I have a bike that I haven't used in a while and I noticed it has some rust spots where the paint had been scratched off. I realized I've neglected inspecting it and applying touch up paint. I'm wondering how often do you do this? Once a month/3months/6months/year? And how often do you ride in the rain? (I'm just asking about the external paint, I use framesaver once a year for the inside)

Framesaver once a year? Overkill much?

Over the last month, I've only started noting the paint chips with rust growing.

I'm touching up the spots with rustproof paint, and then wrapping inner tube over it; don't plan on ever having to do it again at that rate.

On a related note, anyone know a good source for buying rolls of butyl rubber strips about 3/8inch wide? Planning on making the rubber wrap look pretty by braiding it on, chopping up inner tubes into perefect strips is... time consuming.

If this were your brand new, ride-it-all-the-time, sexy custom steel beauty with a candy apple Joe Bell paintjob I might offer some different advice, but for something you admit you haven't used in a while, my first thought is "Do nothing."

Besides, rust on the outside of a steel bike frame is ostensibly protecting the steel. It's not a virus! Unless you leave you bike outside exposed to the elements 365 days/year, I'll bet you could let those rusty paint chips fester and multiply forever and the frame would still outlast you.

If its black rust its protecting.

If its red flaky rust, its just getting worse and deeper under the part you see.

Unless you're encountering a lot of salt and water, the rust really isn't much of a big deal.

If you can sand off the rust and apply touch-up paint, great. But be careful-- If you don't get the surface prepped well enough, it can rust underneath the paint.

I have one bike that has more exposed metal than paint left on it. When a rust spot shows up, I rub a little heavy oil onto it. The oil basically "seals" the rust spot to air and repels water, inhibiting rust. For a cleaner and more permanent solution, you could probably also use wax.

Thanks this was all good advice. About how often do you guys check for paint chips/scratches and apply touch up?

Have a 15 year old Kona Explosif. Steel Mtb that has had a hard life. All that frame gets is a wash down after a ride- Then take off the wheels- cover the rubber bits and saddle and spray the whole bike with a water displavement oil. (WD40 or the like) Let it drain for a couple of hours or days and then wipe it down with cloth. I also spray the WD into the frame and there is no rust of any note on that frame and never felt it necessary to use a touch up on the bare metal.

I stand corrected, thanks for the clarification.