Bike outside in covered area?

Sewinman

I am being nagged to deal with my bikes in more female friendly way - i.e. not stored in kitchen, bedroom, lounge etc. My garden has a covered area and I could get some form of cover. I still feel that my weekend bike would get damp being outside, and cold too!

Do we think a bike suffers being outside in a UK winter, even if it is covered and not 'wet wet'?

Security is another issue, but I could deal with that.

jds_1981

Problem is when it gets home damp, it won't dry outside. will probably have some rust on the chain the next day. Also, is it a steel bike?

Sewinman

Hmmm, it is my best bike. No, carbon/Alu.

MonkeyMonster

Have you got space to store it from the roof internally anywhere? Hooks etc. for the weekend bike. Personally I wouldn't ever store my good bikes outside regardless of supposed security measures and dryness. Garages btw I count as indoors - because they are fundamentally and if I had a bike garage it would have some form of venting/drying capability for the jds's reasons.

veronese68

Compromise, best bike indoors with the others outside?

rjsterry

I'd get a purpose made bike shed (see the recent shed thread) which is dry enough unless you put the bike away absolutely dripping* and deals with the security aspect as well.

* Mine often goes away damp and is usually dry the next morning. I only get the odd spot of orange on the chain if I haven't kept up to date with cleaning and oiling it. If the bike is really that wet, then keep an old towel handy and give it a wipe down before you put it away.

Sewinman

Drilling is an issue as it is a rented flat, but I think a compromise can be found, well said! I don't think I would be comfortable thinking about the best bike outside.

markhewitt1978

I have a similar wonder, for a bike shed at work in storing my bike in there 24/7. It has a roof and wooden slatted sizes but obviously not 100% dry. It wouldn't be a 'best' bike, but a lunchtime hack but I don't want to have a bike which falls apart after 3 weeks, even if it is a Halfords BSO.

roger_merriman

My wife's hybrid that she commutes on lives out side, and the various bikes before that. She does 2000 odd miles a year, chain has yet to go rusty and I'm always forgetting to oil it etc.

jds_1981

roger merriman wrote:

My wife's hybrid that she commutes on lives out side, and the various bikes before that. She does 2000 odd miles a year, chain has yet to go rusty and I'm always forgetting to oil it etc.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong then my chain sometimes goes rust over the weekend in the conservatory, if I've had a wet cycle home on Friday.

tgotb

Compromise: less valuable bikes, clothes, shoes, handbags etc stored outside, more valuable ones stored inside.

I used to store a road bike outside, under a waterproof cover, festooned with locks and it was fine. Mind you, it didn't have any water soluble carbon components...

DrLex

Bag it?

roger_merriman

jds_1981 wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

My wife's hybrid that she commutes on lives out side, and the various bikes before that. She does 2000 odd miles a year, chain has yet to go rusty and I'm always forgetting to oil it etc.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong then my chain sometimes goes rust over the weekend in the conservatory, if I've had a wet cycle home on Friday.

Me too my bike chain gets a few spots of rust hers though spotless maybe neglect is the way to go!

fossyant

Asguard bike shed ?

I'm lucky to have a garage with a heater and a dehumidifier for the fleet. Was most unhappy when the best bike had to move out of a bedroom when 'children' arrived. :evil:

tgotb

fossyant wrote:

best bike had to move out of a bedroom when 'children' arrived. :evil:

Less valuable children in the garden too; it's all about balance and compromise...

jamesco

Both my bikes (and my girlfriend's) live uncovered outside and have done for years, no problemo. Unless they're made out of sugar, they won't dissolve.