Rode to work this morning along the Yarra Trail after the storms in Northern
Suburbs of Melbourne last night (it was a beauty). A few of the small
pedestrian bridges had their handrails broken by floodwaters and there was
heaps of corrosion of the track on the hills. Near the Cunningham Hwy there
was a bit of a rockslide/landslide and the concrete bike path was covered in
about 4 inches of mud that was strewn with rocks up to about fist size. I
had a couple of stretches of path where I rode through and the water was at
the top of my forks (gotta love wet feet) but I was forced to detour at
Dwights Falls (Collingwood).
The usually sedate falls were a raging torrent and where the bike path
normally goes next to a cyclone fence that is at least 6 foot high, there
was about 4 inches of fence above the water. It was way too dangerous to
try to pass and it was pretty disappointing to see the amount of rubbish
that was trapped in the eddies created by the big left hand bend in the
river after the falls.
I know I probably shouldn't have rode through the water but it seemed like a
good idea at the time. I have got Deore "sealed" hubs (ie the rubber cone
on the outside of the hub) and I am wondering whether I should strip the
hubs down and repack with grease or if I should not worry about it?? Also,
I have been told in the past that modern bottom brackets are also "sealed"
and shouldn't be stripped down (although I am not sure if this still applies
for actually riding with the BB submerged??).
Anyone had much experience with riding through water that can give me some
advice would be appreciated.
Gags