Rock/road salt

well with all this grit on the road in london but with no snow as yet, what is better?washing all the salt off with water after every ride or leaving it dry and washing it once when all the cr*p is off the roads

Hose down immediatly upon arrivel, then rub down with a damp fig leaf.

Will a vine leaf suffice?

As long as its damp.

cold water not warm. Warm water dissolves the salt and it gets in places you don't want it to be

I'll get in places you don't want me to be, Owen. PM me if interested...

I lick mine clean.

For the bike though, a wet cloth/shammy will do.

just buy a white bike

Or buy a horse and get them to lick it clean.

my bike has been covered in a half inch think coat of mud for the last few months it's the best way to prevent salt damage

Will salt/grit erode a chainring if not washed off (very fast, I mean)? How quickly? I've noticed quite bad pits in one of mine, and I'm a tad worried it's happened very quickly, ie. a month or two.

a lot of chainrings are alu. test it with a magnet.

They are aluminium, yeah.

I'll get in places you don't want me to be, Owen. PM me if interested...

I have a job for you we can split it 50/50 and I'll drive.

They are aluminium, yeah.

surely then salt will have no effect

just buy a white bike

my white bike is now a lovely two-tone white and grey, I haven't washed it since october