godspiral

Can a bike be stored over winter (snow) outside under a tarp and not rust? Also, outside during summertime. Would aluminum make a big difference to its durability? -- would have a strong preference for none of the components rusting. It would be leaning against a wooden fence if that makes a diff.

TandemGeek

It all depends on the quality of the bicycle and components, preventative maintenace, and frequency of use. An inexpensive, department store quality bicycle will use lots of inexpensive steel parts that are more succeptible to rust or corrosion than those used on premium grade machines. For example, a nickle-plated or stainless steel chain, high-grade alloy cassette, and alloy chain rings that have been we'll lubricated will withstand quite a bit of moisture without too much ill effect. However, a black steel chain on steel cassettes and stamped steel chain rings even with some lubrication will quickly begin to rust. Same thing goes for all of the other components (e.g., internal parts of shifters / cables, bearings in hubs, etc..) and component interfaces with the frame, i.e., seat posts inserted into seat tubes.

However, even a high-end bike would need to be carefully prepped before prolonged storage in a high-moisture environment. Some will recommend rust proofing the inside of your frames using "frame saver" (or Boeshield T9), but the real areas that you need to pay attention to are any metal-to-metal interface points and bearings.

In both of the above scenarios, periodic maintenance (PM) on the frame and components is the key to staving off rust and corrosion. The same is true for bikes that are stored in living rooms after each ride. I've seen some very expensive bikes with rust-encrusted steerer tubes and headset bearings because no one bothered to attend to a minimal amount of headset PM. Similar findings with bottom brackets, hub bearings, seatposts fused to seat tubes, etc...

zonatandem

Would not recommend it! We park our tandem inside, no matter what the season.
An alu frame itself would not rust, but other componentry can.
Find a friend/relative/neighbor who will let you park tandem in their garage.

godspiral

Thanks very much for the info... I don't know much about bb and headset PM, but you actually make it sound like the bikes in my shed will rust too... because there will be fair humidity in there. The only extra protection a shed would give is preventing melted snow from contacting the bottom of the tires (as long as the bike manages to stay upright leaned up against the fence all winter)

The way that sounds, a shed would not be a significant improvement in weather protection over a tarp. Am I wrong?

TandemGeek

I guess that would depend on the weather resistance of your shed. Does the shed have a floor? Has the shed's roof or sides ever been blown off the shed by the wind? What do you keep in the shed that you don't keep outside under a tarp and why?

Actually, to be fair, you can do an experiment... put a piece of wood outside under a piece of tarpolon and another one inside the shed and let them stay there for a year. If there's no difference in their condition you'll have your answer.

godspiral

The shed has a floor that stays dry, and walls that stay on. Bikes in there now, but weren't any last winter.

The wood experiment wouldn't be fair, because it would absorb moisture from the ground. The bike should theoretically only have its tires touching the ground. I've seen motorbikes stored this way over the winter here. I dunno if it works though.

TandemGeek

OK, screw the piece of wood to a milk carton...

Here's the deal: The only difference between storing the tandem out in the open and under a good quality, weather-resistant tarp would be protection from the harmful effects of ultra violet light, acid rain, and other airborne debris that could land-on and mar the finish of your bike. Of course, given that you're somewhere in Canada, it might be important to factor in just how deep the snow gets next to your fence during the average winter as it's likely that the snow will also pack itself in under the tarp unless the tarp is securely fastened to the ground 'round the perimeter of the bike.

Now, here's the rub with tarps: While tarps that stay in place do a good job of keeping falling rain off of bicycles and motorcycles, when put over things out in the weather and standing over uncovered ground they also tend to capture and hold moisture as it leaves the ground via evaporation... creating something of a bike sauna which can, in fact, accelerate the oxidation process since the sun and wind can't help to quickly remove the moisture. Therefore, I'd be more inclined to hang a "utility bike" under the eaves of a storage shed, garage, or the house where it would be kept out of direct sunlight, falling rain, and well off the ground vs. standing it next to a fence if for some reason I couldn't put it in the storage shed, garage, or house, all of the foregoing being preferrable.

godspiral

that makes sense... I have a steel BBQ that did not fare that well over its first winter under a tarp.