colpatrick

After wiping it down, is there anything else I should be doing before I hang it from the garage rafters here in Rochester,NY?

Should I oil the chain?

Thanks.

tsl

Yes. And all the fasteners and pivot points on the bike. You want to protect the metal from the dampness.

How did you do with your goal this year?

Doug64

The only bikes we "put away" for the winter are our touring bikes. I like to go completely over them after heavy spring/summer/fall use. This includes a general cleaning, a coat of automotive wax; and cleaning and oiling the chain and derailleurs. Bearings in the hubs and headset are cleaned, greased and adjusted. Cables are checked and replaced if needed. Everything is adjusted so they are ready to go for our next tour. The road bikes and utility bikes get periodic maintenance throughout the year. However, they get the same treatment as our touring bikes at least once a year, and even more during bad riding conditions. It rains a lot in Oregon, but we can ride almost year around

overthehillmedi

And don't forget to change the tires over from summer air to winter air.

cranky old dude

You mean we hafta do that to all the bikes?

Silly me, I've only been using Winter Air with the bikes I ride in the Winter!!

northbend 

I remove the seatposts from my steel frame bikes.

Wogster

Let's see, what I generally do, is give the bike a complete inspection, then decide if it needs any work done, if it needs work done, it goes on the repair stand and I do the work. Yes, sometimes that means a bike sits in the cellar in pieces for a couple of months, while I do work on it a bit at a time. For example the mountain bike is getting a complete overhaul this year, this starts from around the time it goes out of service (another week or so) until the end of March.... If you don't do your own bike repairs, but it needs work done, call the LBS and see when they would like you to drop it off.

tsl

Good point. Off season repairs will make you a friend of your LBS. Some are now actively encouraging it. This weekend Towpath Bikes in Schoen Place, Pittsford is advertising 35% off pre-paid off-season tune-ups.

Better still, when the weather breaks, your bike will already be ready. Just hop on and commence to complaining about how out of shape you got during the winter.

gcottay

Has your bike performed well for you? If so, it deserves a winter riding vacation far south of the snow/ice/cold belt. You get to go too.

buelito

you shouold invest in some studded snow tires and a good light--then you don't have to put it away

train safe-

stapfam

Have to agree--And Waterproof Gloves and socks.

Wogster

Yup in April when everybody else is doing a slow burn, because the bike shop says, yeah we can get to that tuneup around the third week in June, your putting air in the tires and going for a nice albeit creaky ride....

JanMM

If it will be hanging by one wheel, then don't forget to go flip it to the other wheel every couple of weeks. Helps maintain equilibrium.

Phil85207

I agree with the poster that said go south. Remember when I was complaining about it being 117 degrees? Well today it was 74 and tomorrow it will be 80. Come on down, it perfect wether here now.

colpatrick

Made it. My goal was 1000 miles, and I'm at about 1050 right now. May go out one more time this weekend.

GlennR

My son is in Geneseo and Cyclocross season is just getting started

xizangstan

It's too much work, shutting a bike down for the winter. Removing the batteries from the computer and sending unit. Draining the cooling system... Keep riding, young man!

bkaapcke

I rode about a mile this morning and then turned back. That's it for this season. Too damn cold out there. It's maintenance time. bk

Mithrandir

Booooo! It's going to be absolutely gorgeous out until Sunday! Don't put that bike away yet!!!!

It's going to be in the 60's on Black Friday for crying out loud!

Wogster

Cooling system**********?

bruce19

I just ride my bike on the rollers. Never a reason to prep it for storage.

TomD77

We in the southern climes are vastly amused.

xizangstan

Yeah, they say they do that to boats when put up in dry storage, up north. I just assumed you eskimos did the same with your bikes.

Wogster

They do, do it to boats, never seen a bike with a cooling system though.... I keep the bikes in the cellar over the winter, it's not bone dry down there, but it's a lot dryer then the shed.....

Gravity Aided

I have mine on the trainer- now, I just have to ride it, on the trainer....