[Glottus]

I don't mean that as in "I don't like winter cycling", and I think there's relevance on this forum :o Though, if need be, I can see this being a better General Cycling or Mechanics question. Just thought I'd try here first without cross-posting.

I've got a few bikes, one of which I'll probably retire for the MN winter in favor of another bike currently in my basement, to be used as my winter commuter (see, winter cycling YAY! :) ), but I'm concerned about a couple of things.

Any reason to think that leaving extra bikes out on the non-insulated, but enclosed porch is bad? For example, longer periods of really cold temperatures WITHOUT using a bike = not so good for the tires?? Do tires ideally need to be ridden regularly in bitter cold to prevent brittleness? Or am I just being over-protective of my rides :D ?

Also, I'm getting mixed messages from a couple of LBS people regarding the storage of things like tires. Currently, I have a few piled up in the basement and need to store some more (like when I swap them out for my new Nokians (winter cycling, hurrah! :) ), but I've heard that this is bad, due to ozone produced by furnaces (mine's a new high-efficiency well-vented natural gas forced air furnace). Another guy said that the dark is key to preserving the life span, but that the basement should be fine, just not on the floor (!??)

Even if the obvious answer is that I'm over thinking this too much, my question still stands. Anybody wanna take a crack at theorizing the best practices for season-related tire storage, so as to get the longest life out of each pair?

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[Machka]

I've had tires in storage for years and I've never done anything special with them. Right now I've got a whole set of them twisted into a very small circle so that they don't take up much room, and they are sitting on the basement floor. I've got others hanging in the garage.

But then I go through about 6 tires a year so many I'm using them up before anything "bad" happens to them.

[CrosseyedCrickt]

I can't see how leaving a tire on an enclosed porch can cause as much, if any more harm to the tire than plowing thru the snow all winter on them.
Plus, they're tires, if they go bad you can get more, cheap.
I take care of my things but there is a poist where it becomes anal.
The tires I have on my commuter "right now" have been stored in my shed, next to the lawn more for 2 years and they are just fine.
YMMV

[2manybikes]

If the porch changes temperature like the outside does there will be days when your bike is covered with water from condensation.
Things like the chain and cassette or unprotected steel will rust. The cold won't damage the tires, but don't leave them in the same position all the time. This will cause some tires to crack and some to rot faster than normal where the tire is bending the sidewall at the ground. If you hang the bike off the tires it is better for the tire. If you don't hang the bike just check the pressure to keep them from going flat over the winter and roitate the wheels. Yes ozone and heat will ruin tires faster. The best thing is to keep spares in a black trashbag away from any heat. Eventually they will get old and crack anyway, but that should be years away.

[Mtn Mike]

My priority would be to protect the metal parts of the bike, not the rubber. I'd bathe your drivetrain and cables in lube, and use Fraimsaver (if it's a steel frame). I wouldn't worry about the tires degrading. Why would they degrade any more quickly on the cold and moist porch than they would in your warm and dry furnace room?

[Portis]

Is the porch completely sealed up? If so, then i wouldn't worry. My bikes are out in the attached, uninsulated garage all year long. There is never any condensation, nor should there be. When was the last time you saw condensation on a car that is housed in a garage? Exactly.

[Glottus]

The cold won't damage the tires, but don't leave them in the same position all the time. This will cause some tires to crack and some to rot faster than normal where the tire is bending the sidewall at the ground. If you hang the bike off the tires it is better for the tire.

There we go, I guess that's an answer to what I was looking for (and there's another thread goin' on now where this aspect is discussed). The one LBS guy just said "don't leave them on the floor", but I should have asked to clarify. I'll bet this is the main issue. You leave the bike alone for months, the air pressure drops, and the weight of the bike is left bending/damaging the tires/sidewalls, and thus, of course, the reason for the warning. If I hang the bike or keep an eye on pressure, though, I should be good, despite the temps and humidity.

Thanks all.