.
ReplyDeleteOthers feel free to comment if you have other suggestions.
When at home, I use WD-40. They make a version specifically for bike chains. However, I have found WD-40 to be recommended, as-is. WD-40 was developed as a lubricant to repel water. Contrary to myth, it is not made from fish oil. So you can't use it to back up your daily recommendation for Omega-3. I also carry a small bottle of Pro-lube in my gadget bag. But the key is to wipe your chain well after lubricating it to remove excess that retains dirt. The lub is meant for between the links and not on the outside, although I have often wondered if a slippery chain shifts easier. For the ride out I am going to lub heavily at home and then wipe it dry when we arrive.
ReplyDelete