Sweat in the steerer

I always wipe down my bike after a workout on the rollers. I also take a q-tip to the area
around the stem and headset, especially the socket where you tighten the stem. I use the
Kreitler killer head wind and another fan to keep the sweat down, but even then seem to find a
damp floor under my bike.

Tom Carrico ccdargo.comccdargo.comOpen ↗ "B. Schneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers, I recently discovered a brownish goop dripping on my tires. After
closer inspection it appeared to come from bottom bearing on the

fork.

Quoted message said:

So I decided to learn something new and took my threadless steerer apart. To my dismay, I
discovered that both bearings had started to rust. After cleaning up the mess, I discovered the
following: All the balls in the bottom bearing, and several in the top bearing, have assumed a
blackish stain. The ball cages themselves have begun to rust. The races themselves do not show
much rust. I added generous amounts of grease to all the bearings and put everything back
together.

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto the stem and from there made
it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover,

but

Quoted message said:

it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ? If they are
shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I

have

Quoted message said:

them replaced, or can there be additional damage to other parts of the bike. Is that supposed to
happen in the first place, or are the headsets

expected

Quoted message said:

to be tightly sealed ? (The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn out seals shouldn't be an
issue.) Any suggestions for how this could have been prevented in the first place

?

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Bengt-Olaf.

"B. Schneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers, I recently discovered a brownish goop dripping on my tires. After
closer inspection it appeared to come from bottom bearing on the fork. So I decided to learn
something new and took my threadless steerer apart. To my dismay, I discovered that both bearings
had started to rust. After cleaning up the mess, I discovered the following: All the balls in the
bottom bearing, and several in the top bearing, have assumed a blackish stain. The ball cages
themselves have begun to rust. The races themselves do not show much rust. I added generous
amounts of grease to all the bearings and put everything back together.

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto the stem and from there made
it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover, but it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ? If they are
shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I have them replaced, or can there be
additional damage to other parts of the bike. Is that supposed to happen in the first place, or
are the headsets expected to be tightly sealed ? (The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn
out seals shouldn't be an issue.) Any suggestions for how this could have been prevented in the
first place ?

Thanks, Bengt-Olaf.

"B. Schneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers, I recently discovered a brownish goop dripping on my tires.

Quoted message said:

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto the stem and from there made
it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover, but it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ? If they are
shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I have them replaced, or can there be
additional damage to other parts of the bike. Is that supposed to happen in the first place, or
are the headsets expected to be tightly sealed ? (The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn
out seals shouldn't be an issue.) Any suggestions for how this could have been prevented in the
first place ?

Balls are cheap, I'd put in new ones, but there's little harm in waiting if the headset doesn't feel
rough. Grease can get contaminated from sweat or rain. When using a trainer, I also use a fan, it
keeps the sweat down and is much more comfortable. If you sweat that much, tying a rag around the
stem would probably be a good idea, but headset seals should be more effective than that.

Yes, I wipe the equipment down too, although I haven't been as meticuluous as you with the q-tips. I
guess I will start doing that. Maybe I should also invest in the killer head-wind, although I don't
need it for resistance. Thanks for the (q-)tip.

Bengt-Olaf.

"Tom Carrico" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:uWGRb.129215$Rc4.998338@attbi_s54...

Quoted message said:

I always wipe down my bike after a workout on the rollers. I also take a q-tip to the area around
the stem and headset, especially the socket where you tighten the stem. I use the Kreitler killer
head wind and another fan to keep the sweat

down,

Quoted message said:

but even then seem to find a damp floor under my bike.

Tom Carrico ccdargo.comccdargo.comOpen ↗ "B. Schneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers, I recently discovered a brownish goop dripping on my tires.
After closer inspection it appeared to come from bottom bearing on the

fork.

Quoted message said:

So I decided to learn something new and took my threadless steerer

apart.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

To my dismay, I discovered that both bearings had started to rust. After cleaning up the mess, I
discovered the following: All the balls in the bottom bearing, and several in the top bearing,

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

assumed a blackish stain. The ball cages themselves have begun to rust. The races themselves do

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

show much rust. I added generous amounts of grease to all the bearings and put

everything

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

back together.

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stem and from there made it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover,

but

Quoted message said:

it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ? If they are
shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I

have

Quoted message said:

them replaced, or can there be additional damage to other parts of the bike. Is that supposed to
happen in the first place, or are the headsets

expected

Quoted message said:

to be tightly sealed ? (The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn out seals shouldn't be an
issue.) Any suggestions for how this could have been prevented in the first

place

Quoted message said:

?

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Bengt-Olaf.

I will definitely add better ventilation, but that won't stop me from sweating. I am now thinking
of making a crude stem/headset cover from an old milk bottle to prevent another "sweatset". But
thinking about this a bit more, I will probably replace the headset before I take the bike
outdoors again.

Thanks for the advice.

"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:lQORb.43852$U%5.235523@attbi_s03...

Quoted message said:

"B. Schneider" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers, I recently discovered a brownish goop dripping on my tires.

Quoted message said:

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stem and from there made it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover,

but

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ? If they are
shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I

have

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

them replaced, or can there be additional damage to other parts of the bike. Is that supposed to
happen in the first place, or are the headsets

expected

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to be tightly sealed ? (The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn out seals shouldn't be an
issue.) Any suggestions for how this could have been prevented in the first

place ?

Quoted message said:

Balls are cheap, I'd put in new ones, but there's little harm in waiting

if

Quoted message said:

the headset doesn't feel rough. Grease can get contaminated from sweat or rain. When using a
trainer, I also use a fan, it keeps the sweat down and

is

Quoted message said:

much more comfortable. If you sweat that much, tying a rag around the stem would probably be a
good idea, but headset seals should be more effective

than

Quoted message said:

that.

B. Schneider said:

I will definitely add better ventilation, but that won't stop me from sweating.

The fresh grease may be all you need. Just fill up the headset. Grease should keep the sweat out.

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 18:59:04 -0800, "B. Schneider"

may have said:

I suspect that the reason for all this is that sweat has dripped onto the stem and from there made
it down the steerer tube into the bearings. (I have a sweat cover, but it doesn't cover the stem.)

Questions: Are the bearings shot, or will the added grease prevent further damage ?

The balls are probably worth replacing. Chances are good that the cups and cones will be usable.
Grease is a lubricant; it really doesn't do much to prevent a bearing from corroding in the presence
of moisture. While grease can be used to keep moisture out of many things, a bearing is not one of
them; the normal motion of the components will defeat the grease's ability to protect the metal.

Quoted message said:

If they are shot, is there any harm in waiting till the spring until I have them replaced,

No, in my opinion.

Quoted message said:

Is that supposed to happen in the first place, or are the headsets expected to be tightly sealed ?

Most headsets are not sealed at all. Few are sealed effectively.

Quoted message said:

(The bike is a 6-months old Trek 1200. So worn out seals shouldn't be an issue.) Any suggestions
for how this could have been prevented in the first place ?

Throw a hand towel over the stem when using the bike on the trainer.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

"B. Schneider" wrote...[edited]

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers...sweat has dripped onto the stem and from

there made it down the steerer tube into the bearings...Any suggestions for how this could have been
prevented ?<

Even with 2 fans, I sweat quite a bit. So, I wrap my stem, top tube, & downtube with plastic food
wrap before my roller workouts. It only takes a minute, it's cheap, & it keeps my stem & cables
clean & dry.

AW said:

"B. Schneider" wrote...[edited]

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers...sweat has dripped onto the stem and from

there made it down the steerer tube into the bearings...Any suggestions for how this could have
been prevented ?<

Even with 2 fans, I sweat quite a bit. So, I wrap my stem, top tube, & downtube with plastic food
wrap before my roller workouts. It only takes a minute, it's cheap, & it keeps my stem & cables
clean & dry.

I wear a headband, which catches enough sweat for a 40-minute session but I do train in a rather
cold garage. Going out there in an hour or so...it's -2 deg C tonight but I'll be warm after 5 mins.

I jerry-rigged a cover for the stem out of a milk bottle, but I also like the idea of plastic wrap.
I'll try that too. Now that I know the problem, it can't be too hard to keep the bearings dry.

Thanks !

"AW" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"B. Schneider" wrote...[edited]

Quoted message said:

After many hours on the rollers...sweat has dripped onto the stem and

from

Quoted message said:

there made it down the steerer tube into the bearings...Any suggestions

for

Quoted message said:

how this could have been prevented ?<

Even with 2 fans, I sweat quite a bit. So, I wrap my stem, top tube, & downtube with plastic food
wrap before my roller workouts. It only takes

a

Quoted message said:

minute, it's cheap, & it keeps my stem & cables clean & dry.