Long Term Bike Storage — How to prep the bike?

[Dirt]

What is the frame made of? If steel, I’d make sure there’s no water in the frame. Usually you can take the seatpost out, turn the bike upside-down and any water that accumulates in the frame will just run out.

Clean and lubricate the chain. I suggest leaving the tires with air in them! It is better if you can hang the bike up instead of having weight on the tires so they don’t flat-spot when the air runs out…. because it will slowly leak out. I usually shift to the small chainring and small cog so the shift cables are mostly at rest. I usually then take my finger and drop the chain off the small chainring and onto the frame so the derailleur spring is not tensioned and the chain isn’t side loaded.

Last but not least, I’d wipe down the frame to clean off any salt or road goo. I use a mild soap diluted in water clean the paint.

I hope that helps.

Pete

[eminva]

@dasgeh 20335 wrote:

I’m pregnant (with #2). Yay!

Congratulations! Best wishes.

Liz

[Mikey]

@dasgeh 20335 wrote:

. . . I’m pregnant (with #2). Yay! . . .

Congrats! Time to invest in a double trailer.

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

i wouldn’t hang it from wheels, too long and they ovalize.

and congrats!

[Mark Blacknell]

Four posts in, and no one has brought up the example of the very impressive woman at Hains Point last year? Short version: she was (is, I’m pretty sure) a regular. Got progressively bigger over the pregnancy, reaching (forgive me) house-like proportions near the end. And how did she deal? Near the end, she was 17 kinds of awesome, wearing a number/bib thing that said “Due in X days.” Where X was, indeed, a single digit.

[eminva]

Mark, I am impressed too, although that may not be the kind of anecdote that endears you to your female friends who happen to be pregnant (and possibly some of those who once were).

Although not nearly so bad as the total stranger on the metro platform who sagely intoned that my pregnancy must be a high risk one given how old I appeared to be (this was over 11 years ago).

Liz

[Mark Blacknell]

@eminva 20399 wrote:

Mark, I am impressed too, although that may not be the kind of anecdote that endears you to your female friends who happen to be pregnant (and possibly some of those who once were).

I thought about this. And then I realized – hey, it’s not like they could catch me, anyway!

Please, please, keep my nominations for Humanitarian of the Year to one a day, thanks.

[off2ride]

Congrats on #2. Kids are a labor or love for sure. Here’s what I suggest you do….remove the wheels, seat post and saddle and keep them inside. Hang the bike (if you can on the top tube) in the shed. You will probably need new cables and housing on it before you can ride it again. Possibly new hbar tape as well. Not sure what the elements are in your shed. Since wildlife and bugs will be out in force soon, it’s not just the weather that’s going to do a number on your roadbike. I’ve noticed some of these critters like eating rubber or something similar. That’s why I suggested to keep your wheels and saddle indoors. Hope this info helps. BTW, boy or girl?

[JustinW]

@eminva 20399 wrote:

… the total stranger on the metro platform who sagely intoned that my pregnancy must be a high risk one given how old I appeared to be (this was over 11 years ago).

Liz

I hope you then informed said stranger what a high risk situation he had just gotten himself into….

[dasgeh]

Luckily, I don’t have to keep it in the shed — plenty of room in our garage at this point (only 1 kid). I don’t even have to hang it, put I was thinking I’d store it upside down (on the seat and handlebars). Is that a bad idea?

This morning, I pulled out an old cheapo hybrid bike that we keep for guests and haven’t used in quite a while. The tires were a little low, but not flat. Everything else was pretty much as the last time we used it. I’m pretty sure the last time it was ridden was the day my daughter was born (19 months ago!) and it’s been in the shed ever since!

Don’t know yet whether it’s boy or girl. We’re not sure whether we’ll find out. We did with our first but for a variety of reasons that don’t apply now. We’ll see.

As for child transport, we’re considering options. I’m pretty anti trailer (cars seem blind to bike, how can they see trailers? Plus, I like being able to see/talk to the kids). So we’re considering bakfiets or similar, but are a little concerned about gearing in (hilly) Arlington. Of course, we do front seat now, and we could probably manage a front and back seat for a while…

I’d love to be the pregnant chick at Hains Point, but, alas, I’d be throwing up every 100 feet or so. I’m pretty sure that’s not good for anyone. I’m really hoping this movement-induced nausea goes away soon, but it’s getting less and less likely Of course, I probably felt my best as I entered weeks 41 and 42 last time, so you never know. (BTW, 9 months is a big fat lie!).

And thanks so much for all the wishes. We’re so excited, but (hopefully) realistic to the challenge. Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone!

[Dirt]

@Mark Blacknell 20407 wrote:

Please, please, keep my nominations for Humanitarian of the Year to one a day, thanks.

I thought you were a vegetarian.

[Tim Kelley]

@Dirt 20480 wrote:

I thought you were a vegetarian.

ahaahaHahahAHAH!!!!

Q: Why don’t cannibals eat clowns?
A: They taste funny!

[brendan]

@dasgeh 20476 wrote:

As for child transport, we’re considering options. I’m pretty anti trailer (cars seem blind to bike, how can they see trailers? Plus, I like being able to see/talk to the kids). So we’re considering bakfiets or similar, but are a little concerned about gearing in (hilly) Arlington. Of course, we do front seat now, and we could probably manage a front and back seat for a while…

Xtracycle w/ Peapod in back, and baby carrier up front (when he or she is ready). That way you can watch the youngest and converse easily with the oldest. If they’re close enough in age, you may later be able to do a dual peapod for a while before graduating the oldest to just sitting in the back and hanging on and then to their own bike…

Brendan

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