The Ups and Downs of Outdoor Storage

Buy a Bike Stand
If you are going to be storing your bike outdoors, it is very important to keep it off of the ground. If your bike is lying on the wet ground all winter, then you can pretty safely say that you will be dealing with some serious issues when you want to ride in the spring. By keeping the bike upright with a stand, you lessen the risk of serious rusting and other problems. Bike stands come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, but if you are keeping your bike outside, then a standard upright stand is probably best. These stands allow you to keep your bike upright without having to attach the stand to anything.

Maintain Your Bike
If you are going to be keeping your bike outside, then it is very important to perform regular maintenance checks, even in the winter. Simple things like washing your bike and keeping your chain lubricated will pay off when you wish to get your bicycle out in the spring. Washing and cleaning your bike thoroughly at least once a month will help keep red rust to a minimum. Interestingly there are two types of rust: black rust and red rust. Black rust is actually good for your bicycle, it reinforces the steel frame and prevents breaks. However, red rust is like cancer for your bike. Left unattended it will spread and strip your bike of paint and metal. Washing your bike and checking for signs of red rust can help prevent this. Another way to easily maintain your bike is to keep the chain lubricated. You should also keep brakes, tires, and breaks lubricated. If you let your chain sit in the damp all winter without lubricating it, there is a good chance that it will rust and not be usable in the spring when you want to use your bicycle. Again, this small maintenance procedure will save you time and money in the long run. Another problem that can crop up when storing your bicycle outside are holes in the tires. Whether a rodent has been chewing on them or the elements have just eroded the tires, this could be a serious problem. Riding your bike with flat tires could lead to ruining the rims, which would then have to be replaced. By just keeping an eye on the tires you should be able to prevent some of these occurrences. Also purchasing a bike stand that keeps the tires off the ground can help prevent annoying holes in your tires.