The AsSALT Begins

Yes grammarians in the audience, I know I spelled assault wrong in the title.  Take a look at this picture and I will explain -

I stepped in the alley behind my place this morning and was greeted by a "crunch."  It was not snow crunching under my feet, it was salt.  All the white stuff in the photo above is salt.  When I moved to the Northeast 10 years ago I was unfamiliar with the use of salt on roads in the winter. When snow is in the forecast, salt is poured on the streets and sidewalks En masse. 

It can be argued that this is an effective solution to snow accumulation, but it can also be brutal on a bike.  So readers, this entry is a call out for hacks to help keep your bike from unduly suffering when the salt hits the streets.  Do have a tactic for fighting against corrosion?  Please share in comments or submit your solutions via our Submit Your Hack link. 

Comments

[Steven Lawrance]

This will be my first winter owning a bike in a properly cold climate, so take my words with a grain of salt, as it were...

For the (steel) frame itself, I coated the inside of all the tubes with Fluid Film, a product for preventing corrosion on all kinds of machinery, boat parts, in cars etc. I bought it in a spray can with a long hose/tube attachment which made it possible to get the stuff just about everywhere inside (and doing it before assembling the bike helped). It and similar products also come in liquid form, and I've heard of others plugging up all the holes in the frame, pouring some in and sloshing it around.

As for everything attached to the frame, well, I'm looking forward to the suggestions!

[Benzo]

Most of my bikes are ED coated (thanks all-city).

However, I do keep a 2 gallon hand pump lawn sprayer by my front door so I can spray off the salty crud when I get home when my bike is covered in salt or sludge. A quick wipe and a touch of lube before I put the bike away.

Also, full fenders for the winter to keep my drive train and my legs somewhat cleaner.

I give the outside of my shoes a quick spray and put them on my boot dryer along with my gloves. This thing is my favorite in the cold months. I can even warm up my shoes and gloves before I head out if I think about it ahead of time.

[A Facebook User]

What the Bonneville salt racers do is spray their rigs down with vinegar after running in the salt.

Counters the PH of the salt as I undersand it.

[Carl]

i plasti-dipped my entire bike when i lived in the bay (moist salty air) not quite the same as literally having salt everywhere, but still bad. took me about two weekends to get the whole frame done.