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cassette failure in the snow
racing last weekend and the cassette failed....cranks could spin either way and not engage. It was deep snow. A spectator said the cassette burls were frozen so we poured hot coffee on it and it worked agin for a bit but then stopped again 5 mins later. Is this a common problem in the cold? If so how do I prevent it happening again? Thanks
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by barry davies on -
The GB team had the same problems at the worlds last year in Czech, the grease was freezing on the wheel brgs too. there was an article on a website with how they got round it but cannot remember it, sure someone will post it on here.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Haygarth on -
I think the general point is to try to use a grease rather than just a grease-based based lubricant (which can have other things in that freeze) but it sounds to me like the snow got packed into the cassette and iced up - hence the problem probably wasn't a lubrication one, it's one of pure physics. The answers?
Have two bikes and someone with hot water / coffee?
Apply good old oil or grease to the cassette (not recommended in any other circumstances than snow!).
Think about staying indoors and knocking it on the head?
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Permalink Reply by Clive Wilkinson on -
My bike came straight out of the shed with the same problem during the snow last year.
I put it down to getting water in the freewheel mechanism when cleaning the bike after races, which then freezes overnight during low temperatures. Pouring hot water on the cassette fixed it for me.
I imagine that oil has a lower freezing point than water, so in theory getting rid of any trapped water and replacing it with oil should help to prevent it happening again.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Haygarth on
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Update - just 'experimented' in 5 - 6 " of snow (It's minus 4 here at the mo) with replacing my normal pricey lube with a £1 spray lube from the pound shop, incl spraying cassette. Nothing stuck. Scientific? No.
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Permalink Reply by Nigel on
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Thank you for your replies...I will take the cassette off, ensure it is completely dry, then apply some synthetic crease. Lets hope that sorts it.
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Permalink Reply by Bernie on
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Bet it was a Shimano? Friend of mine has XT and Deore hubs and it happens al the time.
Dunno what mine are (Ritchey I think) and it hasn't yet happened to me. Fingers Crossed.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Haygarth on
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Some more snowy cross action here on Youtube from the West Midlands race at the weekend - looks great.
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