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Youngest leffe is back to uni in sept and i've already changed all that needs changing but unfortunately this year the bike is going to have to live outside all of the time rather than under a shelter (although still outside) as last year. The halls where she is staying has decided to use the place that the bike used to shelter for something else
So, I've shoved a lot of new grease in the wheel bearings and the cables are replaced and have a dab of grease in at either end just to help prevent water ingress. Oil on things like the brake lever pivots. Chain gets regularly oiled anyway so no issues there. Any other suggestions for things to help it survive the UK weather? I was thinking of maybe a spray grease inside the mech parts but happy for all other ideas. Is it worth cleaning and waxing the frame? The bike isn't fancy, it's a Trek Skye and it isn't her main bike as that stays at home, but it would be good to keep it going a few more years as it works well.
I know some people use the plastic bags off new mattresses to protect their bikes when outside.
Free from your local bed store.
I used to use a motorbike cover when leaving my bike outside at work - worked well although storage of the cover was a bit of a pain, especially when wet.
ACF-50 will help lots.
That's a super interesting idea. Can't see that it's so easy to get around here but Muc Off seem to have a similar product. I'll take a look
With a cover, I was wondering if storing a bike wet under a cover actually made things worse or not? It's at a halls as well so finding somewhere to store a cover could be painful but might be possible, especially if there is a corner of what used to be the bike shed that isnt being used
Something I use on motorbikes which works really well at preventing corrosion is ACF-50. I buy it in big bottles and mist it on the engine/chassis with a paint sprayer/compressor before they salt the roads in the winter. But you can get smaller bottles and hand pump sprays. On a cycle I would just paint it on to any exposed metal with a small modeling paint brush.
I've used it on mowers, garden tools, all sorts. It's great stuff.
It will stay put in rain but will come off if you wash the bike with any shampoo or degreaser. As long as you're not properly washing the bike it will stay put all winter.
Edit: doh - way too slow with the ACF-50 comments!
If you're anywhere near me (South Shropshire) I'll happily decant some into a small container for you FOC. 100ml and a paintbrush would probably do a bike 10 times over.
mmm, the MucOff stuff appears to stay a bit sticky afterwards which isn't great. My wife is in the UK next week so might send her on an ACF-50 hunt or just give in and order in online
If you’re anywhere near me (South Shropshire) I’ll happily decant some into a small container for you FOC. 100ml and a paintbrush would probably do a bike 10 times over.
Fabulous offer but no, sorry :(. I suspect it might be useful though as I do have a lot of other stuff that lives outside a lot of the time. I also tend to use WD-40 on things like hedge cutters/shears/scythe and it looks like this would do an even better job
A waterproof cover will do more that any spray.
Drill a drain hole in the lowest part of the bottom bracket shell. Any rain that makes its way past the seat post etc will at least drain out plus a bit more ventilation inside the tubes. Try and leave it somewhere were the sun might warm it up a bit on sunny days?
Also, cut up a plastic 5 litre container so it can be slid over the stem/headset upside down so it acts like an umbrella for the bearings etc. The spacers can seize onto the steerer, so I'd give them a little smear of grease at the start of winter or if its a quill steerer take it out and give it some grease too.
Drill a drain hole in the lowest part of the bottom bracket shell
interesting idea
Raleigh bike cover, £10ish, packs up the size of a small loaf.
2nd Bike Cover any type.
+1 on a cover if there's no other option.
The halls where she is staying has decided to use the place that the bike used to shelter for something else
I'd be taking up that issue with them directly and asking for the reasoning why. Quote sustainable travel at them etc and they may have to reverse the decision. Presumably without a rack to lock it to then theft will be a greater risk, add in bikes locked to whatever people can find or discarded in unsafe places then it'll be dangerous and encourage criminals to visit.
A student halls without a bike storage area is very odd.
Anyone tried Lanoguard for this sort of thing? Thinking of trying it on my motorbike that lives outside (covered) and gets hammered off road but it may work well for bikes. Not sure if it leaves a residue.
I'll investigate the bike cover option but in a place with a lot of crappy bikes I would be afraid that it draws attention to it. A wheel was already stolen last year. The normal parking place isn't too high traffic though so might not be an issue
Can you get a big bike bag and indoor store ? (Just front wheel out job, with carry handle), it would be a pita though.
Aren't you in Sweden? My experience is that any bike left outside will soon be trashed.
How far is she going ? Sparkesykkel instead?
I'd also suggest a fairly pointed email to whoever is running the halls asking what they suggest, and what they'll do to fix stuff when everyone's bike is wrecked thanks to their substandard and badly thought out storage . No basement with space?
You can arm her with a bike cover, but I'd not be confident it would get used. They are a pain to put on and off - or rather they pass the pain threshold for most non cyclist when their mates are constantly waiting for them at the beginning and end of every journey.
Sadly I'd say the best bike for surviving outdoors is a bike you don't care about. That might be what you already have, can't really tell.
Sadly I’d say the best bike for surviving outdoors is a bike you don’t care about
It wouldn't be a disaster if it got stolen or died. It's had a long and good life and is now a little small. It would just be good to keep it going s few more years
She's in the UK rather than Sweden, but it got left over winter at the start of COVID and got rather rusty. I'm trying to avoid a repeat of that. I suspect Sweden would be much worse
I believe the bike shed is being repurposed for a bike share scheme of some sort so we are unlikely to get that changed any time soon
Thanks for all the ideas, they are super helpful - especially the acf-50.
Drill a drain hole in the lowest part of the bottom bracket shell
Don't understand why all frames don't have this already. My carbon full-sus has one, I've drilled my own in two other steel frames.
I've never had water in my BB shell on any bike, although one does have 'slots' in the shell. Blob some grease in the allen bolt holes - stem, headset cap, mechs etc.
Storing under a cover would be OK if the bike is wet - mine used to be out in the rain under a cover at work, 5 days a week for years. Be aware it may need tying down/tucking under wheels as it will blow off in the wind.
Buy her a Dutch bike - they're "designed" to live outside.
The saddle is the worst bit on women's bikes - they like big comfy padded things (generalisation I know but it applies to both the ones in my life) and if they get a crack in the cover they absorb a load of water and then it squeegies out when one sits on it. Not sure there's a good solution other than replace regularly, I've tried covers but they're cr@p.
if anyone is interested, I have 5L plus a part used 1l container of Scottoil FS365 that I no longer have any use for. I've had it for a while so not sure if it's still viable but someone could probably make use of it. I think it's a similar thing to ACF-50
it’ll be stolen within a week so no point fussing over weatherproofing.
it’ll be stolen within a week so no point fussing over weatherproofing.
It's survived 2 years so far with only a wheel lost. I'm not upset if it gets stolen but neither am I in a rush to replace it with something else.
I’ve never had water in my BB shell on any bike
You must be the chosen one, or live in a country with no rain...
Last workshop i was in used to have a bucket for bottom-bracket-in-rainy-weather jobs.
In the summer, it was either sand, dust, or muddy gunk.
if anyone is interested, I have 5L plus a part used 1l container of Scottoil FS365 that I no longer have any use for. I’ve had it for a while so not sure if it’s still viable but someone could probably make use of it. I think it’s a similar thing to ACF-50
Great offer, where are you? I use FS365 in conjunction with ACF-50. They are similar, but ACF-50 is oil based and FS-365 is water based so needs reapplying more often. I treat (motorbike) with ACF-50 twice a year. Before winter and then again in the spring after a good wash. I then use FS-365 after every winter ride, especially if it's wet or the roads are salted. I apply the ACF-50 to a clean bike, but the good thing with FS-365 is you can apply it to a clean, dirty, wet or dry bike and it still does it's job. Lovely clouds of smelly smoke when you start the bike up too, as it burns off the exhaust headers! Need to keep it well clear of brake pads and disks when applying though
Wax the chain, biggest benefit for weatherproofing a bike. In the sort of conditions/distances a city bike does it'll last for ages and avoids the 'orange squeeky' anodising most uni bikes have.