Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bikes and humidity a problem?

Hey guys,

I store my fixed gear in my bathroom because that's the only place where I have room and it doesn't get in the way. Would the humidity build up when I take a warm shower cause any harm to my bike? Anyone else do this?

Dan

I wouldn't do it. But that's me. I like my aluminum MTN bike in the winter time. Chain gets rusty all the time because of the salt and stuff...

anyway... Have you got frame saver? or heard of it?

It's just a bike.

Turn on the fan or leave the door open when you shower. (the bathroom door not the shower door)

Well the emotional scars he'll get after seeing your junk repeatedly won't do you any favors.

And for God's sake don't get your vital organs caught in the drivetrain, we've all seen the finger picture on Sheldon's page...

i would let my bike wait outside whilst i were taking a shower.... if its steel, and you like long hot showers... it'll really only be a matter of time before you get a layer of rust, esp. if you don't have a window/fan in your bathroom.

Pardon my ignorance, but what parts exactly do you guys think are going to rust from shower steam? Unless the bike NEVER moves from the bathroom, I'd think that any chain rust that develops would be disintegrated within the first few pedal revolutions of the next ride. Any chrome bits might develop some surface scale if the water is never ever wiped off, but if the OP's bike has mainly brushed/painted components it shouldn't be a big deal. Even then, chrome usually requires some serious moisture to develop rust -- more than the light fog that hanging in the bathroom would deposit.

Don't forget guys, the biggest culprit in rust development isn't water itself; it's the chemical ions that water carries with it. Unless homeboy is taking salt-water showers, it shouldn't really be a big concern. If it was, the metal faucets, shower curtain rod, towel rack, and toilet flusher lever in the guy's bathroom would've all disintegrated by now.

If the bike has a leather saddle, make sure it wears a shower cap.

Pardon my ignorance, but what parts exactly do you guys think are going to rust from shower steam? Unless the bike NEVER moves from the bathroom, I'd think that any chain rust that develops would be disintegrated within the first few pedal revolutions of the next ride. Any chrome bits might develop some surface scale if the water is never ever wiped off, but if the OP's bike has mainly brushed/painted components it shouldn't be a big deal. Even then, chrome usually requires some serious moisture to develop rust -- more than the light fog that hanging in the bathroom would deposit.

Don't forget guys, the biggest culprit in rust development isn't water itself; it's the chemical ions that water carries with it. Unless homeboy is taking salt-water showers, it shouldn't really be a big concern. If it was, the metal faucets, shower curtain rod, towel rack, and toilet flusher lever in the guy's bathroom would've all disintegrated by now.

you dont know much about how rust works do you?

and btw, all those things you mentioned that "wouldve all disintegrated by now" dont because they are chromed. His bike is not. You said the paint would protect his frame? Well the inside of the frame isnt painted, and its much easier for thick steam to find it's way inside a frame than a light drizzle. There may not be a significant amount of rust because of the shower but there will be some. Like someone already said, if he likes long hot showers it's best to park it in the hallway while he's taking a shower.

you dont know much about how rust works do you?

and btw, all those things you mentioned that "wouldve all disintegrated by now" dont because they are chromed. His bike is not. You said the paint would protect his frame? Well the inside of the frame isnt painted, and its much easier for thick steam to find it's way inside a frame than a light drizzle. There may not be a significant amount of rust because of the shower but there will be some. Like someone already said, if he likes long hot showers it's best to park it in the hallway while he's taking a shower.


I'm not here to get into an argument, but how exactly is the humidity going to get INSIDE the frame tubes? Any sizeable openings I can think of are occupied by crank, seatpost, fork, etc., and the small holes for things like brake, fender and water bottle mounts aren't big enough for any serious "steam flow". The interior rust that DOES develop is going to be from riding on rainy days, not from steamy shower action.

And my point about the chromed bathroom fixtures was this: just like the bathroom, there's VERY little bare un-protected metal on your typical bike. If it ain't chromed or painted, it's brushed or polished or (hopefully) coated in some sort of lube.

Believe me, I'm very familiar with rust. I grew up in the northeast working on cars with rust holes you could stick your head through. So I guess I'm not offended by a little surface oxidation here and there. My bottom line: even if any rust DOES develop as a result of the OP's fixed gear bathing ritual, it won't affect the bike's functionality. Surface rust inside the top tube isn't gonna make the frame crack in half.