How do you stop bits rusting?

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RiflemanSmith

Senior Member
Location
London UK
I know the best way is to dry your bike after it gets wet is to wipe it down, and I do wipe my chain after every ride in the wet.
Though I can't dry my whole bike at work or at home as I live in a second floor flat.
Is there a preventative way like painting some thing on to parts that are prone to rust?
 

Andrew_Culture

Internet Marketing bod
If I ride in heavy weather I pick the bike up about 10cm off the ground and drop it again, then whip over the frame with a baby wipe.
 

snorri

Legendary Member
If the paint gets damaged it is better to touch up the damage to keep out the damp air, nail varnish will seal the chip temporarily. Chrome parts can be buffed up to remove any rust specs before they get too big and obvious. Cables touching the frame will rub through the paint in time, but you can get little sticky patches to put on the frame to protect vulnerable parts. Check your mudguards, the edges of the mudguards should not be allowed to touch the frame as any movement will wear away the paint at point of contact.
Bikes have so many nooks and crannies that some discolouration or even light rust will form unless you are regularly dismantling and cleaning but with modern paint finishes rust is much less a problem nowadays,
I like to keep all of the moving parts lubed , but seldom never bother to dry my bikes, just lift them off the ground a few inches and drop them down on their tyres, this shakes most of the water off and i don't see any worrying amount of rust on my oldest bike after 12 years.
 

sittingbull

Veteran
Location
South Liverpool
ACF-50 is designed for this purpose - though not specifically for cycles.
I have not used it so cannot comment on it's effectiveness, areas to be avoided would obviously be braking surfaces and anywear it would transfer to clothing.
 
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RiflemanSmith

RiflemanSmith

Senior Member
Location
London UK
Yeah I do the pick up and drop thing.
It's not the frame that's rusting it's the little things like the tops of allenkey bolts, limit screws, skewers.
I don't mind so m much on this bike as this will become my winter bike when I get my new bike, I would like to keep the new bike rust free.
 

snorri

Legendary Member
. it's the little things like the tops of allenkey bolts, limit screws, skewers.
Yes, these things will become tarnished, but it's only cosmetic damage, the only way to avoid that is keep the bike permanently in an air conditioned cabinet.
I must say I'm more concerned about the deterioration of the rider than some tarnishing of the bike.:sad:
 

Garz

Squat Member
Location
Down
Yeah I do the pick up and drop thing.
It's not the frame that's rusting it's the little things like the tops of allenkey bolts, limit screws, skewers.
I don't mind so m much on this bike as this will become my winter bike when I get my new bike, I would like to keep the new bike rust free.

The grit and salt will accelerate the rusting process and wear. This is chiefly why people run 'winter bikes' so their pride and joy lasts! :thumbsup:
 
Use titanium hardware, sorted ;)
 

SpokeyDokey

68, & my GP says I will officially be old at 70!
Moderator
ACF-50 is designed for this purpose - though not specifically for cycles.
I have not used it so cannot comment on it's effectiveness, areas to be avoided would obviously be braking surfaces and anywear it would transfer to clothing.

I use this, bit pricey but it is 100% effective. Used it on a small boat years back and it is a superb product.
 

Alembicbassman

Confused.com
+ 1 for a smudge of grease on the bolt heads (use a cotton bud to get into the allen bolts) and if the bike gets mucky a squib or two of WD40 onto a Poundland microfibre cloth to wipe the dirt off.

Full mudguards do a great job of stopping the muck, Crud Roadracers are popular for a quick fix.
 
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