Getting back in the saddle

[Joey Shabadoo]

I have two bikes that I haven't used for years. They've been stored in a damp shed. One's a Halfords hybrid electric and the other's a Specialised Tricross with rim brakes. What should I be doing to make them roadworthy and safe again? The Tricross had a series of punctures on the front tyre the last few times I took it out possibly 2 years ago and had difficulty getting it into the full range of gears.

 

[Oldhippy]

Get both serviced professionally if you are unable to do your own tinkering.

 

[fossyant]

Good wash. GT85 or WD40 on mech pivots. Possibly replace all cables - you've mentioned poor shifting already, and 90% of problems are due to old/worn/dirty cables.

 

[C R]

I have two bikes that I haven't used for years. They've been stored in a damp shed. One's a Halfords hybrid electric and the other's a Specialised Tricross with rim brakes. What should I be doing to make them roadworthy and safe again? The Tricross had a series of punctures on the front tyre the last few times I took it out possibly 2 years ago and had difficulty getting it into the full range of gears.

What @fossyant said, and possibly new tyres would also be a good idea if you were getting regular punctures.

 

[Cycleops]

I think we've covered most things above
Series of punctures on one tyre suggests you might not have removed whatever was causing it.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I think we've covered most things above
Series of punctures on one tyre suggests you might not have removed whatever was causing it.

Aye, I wondered that but I checked tyres and rim thoroughly at the time. Maybe not thoroughly enough mind you.

 

[Spiderweb]

I have two bikes that I haven't used for years. They've been stored in a damp shed. One's a Halfords hybrid electric and the other's a Specialised Tricross with rim brakes. What should I be doing to make them roadworthy and safe again? The Tricross had a series of punctures on the front tyre the last few times I took it out possibly 2 years ago and had difficulty getting it into the full range of gears.

The Tricross is a great bike, I have one and ride it regularly.

 

[Arrowfoot]

There is big difference between periodic bike maintenance and pulling out an unused bike stored for an extended period. Learnt it the hard way. Gear cable snapped under load within 10 minutes of first ride despite some level of pre-ride maintenance. Ended up replacing all the cables, had to clear the gunk in cable housing etc. Realised everything had to be re-lubed including pedals. Also had to re-index the gears.

Essentially stripping out everything. Drop bars seems really sensitive mechanically than an ordinary MTB.

Either LBS if you don't have the time or a weekend half day with supplies ready.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Adding to @Arrowfoot 's sound advice on cables and pedals, pull out the seat posts and give those and the inside of the seat tubes a good clean.
Drown the innards of the STIs with WD40, and wipe.
In a damp shed, I'd have thought the chain would have suffered, too. Brake pads/blocks condition?
After two years the battery of the electric will have reduced capacity, or none, depending on the charge state it was 'stored' in.