Rain and bikes

[midlife]

If Lancia made bikes......

 

[Welsh wheels]

Dont think the OP has a carbon bike. His Alu frame won't melt (carbon forks might do if unlucky)

Yep just carbon forks. I've heard they spontaneously combust even if just one raindrop falls on them. Maybe that's what that loud bang was I heard coming from the shed.

 

[johnnyb47]

The rain itself is not to bad. Its when it's combined with mud and winter salt that plays havoc..My old Peugeot only gets used in the Summer months and then lives next to the kitchen radiator in the winter. That's when the Boardman MTB comes into action. It's usually given a good spray over with Wd40 and a hose down every week during the winter months as the lanes around here are always caked in thick mud throughout winter.

 

[oldwheels]

Bolts often tend to be mild steel, e.g. those holding the handlebars at the stem tend to gather rust and particularly when allen key heads face up fill with water as on my Dawes MB. The frame and components are fine but why use bolts and screws which will inevitably rust?

 

[Drago]

Keep it clean and correctly lubed and waxed, no problems.

 

[biggs682]

I brought a new bike recently and I want it to last a good few years. There will be times when I'll be riding it in the rain and sometimes I will need to leave it locked up outside in the rain for a few hours. How much damage does rain do to bikes?

is it carbon , if so it will just evaporate so be warned

 

[screenman]

Bolts often tend to be mild steel, e.g. those holding the handlebars at the stem tend to gather rust and particularly when allen key heads face up fill with water as on my Dawes MB. The frame and components are fine but why use bolts and screws which will inevitably rust?

Cost. They are easily replaced though.

 

[mustang1]

Conversely if you bought an al bike then you have nothing to fear.
If you want longevity of components, clean them often.

Not for the light use you've described. A steel frame will be fine so long as it has a good quality paint/powder finish. If it has any chroming then that can often be a weak point.

 

[Alan Frame]

If Lancia made bikes......

View attachment 358897

Is that a Lancia Beater?

 

[Gravity Aided]

Only when in rideable condition.

 

[tyred]

If Lancia made bikes......

View attachment 358897

Where did you get the picture of my best bike?

 

[si_c]

The rain itself is not to bad. Its when it's combined with mud and winter salt that plays havoc..My old Peugeot only gets used in the Summer months and then lives next to the kitchen radiator in the winter. That's when the Boardman MTB comes into action. It's usually given a good spray over with Wd40 and a hose down every week during the winter months as the lanes around here are always caked in thick mud throughout winter.

If you put some framesaver in the seat tube, no reason you can't use the Peugeot all year round. I've used both of mine through winter. Just give the bike a hose down and a wipe with a rag after particularly wet rides.

 

[KnackeredBike]

On a modern alu bike you basically have nothing to worry about. As the name suggests ride my bike in all weathers, gets left outside in the rain at work. Never gets cleaned other than an annual rub down with sandpaper and salt. There is superficial rust around the bolts and QR skewers but nothing in the least bit concerning. I suspect I will be returning to dust long before my bike.

 

[Lee_M]

it'll be fine unless your mate thinks you should have bought something different, then it will spontaneously become rubbish

 

[Vantage]

It's a good idea to drill a drain hole in the bottom bracket shell if there isn't one.
Water can seep in through the seat tube and weld vent holes and when water gets in it all piles up in the lowest part of the frame, the bottom bracket shell.
Or take out the bottom bracket every once in a while and give it a quick wipe.
I found a small reservoir in the Vantages shell when I first opened it up after about a year coz there's no drain hole whereas I drilled the Raleigh and that was bone dry after the same period.