Joe Cipale

How about" stay inside! It is freezing out there!"

:D

Sent from my Motorola ATRIX™ 4G on AT&T

-----Original message-----
From: Rick Johnson
To: obra
Sent: Sat, Dec 7, 2013 00:56:13 GMT+00:00
Subject: [OBRA Chat] Cold weather riding tips

Rick Johnson

A few things that might be helpful to those racing this weekend.

• Make absolutely sure your cable housings are dry inside. Any
  moisture in there will freeze out in the cold and your shifting
  will fail or sometimes even lock your brakes on.


• Put some non-stick treatment on your cleats to keep the snow
  from icing them. Some products that work well are WD-40, Pam or
  even melting some wax in with a heat gun or hair dryer. But be
  careful to not make the soles slippery though.
  
  


• Same with your pedals, be sure the mechanism is clean and
  lubricated. Ice sticks really well to dry and dirty parts.
  
  


• Use the lightest weight chain lube you can, thick lubricants
  stiffen up in extreme cold. Not only will this slow you down
  noticeably but your shifting will be slow and inconsistent too.
  
  
  


• Same concern with all your shifty bits - derailleur pivots,
  jockey wheels, etc - make sure they are clean, dry and lightly
  lubricated.  


• Your glasses will almost certainly fog up. Think about what
  you are going to do when that happens. Anti-fog treatments can
  delay or minimize the problem - check with the ski shops for
  options. Remember that in a pinch polishing your glasses with
  spit is actually pretty effective. 


• Consider what parts of your bike you will have your hands on a
  lot - metal will be very cold and suck the warmth right out of
  your hands. If you have to ride with thin palmed gloves think
  about taping parts of the frame you might have to grab onto so
  you can preserve your dexterity.
  
  


• If you crash examine yourself careful for cuts, sometimes you
  won't feel anything even though you have a serious injury. Also
  give yourself a good once over after you get indoors and warm,
  you might find bruises that were hidden by clothing.
  
  


• Dress warm and know the symptoms of hypothermia - treat signs
  of that seriously. Also keep an eye on your friends, help them
  stay safe too. Absolutely ask for help if you need it!
  
  

Good luck this weekend!

Rick Johnson

Bend, Oregon