furiousbob

Is this okay? I live in sunny Southern California and I'm about to buy a steel framed bike. Is it okay to leave it outside even when it rains? I had an aluminum frame before this so I never worried about it. I used a poncho to cover my last bike but it'd only be the saddle and 2/3rds of the rear.

IROeunuch

lolzers, you are teh n00b. bikes don't like being left outside. they'll eat your babies out of revenge.

bonechilling

I wouldn't leave any bike outside all of the time, but a steel bike left out in the rain on occasion won't see any meaningful damage. And in Southern California, you have so little to worry about. Think of all the steel bikes in a city like Portland or Seattle, or the bikes ridden through the snow all through the North and Northeast. As long as you're smart, you'll have no problem.

exhibitx

aslong as you're not real close to the ocean you're ok

ocean = water + salt = bad ... lots of rust by the coastline

roadfix

I wouldn't worry about it. It only rains 4 times a year in Pasadena.

operator

Don't leave bikes outside, especially steel bikes.

furiousbob

Well I don't have much of a choice but I figured the rain poncho would help.

bikerfox

Why? Are you homeless?

na975

rust proof the internal frame with that tar stuff in the spray can.

furiousbob

No, because my landlord doesn't allow bikes in the house. I live in a room under his house so I don't have much of a choice.

doofo

LOL @ bikerfox

furiousbob

oookay then.

End of Thread.

a b seize

is there ever morning dew in california? that could be bad news.

S.Lemon

That sounds ridiculous. Appears you need to find a new place to live.

furiousbob

Been looking actually.

fixedmonkey

If you are concerned about rust, they require some maintenance if you have chips in the paint and the like. Steal is not as carefree as aluminum is.