MTB Himachal 2011

Escapades supports Himachal MTB and wishes the Organizers and Participants  great times in the mountains

The race will be flagged off on 1st October from Shimla . 

For more information check out their website MTB Himachal.

Enjoy the the Rain Rides but, do take care of your bike

               Pic. 1                                         Pic. 2                                                                Pic. 3

                                                                                Pic . 4

Its real fun riding in the rains, however, your bike takes a lot of abuse when exposed to rains (water). The most vulnerable parts of the bike are CHAIN, the BOTTOM BRACKET (Pic. 1), BEARINGS IN THE HUB and BEARINGS IN THE HEADSET (Pic. 2).

Though the modern bike frames are either made of Aluminum or Carbon or mix of both, the bearings (in bottom bracket, wheel hubs, headset etc.) are made of steel and prone to rusting and pitting when exposed to water.

When exposed to rain, the water enters the frame tubes, maybe through gaps at HEADSET, SEAT POST (Pic. 3) etc. or through the hole in the SEAT STAY (Pic. 4) or through any other crevice. 

Pic. 5

The water that goes into the tubes gets collected in the BOTTOM BRACKET (Pic. 2), the modern bikes are fitted with sealed CARTRIDGE BEARINGS (Pic. 5), though these bearings are sealed, some of the water collected in the bottom bracket  is bound to penetrate inside the bearing, this definitely is not good for the bearings. Also, the chain is prone to rusting, same with the bearings in the hub and headset.

To minimize the damage to the bike, here are a few things you need to do after every WET ride

• 1.      Standing on the floor, engage the rear brakes on the bike and lift it from the handle bars so that the bike is upright and resting on the rear wheel (Pic. 6), all the water collected in the bottom Bracket will drain through the holes in the CHAIN STAY tubes (Pic. 7). Hold the bike this way till all the water has drained out

                    Pic. 6                                          Pic. 7

• 2.       Wipe off the water and grit from the chain
• 3.       Remove the Rear wheel and clean the cogs dry.
• 4.       Remove the Seat Post, wipe it dry, insert the cloth into the seat tube and wipe it dry, apply a thin layer of  grease to the seat post and re – insert it.
• 5.       Finally wipe the whole bike once again.