ShinyBiker

Let me preface that I've never been to the netherlands, but I have read how some Danish bikes are built to be left outdoors for years. I've been having some rust problems with this schwinn (lbs sold) bike that has developed rust on the chain, various bolts and front ring, among others. I know that most U.S. sold bikes are assembled in China and the far east, but does any manufacturer take care to put stainless steel or rust-proof components on their bikes?

jmichaeldesign

The best way to keep parts from rusting when left outside is to make sure they stay covered in oil. A chaincase would help keep the chain and front rings from rusting. You can also get aluminum chainrings. As for the chain though your best off keeping it liberally oiled.

Doohickie

FYI: Denmark and the Netherlands are two different countries. Referring to bikes from the Netherlands as Danish is incorrect.

AltheCyclist

I think he was trying to say that The Netherlands, with its large bike culture, is a place where you'd find Danish built-bikes resistant to rust. Denmark has its own large bike culture as well.

AltheCyclist

Oh, and to the topic, a plastic bike cover works pretty well in preventing rust if you keep the exposed metal lubed. Re-lubing the rust spots after the bike dries usually fixes the remaining problem. I doubt the "outdoor" bikes are that much different.

ShinyBiker

You're right. I meant to say "Dutch" made bikes in my title and message. I was thinking Netherlands (esp. Amsterdam) bike culture the whole way. Don't know why I put Danish in there other than it starts with a "D". Glad to know they have a vibrant bike culture, though.

Anyway, you see pix of rows and rows of bikes there and I don't think I've ever seen one with a bike cover. As for the regular oiling and lubing of those bikes, I don't know.

DiabloScott

Bike racks at the Copenhagen train station - (Denmark)

thdave

I don't think this is what he wants.

A good bike for such a thing is a bike with a full chaincase, an aluminum frame, and high quality parts.

I know I bought a Biria bike for our place of work and we leave it out all the time. Well, the handlebars, the fender supports, and metallic brake cables covers coming out from the brake levers are all rusting. This has not been a good bike for such a purpose.

A bike like the Breezer Uptown with the full chaincase is a good option. No parts on my Breezer are rusting and I've left it out lots of times. I'm not sure of others, but I suspect the Kona Africa will also do the job, as it was designed for that sort of thing.

fuzz2050

I think the real reason Dutch/Danish bikes don't rust is they they just don't have the time. Most people I know in the Netherlands have their bikes stolen on a fairly regular basis, when this happens they just go down to the street corner and buy a 'new' one from the shady looking guy over there.

Doohickie

fuzz2050 is more diplomatic than I am

badmother

Who sad they do not rust? Last time I looked they were as rusty as he11. Buy a foldr and keep it innside.

tcs

...and it's well known that the Chinese are fastidious about keeping their bikes indoors!

tcs

crhilton

Um, you can get a stainless steel bike now . https://www.ifbikes.com/OurBikes/Road/SSR/

Course, then there's Ti and Carbon.

The stuff that rusts is usually not as big of a deal if you frame saver the frame (or take care to grease it in the right places and keep water generally out of it and keep the paint on it).

Bikes go outside. They can sleep there too. Well, not my babies, but other people's bikes.

tjspiel

My bikes are kept inside overnight but my winter bike is exposed to a lot of road salt, - which is probably worse than leaving it sit outside.

Screws rust pretty readily but you can get stainless steel replacements at your hardware store. The chain (as you've noted) is also prone to rust but there are rust resistant as well as stainless models.

As others have mentioned some chain rings are made from aluminum so it's possible to eliminate that problem too.

One bike that would be better (at least as far as a chain goes) is the Trek Soho which uses a belt rather than a chain. If I had some spare cash, I'd seriously consider one for winter use.

Aside from the parts you've mentioned, I've had the steel cages rust on my pedals and I've also gotten some rust on the rear derailleur cage and body. I'm sure this would be far less like to happen to a bike that was just left outside and not exposed to road salt.

Lightly lubricating exposed steel parts has helped me along with making sure any nicks in the finish on a steel framed bike get filled. I also use frame saver.

I recently sold a mid 90's Rockhopper that I had used as my winter bike for 4 seasons and overall it held up pretty well.

Bekologist

a lot of bikes in copenhagen and amsterdam are in horrendous condition with serious cases of rusty chainrings etc.

you can neglect a danish bike as easily as a chinese built schwinn! just lower your standards as to what constitutes 'too much rust to be ridden'

ShinyBiker

"Dutch bikes are designed to withstand the elements without deteriorating. Everything is internalized so as to be hidden from the weather: The chain is in a case, the brakes and the seven gears are tucked away inside the two wheel hubs, and all the cables are fully insulated. This bike can sit outside in the drizzle for decades with very few ill effects."

I remember now I read it in the following Slate article which was highlighted on this subforum:

https://www.slate.com/id/2225698/pagenum/all/

I'd like to see some closeup hi res shots to see all this 'insulation' of the components. Maybe, I can mod one of our bikes to achieve the same results.

zonatandem

Lived in Europe for 14 years. Bikes rust, even in Holland . . . and it rains there a lot more often tha where we live n Arizona!

robi

come on guys, this is a commuting thread... i leave my bike out, under an awing.. it is a bit rusty a very dirty, been usin git for ten years, road it to Prague, that is 650 km away.... ride it to work every day regardless of the weather....

I never understand why ppl worry so much about bikes. Use them, stop worrying about them.... just clean them up once in a while if you want, kepe the chain and cogs lubed, you will be fine....

robi

AusTai

Been to Amsterdam and love how much bicycling there is. And, as others have said, there's nothing special about the bikes there, or cycling, for that matter. Just another mode of transportation. Bikes rust or get stolen all the time, and get replaced easily with another cheap, disposable bike.

AltheCyclist

Has anyone tried out a shaft-drive bike? E.g. https://www.dynamicbicycles.com/

Might be one solution to your drivetrain rust issue?

viplala

Most bikes in Amsterdam are 20 years old and receive the absolute minimum of maintenance. Many bikes have been stolen multiple times during their lifetime, they still stay in "rotation".
Sure they rust, eventually, but when considering the abuse they receive, they are amazingly bulletproof.
Get yourself a Batavus, Gazelle or Sparta and look forward to decades of hassle free biking.

bizzz111

Is it that big of a deal to get a bike cover? Heck, I've even seen one that folds up and attaches to the underside of a bike saddle. Probably takes 10 seconds to deploy, and 20 seconds to fold back up.

That way you aren't limiting yourself to 50lb monstrosities with bullet proof housings, hubs, and all other manner of intricate doo-dads designed so you can let the bike get wet.

genec

Ug, the irony of the SSR stainless bike is the carbon fork... the bike will last forever and is not subject to damage by UV rays or even minor dings... the fork on the other hand, is the weak link.

cyclefreaksix

I shudder at the thought of leaving any of my babies outside to fend for themselves. SHUDDER, I tell ya!

Mitchxout

I ride in the rain all the time with minimal maintenance and no problems. However, I rarely ever park outside during the day at work or at home overnight. Might be a different story if I did.