How long would it take for a bike to rust if

[Wally]

you left it in a shed? Is there anything that can be done to keep it in good nick? My mate has an injury so won't be riding for a while and can't keep the bike indoors.

 

[Norm]

I've a couple of MTB's which are over 20 years old, one of which hasn't been used in about 15 years. Both have been stored in sheds or a detached garage for their whole lives, neither has any rust.

If your mate wants to be overly protective, a complete spray (except wheel rims) with something like ACF-50 will do the job but, unless it's really damp in the shed, I'd just coat the chain in oil and leave it.

 

[Wally]

Thanks, Norm. So there shouldn't be any negative effects on the bike over a few months? He was thinking of insulating the shed or something to keep it warm. (He's a bit sensitive).

 

[palinurus]

A fairly non-leaky shed should be fine, if it is a bit leaky throw a cover over it too. A quick squirt of WD40 every now and then would help (ooh- a mention of ACF50 above- that'd do it too, great stuff).

 

[Norm]

If it is for a few months starting now (hopefully, warmer weather is on its way), I wouldn't do anything special, Wally. Wash the bike to clear any salt, oil the chain, WD40 on bare metal, ACF if he's really worried but that's not a long time to leave the bike.

 

[summerdays]

The other thing I would do would be make sure the tyres were well pumped up... the last thing you want is it sitting on one flat spot for several months.

 

[HLaB]

When I first moved back from Dublin to Scotland and my bike was still in transit. I used an old MTB that had been in the shed for 5years+ other than flat tyres it was fine after a clean up, I used it for a month or so no problem.

 

[threefingerjoe]

Pumping up the tyres won't help. They will go completely flat in a few weeks. Hang the bike, (upside down from the rims is easiest). That will keep the weight of the bike off of the flat tyres. If the garage is really damp, such as one that gets water on the floor during heavy rains, then apply a thin coat of grease to any bare metal parts. Remove batteries from lights.

 

[summerdays]

Probably depends on the type of tyres ... but I have bikes that my kids hardly ever ride over the winter (wish I could get the elder two to ride!!!), and the tyres remain round during that time - though need to be pumped up before they are actually used. Even my spare hardly gets ridden and its tyres don't go flat.

Whereas we've had a bike that we passed down from one child to the next with a big gap, and the tyres when flat on that and ended up damaging the side wall.