Mistakes People Make Storing Their Bike for the Winter

It is definitely possible to ride our bikes all year around, spring, summer, fall, and winter and a lot of people successfully do it.  So we are reluctant to advise people to stop riding and store their bikes for the winter.  But sometimes people get busy and don't have time to ride for awhile or live in parts of the country with extreme cold, ice, and snow that makes it uncomfortable and maybe even unsafe to ride.  Since some people are going to hang up their bikes they might as well understand what NOT to do when storing a bike for an extended period of time.  ​

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Here are some mistakes that people make when storing a bike for the winter or an extended period of time and what to do about it:​

1. Allow the bike to sit around dirty – It might be difficult to know what your last ride will be before hanging up your bike.  You may think this is it, then there is a day or two of beautiful, mild weather and you take your bike out for another spin.  But when the weather finally takes a turn for the worst, you do not want to let your bike sit around covered with dirt and grime for an extended period.  This will allow dirt to sink into the cervices and dry there making it more difficult to remove in the spring.
   
   If you have the space, take it outside and wash it with soap and water.  Make sure you wash and dry everything including the frame, tires, grips, saddle and chain.  Don’t use a pressure washer to force water into the bearings, just a light spray from a hose or from a brush dipped into a bucket of soapy water.  If washing outside is not an option, you can wash it inside.  It helps to spread a drop cloth to protect your floor and spray the bike with water or degreaser, and wipe it down with a clean rag.  When washing a bike it is an opportunity to inspect it for damage such as cracks in the frame, broken or bent components, and worn brake pads or tires.  You will be able to get these fixed before prime riding season.
   
   
2. Store the bike without lubrication - Lubrication prevents corrosion and will allow parts to move smoothly when you want to use them again.  Keeping parts lubricated during riding season is a good idea to prevent excessive wear and enhance performance of components and while in storage it extends the life of the components. 
   
   Use a lubricant designed for bicycles, not a solvent.  Lubes that are too thick will attract dirt and those that are too thin will dissipate quickly and won’t do the job.  Apply a few drops to all pivot points such as derailleurs, brakes, and shifters and place a drop in each cable and then wipe off the excess.  Pay special attention to the bike chain since it has lots of moving parts.  On a chain you want to lubricate the rollers, not the outer plates, so place a drop into each roller as you pedal backwards, rotate a few times to allow the lube to settle and then wipe off the excess.
   
   
3. Wait until spring for a tune up – Annual maintenance is recommended for most bikes depending on how much you ride it.  Having a bike professionally checked to make adjustments and to lubricate all moving parts will prevent problems before they become more severe and require that components to be replaced.  If you wait until the first nice day to take your bike along with everyone else, there will be long lead times for service. 
   
   Bring your bike into your local bike shop before hanging it up for the season and it will be ready when you want to ride it.  Shop staff often claim they have more time to spend on service and will not miss anything when they are not as busy.  Even if you are handy and perform routine maintenance yourself it is a good idea to do it before storing your bike for the season.  Having a tune up in the traditional slower season will also take care of the previous two steps.  
   
   
4. Allow bike to sit for an extended time on flat tires – If you store your bike sitting on the tires, since the tubes inside the tires naturally lose air over time, it allows the weight of the bike to press down through the rims on the rubber.  This will accelerate deterioration of the rubber and allow it to become distorted or develop a weak spot in the side wall.  This will require replacement of the tires prematurely. 
   
   To prevent flat spots in tires, it is preferred to suspend the bike by the front or rear tire with a hook in the ceiling or from the frame with a bracket on a wall.  If you must store it sitting on its tires, inflate them and check them periodically since they will lose air over time. 

5.  Store the bike outside – Allowing a bike to sit outside, even in a covered area such as a porch or an unheated garage, exposes it to moisture and this will accelerate rust of bolts, handlebars, chain, a steel frame and any steel components.  Moisture will also dry out lubrication on the components and cables.  It will also be exposed to dust, dirt and insects.

Store your bike indoors in a basement or dry garage or a storage room whenever possible.  If you are short on space in a house or apartment there are many storage solutions such as brackets for mounting on a wall.  If you must store your bike outside, make sure it is covered with a drop cloth and protected from the elements.

6.  Fail to secure the bike where it is stored – While it is true that professional thieves can steal anything if they want it bad enough, you want to make sure you do not make it easy to take.  Leaving it unlocked in a garage or storage room will increase the risk that someone will break in or pass by, see it unprotected, and steal it.

​Always lock your bike with a good bike lock, such as a U-lock or two even when it is indoors.  Secure it to a fixed object on the wall or floor.  Use multiple technologies, such as a U-lock, cable, or chain, so that the thief has to use different tools to break into it.  Don’t forget about your wheels if they have quick release skewers and use either wheel locks or run a cable through them. 

​By storing the bike properly, it will be ready to ride the first nice day.  If you live in a climate where there are a limited number of ideal biking days, you don’t want to waste a single one due to your bike not being in ride ready condition when you want it.  ​​