Cunego not on six13

[divve]

It's got a clear coat over the raw aluminum though.

[Coolhand]

It's got a clear coat over the raw aluminum though.

Which makes sense, otherwise it would oxidize, and there goes the shiny.

They have done the clear coat over Al before, and it was striking. Although this seems to take it to the next level. Should be purty.

I will take some digital photo's whenever my little budget buster shows up.

Any thought on the part swaps to lighten her up? Only caveat- 181 pounds and races, so flexy stuff need not apply.

[ShinyBaldy]

It's got a clear coat over the raw aluminum though.

Which makes sense, otherwise it would oxidize, and there goes the shiny.
.

I was under the impression that aluminum oxidizes almost instantly upon contact with air...

[drjones96]

I was under the impression that aluminum oxidizes almost instantly upon contact with air...

I wouldn't say instantly but it doesn't take that long. Hours or Days not seconds. It also depends on the environment that you put the aluminum in in it's raw form. Salt air/water envioronment and yes, Corrosion will occur in a short period of time. Inland, fresh air would take much longer for corrosion to get to a noticable degree. If I were to guess I'd say they send the frame to a polishing shop and then it goes straight to the paint booth for clear coat. All the while the frame is kept clean and handled with clean gloved hands.

[jersievers]

I have a AL TT bike I striped and used a polishing wheel on. It got a great chrome shine to it. It didn't oxidize instantly, but did lose the deep shine in a month. Still looked pretty good, but dull...like Ti gets. I went back to the polishing wheel and in 30 mins was back to its shinny prior self. I then took and used some auto paint polish on it, this worked great. The polish has kept that deep chrome shine for the last few months, still looks good.

I have a friend with a CAAD7 Seaco Team bike...this version with SI and the frame was raw AL with team decals simply stuck to the frame. There was no clear coat. He pelled off the all the stickers...didn't like the red I guess. It has a matte gray finish now after a few years.

[divve]

My CAAD7 is ball burnished (no coating). My understanding is the process seals to pores in the metal or something..... Anyway, it seems to stay pretty shiny from what I can tell by looking through the dirt

[spokey1.0]

Phew...that bike deserves a good clean.

[Bruiser]

Phew...that bike deserves a good clean.

Imagine the weight he could save!

[big fellow]

i just got a caad 7 superlite team replica which is polished

i live in a hot and humid asian country

wha'ts the best way to look after it?

[ShinyBaldy]

i just got a caad 7 superlite team replica which is polished

i live in a hot and humid asian country

wha'ts the best way to look after it?

hmmmm philippines?

aluminium isn't so prone to corrison from humidity alone - so i wouldn't worry about it...

[big fellow]

no, not philippines - singapore - always hot and always humid!!!!!!!!!

[divve]

Use some mild polishing protective car wax liquid. It should keep the shine on and the dirt will stick less. To really shine it up use wax polishing paste and finish off with the liquid wax.