In winter it is common to find salt on the road when we go out to roll by bicycle. Throwing salt to the winter is a common practice to melt the snow and avoid frost. Its use prevents ice plates from forming, but it has some negative effects on the wheels of your bicycle. Therefore, if you want to go out to make asphalt routes in areas where it is common to find salt in winter we recommend you follow a series of recommendations.
First of all, we tell you what happens to the wheels of your bicycle when they are for a long time on salty asphalt. It has to do with a chemical reaction called Galvanic Corrosion. When mixed with water, salt becomes an electrolyte, which means that it can cause the corrosion of metals. This is the reason why in the coastal areas it is easier for metals to oxidize and appear corrosion symptoms due to moisture and the presence of sea salt in the environment.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different metals are in contact with an electrolyte. In these situations one of them oxidizes and the other is reduced, thus causing corrosion.
Galvanic corrosion can affect the wheels of your bicycle in several ways. First, it can affect metal parts, such as radios and nuclei. If these parts run, they can weaken and break, which can be dangerous for your safety while riding a bicycle.
To prevent the salt from damaging your wheels road bike It is important to take some caution measures. The most effective measure is to avoid bicycle on days when there is salt in the asphalt, especially if it is wet. But if you like cycling as much as we most likely cannot avoid it and your desire to rolling are superior to the activity of the machines that distribute salt on the road.
Therefore, if you can't stay at home and you will get sure to rinse your wheels with cold water after finishing the route to remove any salt residue. Water must be cold because the chemical reaction caused by corrosion is faster when it is hot. But do not focus only on the wheels, in this type of circumstances it is recommended to complete etc
In addition, you must keep in mind that this Galvanic corrosion can also occur even in dry conditions. Therefore do not limit yourself with the wheels, it is important that you make sure they are completely dry before saving the bicycle for the next exit. This will help prevent salt from adhering to the wheels and causes long -term damage.
