Hi all, Karl Eicher here in scenic Cave Junction Oregon. I've been an off and on lurker for several years. I did a delurk once a few years ago. Anyhow, I had a strange thing happen to me yesterday. I have a mid 70's "Falcon 80" in British racing green that is my fixed gear bike. She wears a Campy NR crank, Campy track hub with hollow axle, tubulars, B-17, Blumels fenders; you know, the good stuff. Tuesday, I got in a short 11.5 mile ride in steady rain. Thursday I got in a slightly longer 16 mile ride in steady rain. From Tuesday after the ride, through Saturday midday, the bike sat on it's wheels, on the flagstones in front of the fireplace (fireplace not in use). In other words the bike was indoors in my heated home. Midday Saturday, I hung the bike from the rear wheel, on a hook, in what my wife calls "the boy room". The bike hung with the top of the head tube at a slight downward angle. After a few seconds, some water ran out from the area of the top of the head set. I would say perhaps the better part of a shot glass worth of water came out. I can't figure out where the hell this water came from. The best possibility that I can figure is that it came from the bottom bracket. There is no hole in the bottom of the BB to let water out. My old PX10, which is my geared winter road bike, has never shown this disturbing water retention behavior, but it has two small holes in the BB where once there was a serial number tag riveted. I certainly can't figure where the water would be if it wasn't in the BB. I can't think of any place in the interior of the steering tube or headset where that much water would stay. Would it be a good idea to drill a small hole in the bottom of the BB? This is a rain bike we are talking about and remember that I live in the state who's University football team is called the "Ducks", so this green bike will get wet again. Any thoughts on this from anyone? Old mid grade production bike or not, should oughta I frame saver it? How did the water get in to begin with? I have fenders, and a closed top (microadjust) seatpost. Did the water run down the stem quill and into the inside of the steering tube, then somehow get into the downtube? This is just weird.
Thanks,
Karl Eicher
Cave Junction, Or.