Riding in MUD

[iRob]

Hi

 

I'm doing a stage race in a month or so and the mud, sorry MUDDDD, is rather bad apparently; ala new chain, cassette, hubs. bb and cables after the race.

 

Is there a useful technique or helpful tips (apart from making sure your chain is cleaned and well lubed with wet lube prior to each stage) that anyone can offer me?

 

I find I suffer badly in the mud; like I used to in the sand, until I learnt to keep my weight off the saddle and keep my cadence high. So is there a similar tip or technique for mud and soemthing to help me prolong my ride and life of bike?

 

At the moment I avoid it as much as possible; even a small patch of mud and my bike sounds like it is going to break and it is almost brand new. Wll the Chain AND cassette are!

[iRob]

bump

[Kranswurm]

one thing I can tell you that if you have the option of riding through the mud or water puddle,choose the puddle

its firmer underneath

[GLuvsMtb]

Make the correct tyre choice:

- Something like Conti Mountain King iso Race King (I don't use full wet tyres, but if they work for you, go for it!)

 

Rinse your dereulleur and chain and wipe with a rag before re-applying lube at the 1/2 way mark

- Use a water bottle and squeeze it onto the chain, cassette and dereulleurs. Get rid of the excess muck with a rag, re-apply lube and then go and do your usual routine at the water point.

 

Wash your bike immediately after each stage (if doing a stage race)

- Don't let the mud get dry. Its much easier to get off while wet

- Avoid high-pressure cleaning equipment. It only sends the sand particles to anything with a bearing

 

Service all components with bearings as soon as you get home after the race

- Don't let the sand destroy your BB and hubs before servicing them.

 

Clean your rotors after going through a muddy patch by lightly braking to get excess muck off.

- If you need your brakes in a hurry and they are full of mud, your brake pads will not last the day.

[DawieO]

Sounds like you are off to the SabieX in December?

[Borriz]

Wash your bike as frequently possible during the race. If you can take motorex aerosol oil on the ride. The pressure that the oil gets released with helps to penetrate the gunk as well Cleaning your chain - yes it looks funny with that big aerosol in you camel bak but at least you'll finish the race on your bike

[Bos]

good advive from morewood mad....

 

Ive heard of people spraying release agent like spray and cook on frame and tires, Id maybe try that..

 

Run full lenth cable outers with seals at the end.

 

dont use front brakes on offcam slick corners best is break before the corner and roll through.

 

make sure you have metal sintered brake pads.

 

 

[Bman]

one thing I can tell you that if you have the option of riding through the mud or water puddle,choose the puddle

its firmer underneath

[manbearpig]

Find mud and practice riding in it. Serious.

[Bman]

wait thats only if its shallow enough to get to the firmer stuff beneath

[iRob]

Sounds like you are off to the SabieX in December?

 

Yes. Any advice? mmmm. Need to get an old training bike to be able to practice in mud; its wrecking my fancy new bike.

[Brighter-Lights]

Well if you've been riding for a while, and know how many km's you normally get on a chain and how far from replacement your cassette is, and know that it's gonna be muddy for certain, kit your bike with your training chain and cassette so that when replacing after the race, it will be normal maintenance and not new equipment that got thrashed in the mud.

 

I keep a 50% worn XT cassette and chain in a zip lock bag (cleaned) when going to a race. If it's a major race and time for replacement, I fit a new chain and cassette before the event, but if it suddenly starts raining the night before, I put my worn parts on quickly.

 

Spray and cook doesn't really work... But something like Spanjaard's CDF works, but has to be applied before the race, but it's also very expensive. Creates a wax type layer on stuff that's not easily removed...

 

For lube use something very thick like Castrol Lubricut 150 - no commercial lube lasts that long in the wet...

[iRob]

I reckon this is the way to go, I've got a 50% used SLX cassette and will use my current chain. It will be muddy for sure.

[Seandmerida96]

My Advice.... Dont do it. I would hate it swear and curse the whole way. Then I would swear and curse when I have to change cables, BB, chain Casette etc etc. Is it worth it??? My humble opinion ...NO!!!! Those of you that did Illovo Eston 2009 will attest to that! And That was one day.

[Grebel]

My Advice.... Dont do it. I would hate it swear and curse the whole way. Then I would swear and curse when I have to change cables, BB, chain Casette etc etc. Is it worth it??? My humble opinion ...NO!!!! Those of you that did Illovo Eston 2009 will attest to that! And That was one day.

 

Listen to the dude! That race cost me a fortune in post race maintenance not to mention the paint that was "sandpapered" off my frame during the race. I saw a lot of people collect their goodie bags and go home. I though "Wussies!!" How wrong I was... I should have followed their example. That race changed my whole perception of wet races. How much fun can it be when you can't cane the downhills and do the jumps??? The only race I can remember where I had to pedal downhill to keep moving

[Vetseun]

If you are sponsored or have lots of bucks do it, if not... leave it. Stuffs a bike up.