General Cycling Discussion - How do I store my bike for the winter?

what is the best way? Should I keep the tires off the cement, and do I need to lube the chain ,and or any other parts even if I am not riding? What does everyone recomend? :beer:

I'd recommend that you continue to use it. Seriously, if your bike has fenders and mudflaps, grease everything, especially around the bottom bracket, get tires with tread (or even studded tires) and ride throughout Winter. Except for the coldest and windiest days, I find winter riding much more enjoyable than those Fall days when there is cold rain.

If you really want to store your bike, no special measures need to be taken. Just make sure the storage space isn't damp or wet (an unheated garage, for example); if that's the case, you might lubricate all surfaces to prevent rust spots (oil in spray would be convenient). Unless bearings are totally dry, there is no need to repack them, because the grease will dry in Winter and you'll have to do the job again next Spring. Ditto for the chain and cogs: as long as they aren't dry, do their maintenance only next Spring.

As for tires, keep them under pressure. They don't need 100 psi, but keeping them at 35-50 psi (for wide or narrow tires respectively) is enough to keep their shape. In practice, if you rode this Summer, let their pressure diminish slowly throughout Winter and you'll be OK.

Now, should the bike be on the ground or up in the air?
In the air, the bike is safer from interferences, and in some cases (partly heated garage), the air might be a bit drier. There is no weight on tires, so tires will remain round.
On the ground, it might be a good idea to check tire pressure (visually) once per month and top them if they look flat. You might want to turn the wheels a bit, but quite frankly, I think it's unnecessary.
Some people suggest flat spots will develop, but I even had a flat tire when my father's bike was stored for a few years, and even on those relatively brittle 20-year-old tires, any flatness disappeared within 15 minutes.

Regards,

Store your bike in winter??? Are you mad?? Snow riding rocks!! (BTW I'm originally from MN so I DO know what winter is.)

Ya, I'm with Raiyn on this one. Don't store your bike for winter. Ride it all year long.

I'm storing mine under my butt

Thanks everyone for replying, as much as I'd like to ride itin the winter, it just gets too cold, - 30 almost everyday, besides it is dangerous enough here in the summer, the winter I would probably be killed, and the snow just gets too high here.:)

For my road bike, this is what I do to store it:

Tyres: I coat them with Armor All
Chain: Remove and store in a plastic bag
Saddle: Remove, proofhide, and store in bag
Cables: Lubricate
Derailleurs, other unpainted surfaces: Cover with light coating of grease

I'm storing mine under my butt

LMAO!!!

Originally posted by MKRG
I'm storing mine under my butt

Exactly!

I have never stored a bike. Luckily, I have always lived in a place where I could ride all year long.

I hang mine upside down on hooks from garage ceiling. I switch bikes to use a different one in the winter. Summer bike gets armour all on all plastic/rubber parts. Tires partially inflated. Now is a good time to do the cleaning and lube job for headset, bb, cables, chain, etc. Wash and wax the bike can not hurt it either. If tires need replaced, just pitch them and buy new tires during the winter sales.

I would still recommend some riding even in the coldest weather. It has always amazed me that people want to know how I stand the cold while riding a bike, but at the same time they talk about how they want to go to a downhill ski resort to go skiing. One of the coldest experiences that I can remember is riding a ski lift to the top of a mountain. Just setting there doing nothing for a period of time, being high off the ground, in the wind, dressed for the downhill trip was just very cold.

Why not store it on a trainer or rollers?