Otis, day two

[BadDNA]

Made another trip to Otis Sunday with SloMoJo, Vos and Berkshire_Rider.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis6.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis7.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis8.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis9.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis10.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis11.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis12.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis13.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis14.jpg

[BadDNA]

More pics...


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis15.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis16.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis17.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis18.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f226/BadDNA/bike/Otis_2_25_07/Otis.jpg

[Slider]

Nice pics, BadDNA. Thanks for posting.

The closeup of the sandy bikes reminded me just how nasty Otis is to drivetrains when it isn't totally frozen.

Slider

[catbbq]

It looks like your at a car wash. You guys didn't take your bikes through the car wash did you? Really back for bearings. The preasure from a waterhose can mess you up, high pressure from a car wash can take off paint.

Be careful!

[Slappy]

Wouldn't it take the paint off your car then????

:confused:

[BadDNA]

We know better than that, we hosed them off with just the low pressure stream you get without pulling the trigger and never pointed it directly at any of the bearings. It's all good.

[catbbq]

Wouldn't it take the paint off your car then????

:confused:

If you car was painted like your bike, possibly.

It would be cool to get an anodized Honda Element.

[AA]

Ever been to Moab? There are several car washes in town and they always have people there washing their bikes with the hand held sprayers. This includes the shops and guide services. The fine dust and clay (if it gets wet) gets stuck everywhere.

All you need to do is use some common sense. Remember a car wash is not a pressure washer. A pressure washer when used incorrectly can actually maim you, a car wash hose will only get you wet.

[xcslowpoke]

Have to agree w/ AA, using a car wash effectively will not harm your bike. You just keep the full force of the spray away from any bearing surfaces (BB, hubs, pivots, & headset). I lived in SJ, CA (Bay Area) and the dirt behind my old house was clay. Get it even remotely wet and it was like cement, if you think Moab dirt is bad then you have no idea. You couldn't ride this stuff off, it took days to dry out, the only thing you could do was blast it off with a car wash.

Now if you plan on using a car wash you better make sure:

- After washing take the seatpost out and turn the bike over. Water will drain out, hell you should do this if you ride when its raining or super wet.
- Make sure the your BB, seatpost (if metal), and headset have anti-seeze on them. I have seen BB, posts, and HS frozen in frames.
- If your frame is steel then it better have frame saver.
- Oil the sliders of your fork & shock. Their is a small sponge behing the wipers that will suck in water. Pop off the wipers, squeeze out the sponge, and put a small amount of fork oil onto the sponge.

I am sure I am forgetting a few things its been awhile, SJ never got rain in the summer. This is a whole new world to me with snow, rain, and mud that can happen any time.

[BG]

"It would be cool to get an anodized Honda Element."[/QUOTE]

But then it would probably look like this...

[SloMoJo]

That was indeed a fun ride ... in fact that was my "return to mountain biking" ride. It took a shiney new red Bullit to snap me out of my deep depression. I am now happy as a lark ... although sadly outta shape. Phew.

If any of you are considering taking a year off mountain biking to go off on a boat rebuilding project .... Don't do it! ;)
-SloJo