Nai4257

Good morning. So I apologize if this post isn't where it belongs but I couldn't seem to find a more appropriate place to put it. I use my bike (fuji abaolulte 1.7) nearly every day to get back and forth to work or the lake to go fishing or even just around town but I recently moved and found that I wasn't able to keep my bike indoors anymore. So unfortunately I have to keep it locked up under a covered porch. I live in Erie pa and honestly I just want some tips on how to keep my bike in tip top shape due to having to keep it outside. I love my bike and don't want it just falling apart on me but also know it's not ideal for the bike. Thanks for reading.

Jack

rhenry01

- Keep it covered
- Keep it off the ground if possible
- Keep the chain lubed
- Put a little chain lube on any exposed cables
- Inspect your bike every time you ride it and fix minor problems before they become major

Bikes are outdoor equipment and are built as such. Staying on top of things will go a long way in keeping your bike in top condition.

Nai4257

thanks for your post!

hokiefyd 

The first thing that seems to "go", at least visually, is the chain (rust). If you find that you can't keep the rust away on it (and you should be able to, with proper lube), you can replace it something like a KMC X8.99, which is nickel-plated and should be very resistant to corrosion.

I would keep your seat post lightly lubed so that it doesn't get stuck in the seat tube, especially if you never move it. I'd also keep the stem lubed and move it every now and again (if it's a quill type stem), so it doesn't get stuck.

Nai4257

thank you for the advice

practical

You've received some good advice but I will add another bit. The spring under your front derailleur is very susceptible to rusting so spray it with some WD40 every now and then.

therealjoeblow

No, do NOT use WD40 on your bike, anywhere, ever. It is a solvent, not a lubricant.

Anything that moves or is susceptible to corrosion needs a proper lubricant. Oil if you like wet-lubes that only need to be applied infrequently, or a good quality teflon and wax based dry lube if you want something less messy that needs to be applied more often.

But NEVER WD40 anywhere on your bike.

Cheers
TRJB

djmcnz

I agreed with this sentiment and was interested in how WD40 achieved its short term lubrication outcomes. A quick web search threw up the expected results that WD40 isn't a lubricant and that the apparent lubrication is from material being dissolved (at a microscopic level).

But then I looked further and WD40 themselves have some interesting "myths" and "facts" about their product here: https://wd40.com/cool-stuff/myths-legends-fun-facts - including:

However they know it's not the best product for bikes because they now have this range that I wasn't aware of: WD-40 BIKE | A comprehensive line of bicycle care products developed for cyclists and mechanics

So I came here thinking I'd not use WD40, had that opinion reinforced, had my conviction challenged by the manufacturer and found out about some new, bike-specific products from a reputable source!

And to the OP: If you had a spray bottle of dry lube hanging up where you'll store your bike and gave the mechanical components a light squirt/spray every few rides it will be fine. Store it elevated as previously mentioned and keep the worst of the elements off it. I lived in Amsterdam for 5 years and we pretty much all store our bikes outside (not by choice) and mine got way less care than I describe here and it was just fine.

dabac

There's nothing special about maintaining a hybrid-branded bike vs any other category of bikes. Do a net search on "bicycle maintenance" and read/view as much as you can stand.


Or head over to sheldonbrown.com for some good advice.

king_boru

I just recently used WD40 bike cleaner and chain lube. Couldn't be happier to be honest. Found it has been very effective.

Also be sure to go over the internals of the hubs. Especially if you use the bike as much as you do. New grease and a clean will extend its life. I found I needed to replace bearings and that the factory grease was used rather sparingly. Now they are back to tip top shape.

hokiefyd 

That's very interesting. I haven't noticed this stuff yet in the stores, but I might like to give it a try. I can't remember all what I used to use as a kid to lube my chain, but I can be pretty sure that WD-40 was among my top choices.

TMassimo

How about using it on a washed chain to help disperse water?