Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Weather Proofing my KHS?

Hey all,

My KHS is going to be forced to stay outside ALL YEAR.

How can I keep the bike in as good of shape as possible, as long as possible? Frame saver? Something for the headset/hub?

I appreciate the help y'all.

look for tips on 'winterizing' and do everything to the extreme.

Definitely get a good frame saver sprayed in every tube of your bike. Another key tip is beeswax. Put it around your stem where it enters the headset to keep water from dripping inside, put it in allen heads to keep sitting water from rusting parts (even stainless will eventually get some rust if water sits in bolt heads.) Put it around your seatpost where it enters the seat tube. If you have water bottle cage bosses, wax the bolts before you put them in (sounds excessive, but in a heavy winter water will work its way down the threads, and this will keep the bolts from rattling loose) and do the same everywhere you see an open hole to the inside of your frame. Tape off or otherwise seal the welding blow holes (look at the stays, especially...these are also good spots for spraying frame protector before you close them off.) If your hubs are loose bearings, pack them super tight with grease and repack them more frequently than you otherwise would (though many never do this.) If your hubs are sealed, they may or may not have protection from the elements (most don't) and there's not a whole lot you can do. Keep them in motion as frequently as possible. If bottom bracket is cartridge, don't worry, there's not much you can do. If it's loose, pack it with grease like the hubs. If your roads are salted and the bike is exposed to that, wash it as often as possible. If you have a leather saddle swap it for something plastic.

That's all I can think of for now, hope it helps!

Why? are you living outdoors as well?

Why would you want to cover the welding blow holes ? If water got into the frame how would it get out ?
You want a water exit otherwise it will turn to ice and blow your tubes apart. Water is going to get into the frame no matter what you do. Make sure it had a way out. Some times the best way to protect against water in your frame is to make sure it has a way out.

Tony

On top of all that look into getting a bike cover or a tarp and cover it up every night.

I'll be at college, and the bike will be locked outside of my dorm.

I refuse to put a tarp over it, haha.

But thanks for the advice. Anyone got anymore?

Can't you like, sleep w/ it or something?

Don't worry, it will probably get stolen before it is subjected to the elements for long.
Seriously though, I'd drill a hole, like 1/8", in the bottom of the bottom bracket shell. I subscribe to the philosophy that Tony outlined- water is going to get in your frame, and it is best to have a way out.

"On top of all that look into getting a bike cover or a tarp and cover it up every night."

if you do this, make sure you UNCOVER it every morning. worse than a bike being rained on, is a tarp trapping moisure around it.

dont worry about it. embrace the rust...er...character. just keep those moving parts greased.

Assume that it is going to get ruined. Do that going into it. What I did when I was in your situation was to leave my nice bike at my parent's house until I moved out of the dorm. I bought a nice late 70's fuji that served me quite well for those times.

find some wealthy, cycling alumnus to donate a shelter over the bike racks. shouldnt be that hard to pull off. may even get some kind of bsns credits if youre successful.