Electricview

Well they had no 7100's.. and i decided to go with the 7200.. I got the 17.5 inch and had them install my protege 9.0 computer for me (at 8 bucks additional cost).. the bike seems to work great! I haven't given it an extended ride yet.. I will do that later on today.. I haven't taken any time yet to get a spare tube or seat bag to hold it in case of flat.. hopefully i'll be okay for the first few rides out...

The only other question i have is, since i do not have a garage the bike will probably spend most of its life out on our deck (its covered but still outside).. Right now its the summer so I'm not too concerened but what about in the fall/winter when our weather out here in seattle gets rainy and cold (some days can get to 25 or 30 degree's in the winter).. will it be really bad to leave the bike out? Is there some kind of a 'not too expensive' cover i could/should get for it? or would just a regular blue tarp suffice? I'm sure some people will laugh that i'm concerned with the temperment of my 400 dollar bike, but it was a high price for me who has no job presently and i want to protect my investments

shokhead

Nice heavy bar b q cover will work.

ChiliDog

DON'T leave your bike outside, covered or not. Parts of it will rust out and it is just asking to be stolen. Park it somewhere in the house: dining room corner, bedroom, living room, ANYWHERE but outside. My road bike and hybrid are both parked in my bedroom, along one side of the bed. Whatever it takes, keep it inside. Hang it from the ceiling or get a wall mount if you like that idea better, but never outside.

MichaelW

For outside storage, security more of a worry than rust. My commuter bike lived outdoors , uncovered, all year round in a damp coastal town, and rust is minimal if you take some simple precautions. With a roof and a tarp, you dont have to worry about corrosion.
For security, you need to use a hardened steel chain and/or armoured steel cable and a solid hardpoint. These are not carry locks, they are way too heavy. Its better if you can keep the bike indoors.

ChiliDog

I had a Trek mountain bike outside, under a covered deck, and covered with a tarp for one season here in the midwest. Anything that could rust, did. Basically the bike was ruined. Keep it inside!!!!!

Electricview

Well its on the 3rd floor here so i doubt it will get stolen , there is just NO room in this tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny apartment..

Maybe it rusted becuase dew falls straight down and anything thats not covered is in an open line of sight and the tarp didnt stop it all? Would it be okay to leave it out there in the summer then as winter comes see if I can store it at a friends house?

ChiliDog

Mine was under a deck, covered with a tarp. No direct contact with rain or dew. If I had just paid big bucks for a Trek bike, I'd FIND somewhere in the place to set it. I have a very small apartment and the space occupied by two bikes is only 3' by 5'. Between the bed and the wall. Protect your investment, is my advice.