[turbomatic73]

I've got caught in some rain riding the last couple days and have noticed a lot of water is collecting in my seat tube. After a 3 hour ride over the weekend (of which 2 hours was in rain), there was quite a bit. I emptied it our straight afterwards by removing the seatpost and turning the bike upside down, but am wondering what solutions other riders are using to prevent the water from collecting in the first place.

My frame is a Ridley Excalibur--it has a drain hole in the bottom bracket, but I think the seat tube is sealed off from the bottom bracket shell. So water will drain from the bb ok (or at least I assume...haven't pulled the cups out to check), it just collects in the seat tube. Assuming water is coming in from the seat post clamp cluster.

 

[cxwrench]

that's about all you can do, just pull the post and drain, then let it dry for a few hours. i guess you could toss one of those little desiccant packs that come w/ shoes and what not...it might absorb some of the leftover moisture.

 

[danmtchl]

I would check to see if there is a hole that would drain out to the BB and pull the cranks and BB to see if their is drainage holes. I would also call Ridley and see if they would have any suggestions.

If it were my bike I would drill a hole in the seat tube if it is sealed off from the BB. that is just me and it looked safe to do so. I would look to see if there any other possible ways of the water entering and seal them off.

 

[Kerry Irons]

Dessicants

i guess you could toss one of those little desiccant packs that come w/ shoes and what not...it might absorb some of the leftover moisture.

Those things are only about keeping dry air dry. Their ability to absorb any signficant amount of water is negligible.

 

[Kuma601]

I had suspected a similar result when I picked up a two bolt seat post that had openings around the rail clamp assembly. Although I don't ride in down pours, the occasional sudden rain has happened. I decided on a single bolt post where the top was forged/machined from solid. If I really wanted to use that other post, installing some sort of plug just under the clamp was my thought.

A light smearing of grease will also be a partial water repellant barrier but by no means will it act as a good seal in rain. Some of the cable stops or internal routings may also allow water in but since we are talking seat tube, that is another discussion.

 

[Blue Bird]

I would check to see if there is a hole that would drain out to the BB and pull the cranks and BB to see if their is drainage holes. I would also call Ridley and see if they would have any suggestions.

If it were my bike I would drill a hole in the seat tube if it is sealed off from the BB. that is just me and it looked safe to do so. I would look to see if there any other possible ways of the water entering and seal them off.

I agree with contacting Ridley.

 

[cxwrench]

Those things are only about keeping dry air dry. Their ability to absorb any signficant amount of water is negligible.

that makes sense...so much for that idea

 

[turbomatic73]

Pulled the crank & bb this AM and as suspected the seat tube is completely sealed off from the bottom bracket shell. The bb shell does have a drain hole, but it only drains water that collects in the bb itself, as it's completely sealed off from the rest of the frame. There was no water in the shell when I pulled the cups, so that's good.

Since the seat tube is sealed, I'm less concerned about the water entering. I will probably make a gasket to surround the seat collar with an old inner tube. Another idea I'm toying with is sealing up the seat collar cutout with clear silicone caulk. Either way, since I've verified the water in the seat tube is not destroying my bb bearings, I'm not as worried about the issue.