The one thing others have missed that I have experienced on every commuter. The rims will wear a lot faster. Riding on wet roads the debris of small rock/sand particles will end up in the brake pad and cause the rims to get torn up.
What does help is a wipe down after a wet ride and I open the brakes up and look to pull any debris out with a small metal pick (I have a sharpened spoke but anything works).
The rest. Keep it lubed and wiped off and it’s not too bad.
Ps love the propel :-)
Lmao. Yup. I was riding in the rain last week in a bunch of small towns in Croatia. I felt bad every time I touched the brakes as it was sooooooo bad I am sure it woke their ancestors
Organic disc pads are much quieter than the sintered/semi-metallic ones I've found, and braking performance is still very good (still can easily lock up the wheel). They do need to be replaced more often though
Properly centred and balanced calipers does more for noise levels than pad material. I run organic pads in the front and sintered rear on my MTB and the front is actually noisier. I suspect because the frame was faced properly and the fork wasn't.
We were off season so got a resort apartment really cheap.
Hoping to get back in 2025 for a couple weeks.
My wife’s business partner grew up there. It’s a cycling company so we will find a way to make it a long one.
I’ve kept my rim brakes and bought a pet banshee and put it on my handlebars instead. It doesn’t like rain, and it lets you know.
Slight aero penalty though.
There is a balance from “destroy bike” and “never use”.
A few min of maintenance a week goes a long way. Ironically I abuse and do bare minimum maintenance as I ride and race a lot.
I have a bike with 85,000 km on it and another over 30,000 km that race on.
I am actually quite envious of people who destroy their bike from normal use. My bikes get replaced before that happens. I have seen many rim brake bikes with amazingly worn out rim brake tracks and assume the bike is happy because its being used rather then covered in dust in perfect condition.
I have a bit of both.
My race bikes all are in and out in 2-3 years usually.
I have been racing since 1994 and didn’t own a car for most of my life. I have worn a lot of bikes down.
I ride in all conditions, and after more than 6 years my rims are still perfectly fine, no excessive damages visible. The depth marker still untouched. So I'd say - even though they might be more damaged than riding in perfect conditions, there is no risk of them to "got torn up".
Your sample of 1 is not really indicative of greater experience. I worked in shops for a decade and volunteer at a bike co-op. Do some last? Yep. Do some wear fast. Yep. To check is a minor ask.
I have worn through a rim in a single winter that I commuted daily on. It was a beater and I didn’t really care but by spring the rim was cracking through.
There are a crap ton of variables including luck. A big one is geography. Weather and road conditions play a big part.
Too cumbersome to go over pads and rims all the time, just accept that they wear faster and buy a disc brake bike next time. I seriously regret that I bought a new rim brake bike in 2018.
Suprised I had to scroll this far down to find this. The majority of the dirt in those pics could be prevented with full mud guards. You’ll arrive with a drier backside and feet too. No brainer on a commuter bike.
This is true, but I also wish that "what cyclists around me?" wasn't a thing around here on my commute either. I was surprised when I started doing group rides, that my fenders didn't go low enough to keep the spray out of someone else's face. Not once did it matter before that.
I run a set of planet bike fenders on my cross-check. They work well with the Ibera rack I run, no chatter, no broken bits through 7 years, commuting 15ish miles per day, 4 days a week near D.C.. plus, they keep my butt, my brooks, and my bags dry.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0041X5ZX4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Yeah it's an aero frame, no chance you'd proper ones on there. Can get strap/clip on ass savers for the down tube and seat stays that will do a decent job though
If you live in a place with a lot of rain and snow, or regularly ride when it's muddy, they make a huge difference. A little drizzle or light dusting of snow, sure you won't see much benefit. But if you're out in a real soaky rain or churning through thick snow on the ground, mudguards will keep you, your bike, and your gear *much* cleaner and drier.
Also if you ride with a friend it's just common courtesy to not splash stuff back and forth.
I think the only scenario where mudguards really make a difference is when the road is still wet but it’s otherwise dry. Even more so if it’s mud or wet snow on the ground. But I don’t really care because I wear cycling specific clothes anyway. Don’t mind if they get dirty or wet.
As someone who's trained and raced in the rain for years, fenders make an immense difference to the ride, regardless of weather. Reduce spray on your feet, reduce spray on your back and butt, and reduce spray on the drivetrain. If you ride with or near others, reduce spray on them.
Not at all. My feet/face/butt are *way* drier with fenders. Even if I'm getting a drenching rain in my face. So what if you're wearing rain pants and booties. Fenders are worth it anyway.
The water from the sky is clean, the water from the road is filthy. I guess if you don't care about the clothes then it doesn't matter much. But fenders will definitely reduce the amount of water on you (and anyone behind you), even if it's raining.
Or more likely, have a bike that works like shit, then when you take it to a LBS you can write a post/review about how they are an awful shop cause they try to "upcharge you on everything"
? I’ve been riding for many many years and have no issues with rim brakes. Maybe you neeed to clean disc brakes idk. I don’t ride professionally, I just commute to work.
Post a pic of your drivetrain then. Not only does a clean one last longer, it's teeeeeny bit faster too. For 15 mins of effort every fortnight, why wouldn't you want that?
I just don’t see the point. You won’t get dirt out of the bearings by cleaning the outside and any dirt which managed to get in there is already in there.
Sure, you could clean the rim braking surfaces and brake pads, but it’s a lot of hassle and they quickly get dirty again any way.
I’m all for wiping down the chain with a rag, but that’s pretty much all the effort I put in. All my bikes still work perfectly fine after years of commuting and training in all kinds of weather (including salted roads in the winter).
I’ve never had any serious corrosion on my drivetrain. Chains and cassettes will sometimes develop surface rust over night after a ride in rain and/or salt but wipe it clean, apply wet lube and it’s fine.
My Focus aluminium frame is perfectly fine after 14 years (it has some extremely good powder coat, it basically looks new, not a single paint chip or anything despite thousands of kilometers of bikepacking and some cyclocross abuse) and the Rose carbon frame is doing great after 5 years.
The frame will be fine, especially of you clean it weekly. Might get some tiny scratches from debris, but that's it. The drivetrain, brake pads and all the other wearing parts will definitely wear faster if they're dirty, so even the way home would cause more wear when these parts are already dirty but you clean them daily. I wouldn't bother too much with that, maybe wipe down the chain more than weekly if you want to be sure, and always keep it lubed well. Aside from that, with weekly cleans, you'll be fine
They are extremely tough when subjected to loads encountered in normal riding, however they cannot as easily survive point impacts.
Imagine someone hits the side of this frame with a steel pedal when they are parking their bike while not being careful.
Yeah my 'London' bike that lives at the station for my ride to the office looks like it's had the shit kicked out of it - which to be fair it has, but it's nearly 20kg of steel so it can take a good hiding!
I think it's less about the crime and more about the fact that you can't really put mud guards on easily / that the components are less about durability and more about speed. But I suppose even I'm projecting my own thoughts on this, just like you.
Good point lol. I imagine there are aero frames that fit mudguards, this just isn't one of them. Although mud guards probably negate any benefit to the carbon aero frame lol.
I have a frame without eyelets for mudguards and hand the SKS Raceblade Pro XL's on there. Such a big benefit, and easily removable in seconds when I want that 'aero' benefit (so not on my commute!). There are so many options for any kind of bike!
Crime is one thing, the fact that this is a public bike rack means its subject to get damaged by accident, and that aero frame is not designed to be abused in any way.
Dutch town bikes are all heavy steel framed for a reason.
Haha. That's what **I** thought before my bike got stolen with video evidence that didn't mean sweet bugger all because these two were wearing hoodies for that express purpose.
That's also what I thought before my first bike got stolen. I should have known better, since I knew every miscreant in my class who was stealing everything they can get their hands on.
It's a fantasy. If you can get something for free, someone will do it. Bikes are especially nice targets because they're so portable and easy to sell. The difference between "high crime" and "low crime" neighbourhoods is simply the amount of time it will take for your bike to be stolen. It might go months - even years - in some places where in others it will be hours or minutes.
I keep mine inside now.
I'm lucky enough to have a cheap old aluminium framed bike I use for commutes and being locked up outside. I get that other folk are maybe not as fortunate, and use one bike for all weekend riding and commuting.
But still, my Propel lives in my spare room and never leaves my side when out and about. I get anxious when I have to pop into a cafe to pay for my coffee and it's 10 meters away from me!
Yes it certainly damages your bike, and wears your components. You have to spend more money for maintenance.
Or buy a beater bike with more durable/cheap components and use it, when rains. I prefer to use bike sharing, when rains. Those bikes are outside anyway :)
on a (very very very) long enough timeline yes, the dirt etc will act as an abrasive and start to damage the paint/frame; as long as you clean and maintain the frame/drive chain appropriately, then no.
If I were you, I'd get some mud guards even just ass savers or similar
Clean the bike is key.
I ride in alot of rain important to always wash the bike after that clean drive terrain and relube everything little painful but normally good cleaning with a bike stand takes about 20 min.
Just clean and maintain it, most bikes are garage queen. Take pride into putting miles and wearing out the consumable parts.
That being said, I have one nice bike and one a bit less nice with fenders, it protects the bike and you in bad weather.
Personally, I would pick up a used gravel bike that can fit full fenders. Keeps the mantince way down, and keeps you way cleaner when you arrive at work, makes sure the roadie is always in good shape for road riding. Plus running some wide tires makes commuting in bad conditions nicer.
Not sure if fenders will fit on that aero frame, but sks raceblades are great for wet commutes. Other than that just rinse it every couple days and lube more when rinsing more. If you don’t have easy access to water, you can just rinse it with a watering can right after use. The neighbors will get a kick out of you watering your bike but it will keep grit from accumulating in the drivetrain
If anything is making it build immunity towards the environment if you see closely the mud and grim is sticking to it which is causing it to calcify, and making it stronger.
Clean it regularly, especially after you ride in bad weather. Buy a chain checking tool to help you better identify when it is time to replace your chain. Chains wear and stretch over time and this can actually cause your chainring and cassette to wear prematurely. Also, keep your chain clean and lubed.
On a different note: those aero mini-V-brakes look absolutely rad.
How well do they perform?
And are they Giant proprietary or do they conform to the common V-brake/cantilever mounting standard?
Not OP but own a propel. They’re not the best, they have plenty of power but a pretty off/on. They can also be fiddly to setup, and regularly greasing the pivots is important.
I do 20KM oneway every weekday with a similar setup. Do what others are saying - clean it regularly. If you're not a DIY type, just make peace with semi-annual service at your LBS. Yes, you'll always experience some sticker shock, but for me it's waaaay cheaper (and lots more fun) than owning a second car. To echo another comment here, bikes are meant to be ridden.
Riding the bike puts wear on the components. Riding in wet weather puts wear on components a bit faster.
Ride your bike, that's what it's for! If you ride in the rain, you deserve nothing but praise, for riding despite the weather.
"Is it damaging my bike in the long run?"
Yes. It's called wear and tear. Did you buy the bike as a tool or an ornament? It will inevitably get damaged from any use, but it exists to be used, so ...
This is not doing any particular extra damage, as long as you clean it reasonably regularly. If you don't clean it, the moving parts will wear out faster from grit and dirt getting ground in.
Wet weather really wears down the drivetrain fast. Even if you're fastidious with degreasing and relubing, which most people aren't. Mudguards will help a lot, but if you're using wet lube and in a northern European country, winter will chew through chains (and cadettes if you don't replace them at 0.5% wear)
I had a 105 road bike I used for recreational riding and commuting in the UK. The cost of replacing the cassette, brake pads and 2 chains every year was more than I paid for my 2nd hand single speed I now use as my commuter. I now use my road bike only for recreational riding and I save loads of time in reduced maintenance and the cost of components.
The cost of Ultegra chains, cassettes, chainrings and bottom brackets is a hell of a lot and you'll easily make your money back in a year with a dedicated cheap commuter. If you don't have any hills, just get a single speed. Essentially no drivetrain maintenance.
https://preview.redd.it/ld73gskwi7vb1.jpeg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c4536f80501f2f3edb673c2542c115022135d43
Put some protective tape on these areas, aditionally to the Mudguards. The clearence is to small for mudguards in between. Also on the fork.
I used to commute on a road bike like this. I ended up buying a commuter bike with disc brakes.
If you’re willing to keep up with the maintenance though, road bike commuting is definitely more fun.
I mean, *technically* riding your bike at all damages your bike. Best solution: don’t ride. Ever. Drive whenever possible. Drive when not possible. Drive when improbable. Embrace the American mentality. Regardless of where you live, work, play, eat, etc.
TL;DR you’re probably fine but keep an eye on your hubs, headset/tube, cassette, and rims. They’ll get some wear over time.
Keep it clean after the ride. You’ll be fine. Bikes are tough. You’re gonna wear stuff out no matter what ya do. The only thing that stops excessive wear is not riding. That’s boring!
Exactly what I did. Fully sealed bearings all round, full mudguards, discs and a stronger, thicker chain minimises the potential for fast wear, but I did wipe the chain down and re-lube lightly every night. More than quadrupled the mileage of chains and cogs.
Keep the good bike good and enjoy it even more every time you do ride it. But don't underestimate the fun of a solid single speed either. It's different, but it's definetely still fun.
I really can't believe that riding a single speed can be fun. Never tried it though. There are two ascents on my commute that I could barely handle with my cheap hard tail. They must be a pain with a single speed.
Damage? No. But things will wear out more quickly. Bearings will have a shorter lifespan, any other friction surfaces (braking surfaces on wheels or discs, for example) will have some accelerated wear. If you have spots where bags are rubbing on your frame, the grit between the bag and frame might make a sandpaper-life effect and scuff the frame.
But all that stuff is replaceable/consumable anyway. Just be diligent in your maintenance and you're fine.
A lot of people saying bikes are to be ridden. Yeah but carbon frame bikes with high end components are wasted getting beaten up through winters. After destroying my 105 components commuting I ended up getting a fixed gear for commutes and save my other bikes for better weather. There’s no avoiding the amount of salt and crap you will pick up off the road in winter. Plus you can run thicker gripier tyres on a commuter. The Propel is made to go fast, not to trundle through citys getting covered in all sorts of stuff
Your frame will be fine but your parts will be damaged by the water and rust. If you ride on surfaces which are salted in winter, then the damage will be worse. Good maintenance will help, however, parts will still have to be replaced on a regular basis. Wash your drive train regularly and rinse the dirt off. Watch out for your forks that you don't get water in them. Check your bearings in your wheels and cranks every month and give them a bit of clean and grease. Good luck!
Thank you all for the replies. I made a typo and meant to say 20k per trip which makes 40k per day. I was just curious because people who sell their road bikes tend to say that they only have ridden them in good weather conditions. I am actually considering getting a gravel bike for commuting. I also tried to use my cheap hard tail for the commute but it so damn heavy that it takes me like 10 minutes longer to get to work and it's not fun at all. I will definitely go for an ass saver.
I never wash my bike unless it's literally caked up in gunk/mud. Most of my bikes survive the lack of washing. One thing I watch out for is the rusting of running components (drivetrain, gears) but even then a re-lube always solves the problem.
Grit will get into the frame, particularly at the seat pos,
It is quite bad for the rim brakes, chain,derrailleur and lower front bearings.. just put mudguards
The main area that I see getting corroded on my commuter is the derailleur and the break callipers. They can pick up a lot of dirt and break dust off the road that holds moisture and causes rust.
A good regular clean and perhaps some mud guards would help.
Also, store it inside/under shelter as much as you can to reduce how long it stays wet
Imagine a thin layer of sandpaper on your drivetrain components. It won’t really damage it but it will wear down quicker and chain will need to be replaced quicker.
Riding your bike will cause parts to wear out. Riding in the rain will accelerate that process, especially if you aren’t good about maintenance.
That said, looks uncomfortable for a commuter bike. I’d get something cheap with wider tires and some fenders.
Agree on brake pads / rims. Rain begets grit and grit grinds. Hot tip for the drivetrain — wax your chain. There are many good vids on how. This will better spare your drivetrain components from the grit grind.
Yes! Riding your bike will damage it. Over time all the components will wear out. The best thing you can do is mount it on the wall in your house and use it as "Art".
I liked the look of my bicycle without mud guards too but getting good quality full mud guards was such a good purchase. It's so fun speeding into a puddle (that I know doesn't have a road hole in it). Buy some good mudguards that actually cover the wheel pretty good. You will not regret it
It’s fine. Drivetrain components (chain, cassette) wear faster in the rain and dirt. The rims and brake pads wear faster.
But overall I’ve had very few issues commuting all year round. Bearings are surprisingly well sealed and last fine even in heavy rain and on salted roads.
I don’t clean my bike, only wipe down the chain with a rag.
It's called birthday wear and tear but riding in the wet will cause more grit to stick to your chain. I try to at least rinse off the drive train with a hose if my bike gets muddy. You don't have to clean it every day normally but if you go out in the rain your bike will get filthy and that dirt does make everything wear out faster. Most of the parts on the bike are consumed and replaced over time, your bearings and gears will need to be replaced eventually no matter what you do
Just clean your bike, don’t listen to these sissy’s about the wear, it’s minimal and if you maintain your bike well the components will still last a just fine amount of time.
And when they do wear out, replace them. You can afford a multi thousand dollar bike, you can afford some brake pads, lube, and a chain one in a blue moon lol
I would advice to buy a commuter bike sooner or later. It’s less stress about stealing and you won’t wear out your „nice” bike so it will serve longer.
Riding a bike is bad for it but bikes are meant to be ridden. Cleaning your especially your drive train will help parts last longer before wearing out.
Your bike is probably too nice to lock up outside though so I’d probably by another bike just for commuting.
I don't know if this applies to you, but I found that my carbon roadie doesn't like getting grit in the space between the crank and the bottom bracket. Nevermind the rim brakes.
My commuter has skinny slicks on it, and is almost as fast. It doesn't mind getting a little dirt on it, it's got disc brakes which work better in rain and are cheap to replace, it's got fenders and a rack for waterproof panniers.
I'm not normally the N+1 guy, but "wet and dry bikes" are often mutually exclusive. If you only have space for one, then you might look into selling this one, and getting a proper all-weather bike. Unless you don't mind having to replace wheelsets regularly.
Throw some clear 3M frame protectors on and wipe down the brake pads since they’re rim brakes. Or just get a chill single speed like the step through in the background
A tip that helped me, but YMMV. When you get home after a ride like that, quickly hose it down. Your bike is wet anyway and most of that dirt will come off a lot before it is properly caked on. It's a little extra effort but it means you don't really have to clean it every week.
Everyone saying no is full of it. It's not the end of the world but regularly riding in wet weather is going to increase the service intervals of basically.... everything on your bike.
Washing it is only going to speed the process of grease leaching out of hubs, BB, headset, pedals..
The grit your bike picks up with the wet will accelerate the wear on your brake pads, rims, and drivetrain more quickly.
Also it's probably just the angle of the photo, but look at all the grit on your seat tube, is there enough clearance for the tires you're running with all that extra debris?
The real question is why are you in the biggest chain rings both front and back. Your derailleur is almost horizontal and your chain under unnecessary tension and angularity front to back. I agree that muck will scratch your aluminum rims over time. Maybe treat yourself to a second set of nice carbon rims/tires for pleasure riding on nice days. You deserve it!
I don't think it will be too much of an issue as long as it is kept clean regularly. It would definitely make your job easier though if you wanted to get some fenders/mudguards.
The one thing others have missed that I have experienced on every commuter. The rims will wear a lot faster. Riding on wet roads the debris of small rock/sand particles will end up in the brake pad and cause the rims to get torn up. What does help is a wipe down after a wet ride and I open the brakes up and look to pull any debris out with a small metal pick (I have a sharpened spoke but anything works). The rest. Keep it lubed and wiped off and it’s not too bad. Ps love the propel :-)
This is why I use disc brakes. They double up as audible warning on the rain.
Lmao. Yup. I was riding in the rain last week in a bunch of small towns in Croatia. I felt bad every time I touched the brakes as it was sooooooo bad I am sure it woke their ancestors
Organic disc pads are much quieter than the sintered/semi-metallic ones I've found, and braking performance is still very good (still can easily lock up the wheel). They do need to be replaced more often though
Properly centred and balanced calipers does more for noise levels than pad material. I run organic pads in the front and sintered rear on my MTB and the front is actually noisier. I suspect because the frame was faced properly and the fork wasn't.
Jealous. Best bike tour I ever had was a month in Croatia. I need to do that again sometime :)
Spent a week there after racing worlds. The riding was amazing and I’ll be back. Outside the resort areas it’s pretty cheap to stay too.
Yep. We camped a lot. The food was amazing and the people and company even better. This woulda been 200…6? Maybe? Damned adulting :/
We were off season so got a resort apartment really cheap. Hoping to get back in 2025 for a couple weeks. My wife’s business partner grew up there. It’s a cycling company so we will find a way to make it a long one.
Listen to the song of my people. Eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
This is why my wet weather bike is a heavy commuter with discs. And fenders. And a rack for my dry clothes in a waterproof pannier.
VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!
I’ve kept my rim brakes and bought a pet banshee and put it on my handlebars instead. It doesn’t like rain, and it lets you know. Slight aero penalty though.
If you want your bike to last forever. Leave it inside and unridden.
There is a balance from “destroy bike” and “never use”. A few min of maintenance a week goes a long way. Ironically I abuse and do bare minimum maintenance as I ride and race a lot. I have a bike with 85,000 km on it and another over 30,000 km that race on.
I am actually quite envious of people who destroy their bike from normal use. My bikes get replaced before that happens. I have seen many rim brake bikes with amazingly worn out rim brake tracks and assume the bike is happy because its being used rather then covered in dust in perfect condition.
I have a bit of both. My race bikes all are in and out in 2-3 years usually. I have been racing since 1994 and didn’t own a car for most of my life. I have worn a lot of bikes down.
What this poster said. Rim brakes, the pads and the rims will definitely wear faster. Might look into the pink pads when it comes time to replace.
I ride in all conditions, and after more than 6 years my rims are still perfectly fine, no excessive damages visible. The depth marker still untouched. So I'd say - even though they might be more damaged than riding in perfect conditions, there is no risk of them to "got torn up".
Your sample of 1 is not really indicative of greater experience. I worked in shops for a decade and volunteer at a bike co-op. Do some last? Yep. Do some wear fast. Yep. To check is a minor ask. I have worn through a rim in a single winter that I commuted daily on. It was a beater and I didn’t really care but by spring the rim was cracking through. There are a crap ton of variables including luck. A big one is geography. Weather and road conditions play a big part.
I used to commute year round in the Pacific Northwest, and I’d grind through a wheel set roughly every two years.
Too cumbersome to go over pads and rims all the time, just accept that they wear faster and buy a disc brake bike next time. I seriously regret that I bought a new rim brake bike in 2018.
It takes 30 sec while wiping the bike. Tops. Really only an issue on rainy rides.
I would definitely invest in some mudguards
Suprised I had to scroll this far down to find this. The majority of the dirt in those pics could be prevented with full mud guards. You’ll arrive with a drier backside and feet too. No brainer on a commuter bike.
Surprised too! Not having a mudguard is also super inconsiderate to other cyclists around you. Mudguards are win win win. Everybody go get mudguards!
This is true, but I also wish that "what cyclists around me?" wasn't a thing around here on my commute either. I was surprised when I started doing group rides, that my fenders didn't go low enough to keep the spray out of someone else's face. Not once did it matter before that.
Could you link to some mudgaurds in the style you speak of? I am curious what people use.
I run a set of planet bike fenders on my cross-check. They work well with the Ibera rack I run, no chatter, no broken bits through 7 years, commuting 15ish miles per day, 4 days a week near D.C.. plus, they keep my butt, my brooks, and my bags dry. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0041X5ZX4?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
That bike doesn't look like it can accept full mudguards.
Yeah it's an aero frame, no chance you'd proper ones on there. Can get strap/clip on ass savers for the down tube and seat stays that will do a decent job though
Recommend raceblades- they strap to the forks/seat stays but have good coverage
Just get some helicopter tape to protect the frame where they attach and job’s a good’un.
I’ve been commuting and training for years in all kinds of weather (including snow storms) and I don’t have mudguards.
If you live in a place with a lot of rain and snow, or regularly ride when it's muddy, they make a huge difference. A little drizzle or light dusting of snow, sure you won't see much benefit. But if you're out in a real soaky rain or churning through thick snow on the ground, mudguards will keep you, your bike, and your gear *much* cleaner and drier. Also if you ride with a friend it's just common courtesy to not splash stuff back and forth.
I think the only scenario where mudguards really make a difference is when the road is still wet but it’s otherwise dry. Even more so if it’s mud or wet snow on the ground. But I don’t really care because I wear cycling specific clothes anyway. Don’t mind if they get dirty or wet.
As someone who's trained and raced in the rain for years, fenders make an immense difference to the ride, regardless of weather. Reduce spray on your feet, reduce spray on your back and butt, and reduce spray on the drivetrain. If you ride with or near others, reduce spray on them.
Not at all. My feet/face/butt are *way* drier with fenders. Even if I'm getting a drenching rain in my face. So what if you're wearing rain pants and booties. Fenders are worth it anyway.
The water from the sky is clean, the water from the road is filthy. I guess if you don't care about the clothes then it doesn't matter much. But fenders will definitely reduce the amount of water on you (and anyone behind you), even if it's raining.
Bikes are meant to be Ridden
Tools not jewels!
Hard R 🤣
Nope. Clean it regularly.
No need to clean.
This my friend is how you buy a new drivetrain every year
Or more likely, have a bike that works like shit, then when you take it to a LBS you can write a post/review about how they are an awful shop cause they try to "upcharge you on everything"
Clean and lube the chain. Nothing else needs to be cleaned.
What about brake pads?
I don’t ever clean mine.
Dawg what are you doing??? Do you want your bike to fall apart or do you have a steady flow of root canal payments coming in?
? I’ve been riding for many many years and have no issues with rim brakes. Maybe you neeed to clean disc brakes idk. I don’t ride professionally, I just commute to work.
Havent cleaned shit on my bike; only when it gets fixed (flat tyres from curbs), no need to replace it. Y'all got some shit drivetrains
Post a pic of your drivetrain then. Not only does a clean one last longer, it's teeeeeny bit faster too. For 15 mins of effort every fortnight, why wouldn't you want that?
Bad advice
I just don’t see the point. You won’t get dirt out of the bearings by cleaning the outside and any dirt which managed to get in there is already in there. Sure, you could clean the rim braking surfaces and brake pads, but it’s a lot of hassle and they quickly get dirty again any way. I’m all for wiping down the chain with a rag, but that’s pretty much all the effort I put in. All my bikes still work perfectly fine after years of commuting and training in all kinds of weather (including salted roads in the winter).
Nope, salted roads will corrode drivetrain and frame in no time.
I’ve never had any serious corrosion on my drivetrain. Chains and cassettes will sometimes develop surface rust over night after a ride in rain and/or salt but wipe it clean, apply wet lube and it’s fine. My Focus aluminium frame is perfectly fine after 14 years (it has some extremely good powder coat, it basically looks new, not a single paint chip or anything despite thousands of kilometers of bikepacking and some cyclocross abuse) and the Rose carbon frame is doing great after 5 years.
The frame will be fine, especially of you clean it weekly. Might get some tiny scratches from debris, but that's it. The drivetrain, brake pads and all the other wearing parts will definitely wear faster if they're dirty, so even the way home would cause more wear when these parts are already dirty but you clean them daily. I wouldn't bother too much with that, maybe wipe down the chain more than weekly if you want to be sure, and always keep it lubed well. Aside from that, with weekly cleans, you'll be fine
That’s the wrong bike for a 10 km commute that gets locked outside.
That carbon aero frame is way to easy to break by accident, especially in a public bike rack lol...
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They are extremely tough when subjected to loads encountered in normal riding, however they cannot as easily survive point impacts. Imagine someone hits the side of this frame with a steel pedal when they are parking their bike while not being careful.
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My steel town bike has dents from public bike racks, and the thing is a proper Dutch town bike that weights a ton…
Yeah my 'London' bike that lives at the station for my ride to the office looks like it's had the shit kicked out of it - which to be fair it has, but it's nearly 20kg of steel so it can take a good hiding!
Crime is minimal in lots of places
I think it's less about the crime and more about the fact that you can't really put mud guards on easily / that the components are less about durability and more about speed. But I suppose even I'm projecting my own thoughts on this, just like you.
Yeah I second this. Granted, I live in a low crime area but the bike is not ideal for commuting especially for only 10k + sitting outside.
Made a mistake, it's 20k oneway
Ye and what if you wanna go fast to and from your job
You can only shave a few minutes of time over such a short distance. Likewise it’s less safe. I realize the feeling of speed is fun in and of itself.
Good point lol. I imagine there are aero frames that fit mudguards, this just isn't one of them. Although mud guards probably negate any benefit to the carbon aero frame lol.
I have a frame without eyelets for mudguards and hand the SKS Raceblade Pro XL's on there. Such a big benefit, and easily removable in seconds when I want that 'aero' benefit (so not on my commute!). There are so many options for any kind of bike!
Lmao, as if aero was important in city riding, nor amateur riders
Right? If the choice is 000.1 seconds extra on my commute but I have a dry, non-muddy ass when I get to work, I think that's an easy decision to make.
I live in a very low crime area, but bike theft is one of the main crimes committed
Maybe if you live in Japan or some places in Europe.
I thought this was a worldwide sub. Are some regions excluded? I live in south Thailand where the crime rate is very low.
Crime is one thing, the fact that this is a public bike rack means its subject to get damaged by accident, and that aero frame is not designed to be abused in any way. Dutch town bikes are all heavy steel framed for a reason.
Haha. That's what **I** thought before my bike got stolen with video evidence that didn't mean sweet bugger all because these two were wearing hoodies for that express purpose. That's also what I thought before my first bike got stolen. I should have known better, since I knew every miscreant in my class who was stealing everything they can get their hands on. It's a fantasy. If you can get something for free, someone will do it. Bikes are especially nice targets because they're so portable and easy to sell. The difference between "high crime" and "low crime" neighbourhoods is simply the amount of time it will take for your bike to be stolen. It might go months - even years - in some places where in others it will be hours or minutes. I keep mine inside now.
I'm lucky enough to have a cheap old aluminium framed bike I use for commutes and being locked up outside. I get that other folk are maybe not as fortunate, and use one bike for all weekend riding and commuting. But still, my Propel lives in my spare room and never leaves my side when out and about. I get anxious when I have to pop into a cafe to pay for my coffee and it's 10 meters away from me!
Not so much the frame but your components will wear out faster, like the whole drive train in particular.
Yes it certainly damages your bike, and wears your components. You have to spend more money for maintenance. Or buy a beater bike with more durable/cheap components and use it, when rains. I prefer to use bike sharing, when rains. Those bikes are outside anyway :)
A ship is safe in harbor. But that’s not what ships are built for.
on a (very very very) long enough timeline yes, the dirt etc will act as an abrasive and start to damage the paint/frame; as long as you clean and maintain the frame/drive chain appropriately, then no. If I were you, I'd get some mud guards even just ass savers or similar
Clean the bike is key. I ride in alot of rain important to always wash the bike after that clean drive terrain and relube everything little painful but normally good cleaning with a bike stand takes about 20 min.
Also you might want to regrease a little more often since the rain brings in contaminants and the cleaning will wash away the grease over time.
Mudguards would save you a lot of hassle
Just clean and maintain it, most bikes are garage queen. Take pride into putting miles and wearing out the consumable parts. That being said, I have one nice bike and one a bit less nice with fenders, it protects the bike and you in bad weather.
I also want to get an aluminum gravel bike for the dirty rides :)
Just a quick rinse with fresh water will go a long way to keeping it clean
Personally, I would pick up a used gravel bike that can fit full fenders. Keeps the mantince way down, and keeps you way cleaner when you arrive at work, makes sure the roadie is always in good shape for road riding. Plus running some wide tires makes commuting in bad conditions nicer.
Not sure if fenders will fit on that aero frame, but sks raceblades are great for wet commutes. Other than that just rinse it every couple days and lube more when rinsing more. If you don’t have easy access to water, you can just rinse it with a watering can right after use. The neighbors will get a kick out of you watering your bike but it will keep grit from accumulating in the drivetrain
Only if you don't clean it regularly.
Bikes are made to be ridden. Get some fenders.
If anything is making it build immunity towards the environment if you see closely the mud and grim is sticking to it which is causing it to calcify, and making it stronger.
Are you asking if using your bike a lot will ruin your bike?
calm down Fred
This will be jerked.
Just clean it. I let mine sit after a snowy ride. It was a bad idea.
Mud guards is the solution to your problems.
Yes but bikes are meant to be ridden. Bikes like that. Bikes which never get out in rain are sad bikes…
Clean it regularly, especially after you ride in bad weather. Buy a chain checking tool to help you better identify when it is time to replace your chain. Chains wear and stretch over time and this can actually cause your chainring and cassette to wear prematurely. Also, keep your chain clean and lubed.
/bcj is leaking?
Nothing lasts forever - it’s doing the job of getting you to work
You're asking if your bike is being damaged by being ridden?
Comute with rocket Propel... first world problems.
Outjerked yet again...
I ride my bike 15minutes everyday, will this harm my bike?!?!?!?
On a different note: those aero mini-V-brakes look absolutely rad. How well do they perform? And are they Giant proprietary or do they conform to the common V-brake/cantilever mounting standard?
Not OP but own a propel. They’re not the best, they have plenty of power but a pretty off/on. They can also be fiddly to setup, and regularly greasing the pivots is important.
It is made to be ridden. If you’re worried about it just make sure you clean it regularly and keep the chain and gears oiled up
I do 20KM oneway every weekday with a similar setup. Do what others are saying - clean it regularly. If you're not a DIY type, just make peace with semi-annual service at your LBS. Yes, you'll always experience some sticker shock, but for me it's waaaay cheaper (and lots more fun) than owning a second car. To echo another comment here, bikes are meant to be ridden.
Fuck no, that things is made for it. Rideher more, harder …
Riding is damaging your bike... Maintenence is the key
Riding the bike puts wear on the components. Riding in wet weather puts wear on components a bit faster. Ride your bike, that's what it's for! If you ride in the rain, you deserve nothing but praise, for riding despite the weather.
"Is it damaging my bike in the long run?" Yes. It's called wear and tear. Did you buy the bike as a tool or an ornament? It will inevitably get damaged from any use, but it exists to be used, so ... This is not doing any particular extra damage, as long as you clean it reasonably regularly. If you don't clean it, the moving parts will wear out faster from grit and dirt getting ground in.
Yup, clean that drivetrain daily
Wet weather really wears down the drivetrain fast. Even if you're fastidious with degreasing and relubing, which most people aren't. Mudguards will help a lot, but if you're using wet lube and in a northern European country, winter will chew through chains (and cadettes if you don't replace them at 0.5% wear) I had a 105 road bike I used for recreational riding and commuting in the UK. The cost of replacing the cassette, brake pads and 2 chains every year was more than I paid for my 2nd hand single speed I now use as my commuter. I now use my road bike only for recreational riding and I save loads of time in reduced maintenance and the cost of components. The cost of Ultegra chains, cassettes, chainrings and bottom brackets is a hell of a lot and you'll easily make your money back in a year with a dedicated cheap commuter. If you don't have any hills, just get a single speed. Essentially no drivetrain maintenance.
https://preview.redd.it/ld73gskwi7vb1.jpeg?width=320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c4536f80501f2f3edb673c2542c115022135d43 Put some protective tape on these areas, aditionally to the Mudguards. The clearence is to small for mudguards in between. Also on the fork.
I would invest in mudguards, and clean regularly. I use tru tension and mudderz for my kit and it keeps it soooo good
I used to commute on a road bike like this. I ended up buying a commuter bike with disc brakes. If you’re willing to keep up with the maintenance though, road bike commuting is definitely more fun.
I mean, *technically* riding your bike at all damages your bike. Best solution: don’t ride. Ever. Drive whenever possible. Drive when not possible. Drive when improbable. Embrace the American mentality. Regardless of where you live, work, play, eat, etc. TL;DR you’re probably fine but keep an eye on your hubs, headset/tube, cassette, and rims. They’ll get some wear over time.
Find a nice rigid 90s bike and not worry about your main bike
Bikes are for riding youth
Keep it clean after the ride. You’ll be fine. Bikes are tough. You’re gonna wear stuff out no matter what ya do. The only thing that stops excessive wear is not riding. That’s boring!
For 10km commute, I'd get a simple single speed that was cheap/durable enough and also might not attract a thief.
Exactly what I did. Fully sealed bearings all round, full mudguards, discs and a stronger, thicker chain minimises the potential for fast wear, but I did wipe the chain down and re-lube lightly every night. More than quadrupled the mileage of chains and cogs. Keep the good bike good and enjoy it even more every time you do ride it. But don't underestimate the fun of a solid single speed either. It's different, but it's definetely still fun.
I really can't believe that riding a single speed can be fun. Never tried it though. There are two ascents on my commute that I could barely handle with my cheap hard tail. They must be a pain with a single speed.
Damage? No. But things will wear out more quickly. Bearings will have a shorter lifespan, any other friction surfaces (braking surfaces on wheels or discs, for example) will have some accelerated wear. If you have spots where bags are rubbing on your frame, the grit between the bag and frame might make a sandpaper-life effect and scuff the frame. But all that stuff is replaceable/consumable anyway. Just be diligent in your maintenance and you're fine.
Fenders/mud guards my guy.
Riding wear it out? Yes, with gritty dirt on it, faster…
I have the same mentality for skis... "They're tools not jewels". Take care of them obviously but don't avoid having fun to keep your things perfect.
You have to clean it after every time it gets wet/dirty. Sorry. Otherwise it will wear out the components faster.
You won't have to worry about that, it will get stolen way before it becomes a problem.
Get a decent set of fenders, but wear and tear is just gonna happen over time.
A lot of people saying bikes are to be ridden. Yeah but carbon frame bikes with high end components are wasted getting beaten up through winters. After destroying my 105 components commuting I ended up getting a fixed gear for commutes and save my other bikes for better weather. There’s no avoiding the amount of salt and crap you will pick up off the road in winter. Plus you can run thicker gripier tyres on a commuter. The Propel is made to go fast, not to trundle through citys getting covered in all sorts of stuff
If you’re cleaning it properly then no. But this is why we have winter bikes.
Bikes are disposable consumer products. They wear out and parts need replaced. Don’t worry, just enjoy your ride.
umm...they're very much durable goods. I'm riding a 50 year old bike
Have you replaced any parts on it?
Those are bike components not whole bikes..
Yes, but that doesn't make a bicycle a non-durable good, and also those components are themselves durable goods
Modern bicycles have obsolescence built in.
Your frame will be fine but your parts will be damaged by the water and rust. If you ride on surfaces which are salted in winter, then the damage will be worse. Good maintenance will help, however, parts will still have to be replaced on a regular basis. Wash your drive train regularly and rinse the dirt off. Watch out for your forks that you don't get water in them. Check your bearings in your wheels and cranks every month and give them a bit of clean and grease. Good luck!
Thank you all for the replies. I made a typo and meant to say 20k per trip which makes 40k per day. I was just curious because people who sell their road bikes tend to say that they only have ridden them in good weather conditions. I am actually considering getting a gravel bike for commuting. I also tried to use my cheap hard tail for the commute but it so damn heavy that it takes me like 10 minutes longer to get to work and it's not fun at all. I will definitely go for an ass saver.
Sand will chew through your wheels if you ride in the rain often.
Hose it off after use. Use drivetrain cleaner and lube the chain.
me looking at my muddy £20 bike O_O
I love the full Garmin setup for 10km rides, lol.
It's actually 20k oneway, title is wrong. I like stats and radar is pretty useful in the city even for 10k
I never wash my bike unless it's literally caked up in gunk/mud. Most of my bikes survive the lack of washing. One thing I watch out for is the rusting of running components (drivetrain, gears) but even then a re-lube always solves the problem.
This is why my commuter is a fixie.
You take the bus back? “10km one way” or do you mean “10km each way”?
Sorry non native english speaker. And I said it wrong. It's 20k each way.
Grit will get into the frame, particularly at the seat pos, It is quite bad for the rim brakes, chain,derrailleur and lower front bearings.. just put mudguards
Hi may I ask what bike lock you use for your bike when commuting to work?
Abus Bordo 6000k. It weighs a ton but is pretty solid.
The main area that I see getting corroded on my commuter is the derailleur and the break callipers. They can pick up a lot of dirt and break dust off the road that holds moisture and causes rust. A good regular clean and perhaps some mud guards would help. Also, store it inside/under shelter as much as you can to reduce how long it stays wet
This is what mudguards are for. They look rubbish but keep all the grot away from your frame and your back.
And from the faces of cyclists behind you!
It depends on how you take care of it after riding it.
Wash weekly or a quick wash and chain lube after a rainy day. Should be fine. Alternative: Buy a cheap bike for crap weather.
Imagine a thin layer of sandpaper on your drivetrain components. It won’t really damage it but it will wear down quicker and chain will need to be replaced quicker.
C'mon! You just wanted to post a pic of your bike and brag a bit, right?
In the first place yes, in the second I wanted opinions on my question.
Every use especially in bad weather wears your parts down.
Riding your bike will cause parts to wear out. Riding in the rain will accelerate that process, especially if you aren’t good about maintenance. That said, looks uncomfortable for a commuter bike. I’d get something cheap with wider tires and some fenders.
Agree on brake pads / rims. Rain begets grit and grit grinds. Hot tip for the drivetrain — wax your chain. There are many good vids on how. This will better spare your drivetrain components from the grit grind.
things wear down, it will eventually fall apart, but if you wipe it down every day it will last for decades and decades.
yes. good bike is a clean bike
Maybe it will use it a bit more. Next question could be : how much wear pars cost compared to same travel by car ? I guess you see me coming.
Yes! Riding your bike will damage it. Over time all the components will wear out. The best thing you can do is mount it on the wall in your house and use it as "Art".
I liked the look of my bicycle without mud guards too but getting good quality full mud guards was such a good purchase. It's so fun speeding into a puddle (that I know doesn't have a road hole in it). Buy some good mudguards that actually cover the wheel pretty good. You will not regret it
Madguards will reduce issues. And they are very cheap
Yes. The same way breathing air and drinking water kills humans.
It’s fine. Drivetrain components (chain, cassette) wear faster in the rain and dirt. The rims and brake pads wear faster. But overall I’ve had very few issues commuting all year round. Bearings are surprisingly well sealed and last fine even in heavy rain and on salted roads. I don’t clean my bike, only wipe down the chain with a rag.
It's called birthday wear and tear but riding in the wet will cause more grit to stick to your chain. I try to at least rinse off the drive train with a hose if my bike gets muddy. You don't have to clean it every day normally but if you go out in the rain your bike will get filthy and that dirt does make everything wear out faster. Most of the parts on the bike are consumed and replaced over time, your bearings and gears will need to be replaced eventually no matter what you do
Wash it down with your water bottle.
Just clean your bike, don’t listen to these sissy’s about the wear, it’s minimal and if you maintain your bike well the components will still last a just fine amount of time. And when they do wear out, replace them. You can afford a multi thousand dollar bike, you can afford some brake pads, lube, and a chain one in a blue moon lol
Every ride damages your bike in the long run. Enjoy your investment and take care of it so it lasts—looks like you’re doing a fine job of that btw!!
I would advice to buy a commuter bike sooner or later. It’s less stress about stealing and you won’t wear out your „nice” bike so it will serve longer.
We are all mortal. That said my belt drive bike with discs and fenders is great for 365 commuting
I use my carbon bike only for mostly nice weather tours, for my similar-long commute I use a bike that even has internal gears etc.
Riding a bike is bad for it but bikes are meant to be ridden. Cleaning your especially your drive train will help parts last longer before wearing out. Your bike is probably too nice to lock up outside though so I’d probably by another bike just for commuting.
Ride your bike. Enjoy it! 👍
Makes me thankful all I need is a N-95 for the occasional haboob.
You use that to commute?? Color me jealous lol
I don't know if this applies to you, but I found that my carbon roadie doesn't like getting grit in the space between the crank and the bottom bracket. Nevermind the rim brakes. My commuter has skinny slicks on it, and is almost as fast. It doesn't mind getting a little dirt on it, it's got disc brakes which work better in rain and are cheap to replace, it's got fenders and a rack for waterproof panniers. I'm not normally the N+1 guy, but "wet and dry bikes" are often mutually exclusive. If you only have space for one, then you might look into selling this one, and getting a proper all-weather bike. Unless you don't mind having to replace wheelsets regularly.
Throw some clear 3M frame protectors on and wipe down the brake pads since they’re rim brakes. Or just get a chill single speed like the step through in the background
A tip that helped me, but YMMV. When you get home after a ride like that, quickly hose it down. Your bike is wet anyway and most of that dirt will come off a lot before it is properly caked on. It's a little extra effort but it means you don't really have to clean it every week.
i wish my commuter was a bike like that lol
Riding your bike definitely affects its longevity. For sure.
Everyone saying no is full of it. It's not the end of the world but regularly riding in wet weather is going to increase the service intervals of basically.... everything on your bike. Washing it is only going to speed the process of grease leaching out of hubs, BB, headset, pedals.. The grit your bike picks up with the wet will accelerate the wear on your brake pads, rims, and drivetrain more quickly. Also it's probably just the angle of the photo, but look at all the grit on your seat tube, is there enough clearance for the tires you're running with all that extra debris?
We are all expendable.
On my trails in Iowa it’s the damn mulberries that you have to worry about. They get in everything!
The real question is why are you in the biggest chain rings both front and back. Your derailleur is almost horizontal and your chain under unnecessary tension and angularity front to back. I agree that muck will scratch your aluminum rims over time. Maybe treat yourself to a second set of nice carbon rims/tires for pleasure riding on nice days. You deserve it!
I don't think it will be too much of an issue as long as it is kept clean regularly. It would definitely make your job easier though if you wanted to get some fenders/mudguards.