I generally try to avoid riding in the rain. If it is currently raining, or highly probable to rain, I choose the trainer. Occasionally there is nothing I can do to avoid it (starts raining during a ride, a race, etc…). My typical routine after riding in the rain is to take both wheels off, put bike in the repair stand and give the entire bike plus the wheels a good cleaning. I then re-lube.
Are there other tasks I should do? Take the seat post out and tip bike upside down (I’ve never heard water in my frame after a rainy ride). Do anything with my bottom bracket or headset (those two tasks may need to be learned since I have never messed with either)?
Your current routine should be more than sufficient to keep your bike running smoothly. Checking to see if there’s any water in your frame by taking out your seatpost is probably worth your while when you’re already cleaning the bike. Just make sure to remember the saddle height.
I’m lazier - I head straight for the garden hose, (re)wet the bike and wipe down with a dry, lint free cloth. The drive train and pivot points (derailleur, brakes) are left to dry overnight and are then relubed.
I leave the wheels on because I don’t have a stand… but I hose it off, clean the chain with a chain cleaning tool and some citrus degreaser, give the whole bike a good wash with dish soap and warm water, rinse with hose, give it a spray of frame polish, wipe down the carbon wheels with the polish on an old sock (note: avoid the brake tracks). Then I use dry lube on the chain. Really doesn’t take as long as it sounds, and makes the bike look like a million bucks.
Your current routine should be more than sufficient to keep your bike running smoothly. Checking to see if there’s any water in your frame by taking out your seatpost is probably worth your while when you’re already cleaning the bike. Just make sure to remember the saddle height.
Holy crap. Do you guys live in the Sahara? I ride about 320 days per year, and based on the past few weeks, it rains about 200 of those days. I wash my (too much white) bike about every 2-3 weeks and re-lube. If I did that after every ride I’d never get any work done (I cycle commute to work). I don’t think I’ve ever taken the seat post out to get rid of water. All the bikes I’ve had, have drain holes.
When I assemble my bikes, the BB gets about 1/4 cup of grease packed in there, just to be sure, but other than that, bikes are meant to be ridden. Trainer sweat is likely more toxic to your bike than a ride in the rain anyway.
I live in MN… any rain usually turns to snow haha! But seriously, I usually choose to run on rainy days and ride on sunny days. It doesn’t rain more than once a week usually here.
Do not wash bike with beer… Unless it’s shit beer in which case go for it…
If it’s a dry ride, this does not mean you cAn not still have beer or wash yourself in beer… Again both are confirmed ok with intensive testing behind them…
If you ride in neither wet or dry conditions is don’t ride… Again… Follow this with a beer…
I’m lazier - I head straight for the garden hose, (re)wet the bike and wipe down with a dry, lint free cloth. The drive train and pivot points (derailleur, brakes) are left to dry overnight and are then relubed.
I’m laziest… I lean it against the wall in the garage. I clean and lube the chain once a month or so and clean the entire bike before a race
I am clearly doing it wrong. My brake cables always seem to stick and then rust after riding in the rain. I wipe them down. Then one time my bike sat for awhile after driving through a rain storm all the components rusted - brakes cables, cassettes, chain to name a few. I generally try to avoid getting it wet now. Although I sweat like a pig so it’s not totally avoidable.
I wipe down the bike for about five minutes and all is good. Been doing this post-rain routine for 20 years and never had a problem with any of my bikes. Doing an overhaul (remove seat post, remove wheels, relube, spray hose, check cables, etc. etc. etc. etc.) is overkill.