For some of us losers, it's still winter out there. I just want to remind everyone who lives in places where they salt the roads in winter- let it rain a couple of times this spring before taking your bikes out. The salt needs to be off the roads, otherwise it can creep into nooks & crannies that you may not be able to get at & your beautiful bike can corrode. Even a good washing may not get rid of all the salt. I've been tempted a couple of times now, but I'll test the limits of my patience as I want my bike to last a long time.

I went out the beginning of February when we had a fluke mild day. The roads were dry except for some wet streams of melting snow that drifting across. I had to go out though because I just couldn't stand it anymore. When I got home, I was sorry. My bike was covered in yuk. It took me over an hour to clean it all off and the worst part was that I couldn't use the hose because I was afraid of the bib freezing up that nite. I know I didn't get it all off from underneath but I'm planning to give it a really good washing as soon as the weather breaks.

There were tons of bikes out that day, so I'm not the only one that will have to deal with the aftereffects. I was sorry I had to do all the washing, but I wasn't sorry I got to ride for several hours....it was worth it! :)

There were tons of bikes out that day, so I'm not the only one that will have to deal with the aftereffects. I was sorry I had to do all the washing, but I wasn't sorry I got to ride for several hours....it was worth it! Oh yeah, there's no way bike is sitting in the garage waiting for clean roads. I've been out all winter whenever there wasn't actual slop on the roads. Cleaning is part of the fun and I bought my Sporty to ride it. Salt sucks but an idle Sporty is worse.

They dump so much freakin' salt on the roads up here, that it's just not worth it to me. I see piles of it everywhere now that the snow is starting to melt. At least we're getting rain all day today. That should help. I usually get a few rides over the winter when the roads dry up, but it's been a bad one here. Very few dry days when it's been warm enough to ride.

That whiteish look the asphalt has is salt. All the water on the road is salt water.

Hey Princess: hook up the hose to the hot water tap. Then wash the bike with the hot water.

Modern outside taps are 10 to 16 inches long. That is why they drip for a long time after shut off. They do not freeze because the actual shutoff point is in the house.

If it is not a modern one then there will be a shutoff tap in the house. Shut the water off there then drain the outside tap.

In Sask. they spread sand and gravel mixed togather. first thing in the spring you always hear of somebuddy whipping out in a slow corner or curve. Be carefull peoples I hate the word STATISTIC.

In Sask. they spread sand and gravel mixed togather. first thing in the spring you always hear of somebuddy whipping out in a slow corner or curve. Be carefull peoples I hate the word STATISTIC.
That's the same combination of crap they dump on the streets here. It's like riding on ball bearings. Keeps you thinkin' :tour

That whiteish look the asphalt has is salt. All the water on the road is salt water.

Hey Princess: hook up the hose to the hot water tap. Then wash the bike with the hot water.

Modern outside taps are 10 to 16 inches long. That is why they drip for a long time after shut off. They do not freeze because the actual shutoff point is in the house.

If it is not a modern one then there will be a shutoff tap in the house. Shut the water off there then drain the outside tap.

Our house was built in '87 so technically it should have shutoffs in the house somewhere you would think. We've been in this house 2 winters now, and I have searched the length of the line coming into the house from the hose bibs and I'll be damned if I can find shutoffs. I think the contractor left them out. I worry sick all winter that they are going to freeze and burst, but so far <knock on wood> they haven't. I think maybe because our basement stays warm enough to keep the lines above freezing...I dunno.

When I clean my bike in the winter, I just take 2 buckets of warm water out...one for washing and one for rinsing. It takes twice as long but at least it gets done ;)

That's the same combination of crap they dump on the streets here. It's like riding on ball bearings. Keeps you thinkin' :tour

Ditto that here. For that reason my bike isn't leaving the garage until the street sweepers do their thing - which won't be until we're done with snow for good. I've been keeping up a close bond with the bike though by installing shiny stuff and various other mods....Guess I'll have to keep that up for a few more weeks cuz we got a couple more snowstorms on the horizon. :eek:

Our house was built in '87 so technically it should have shutoffs in the house somewhere you would think. ... ;)

I would think that a 1987 house should have a 16" tap for the outside water supply. Take a close look at the connection just inside the house. Here is mine. The connection is about 6" inside the house. It cannot freeze.

Oh yeah, there's no way bike is sitting in the garage waiting for clean roads. I've been out all winter whenever there wasn't actual slop on the roads. Cleaning is part of the fun and I bought my Sporty to ride it. Salt sucks but an idle Sporty is worse.


What he said!