storing bikes outside

[lordofthemark]

as we discuss getting a second bike the issue of where to put it has come up. Currently I keep my bike in the front hall. Without getting into details, needing to store two bikes inside at the current stage of decluttering will be a bother. I am fine storing one outside either locked up in front of the house (to the stairway railing) or to whatever I can find in the back yard (which is fenced, townhouse style, but the garden gate isn’t locked) My wife thinks this is a poor idea. She mentions the time I kept a bike outside and it was stolen (this was years ago, and I was much more trusting, and also didn’t have a lock). And the state of my garden tools (due to the aforesaid decluttering issue I keep my manual lawnmower outside, and its slowly rusting away)

I don’t think a locked up bike is in much danger of theft in our suburban townhouse development and I don’t think rust is an issue. I promised to ask the forum.

So, what do y’all think?

Topic

[jabberwocky]

Outdoor environments aren’t the best for bikes. Even aluminum or carbon ones have a lot of steel in them. Moisture isn’t good for steel. Rain washes away oils and greases that protect metals and lubricate moving parts.

Cover them up to keep direct moisture off them. Recognize that a bike kept outdoors will not do as well as a bike kept inside, and your work will be to minimize the difference.

[NicDiesel]

Terrible idea, just like community bike racks in high rises. It’s going to get rusted and need a lot of unneeded maintenance hanging out in the elements. If said bike has anything worth selling on CL or eBay it’s going to get stolen and parted out.

[dasgeh]

Is a shed an option? What about some sort of furniture on the porch to mask/cover/protect it? Personally, I think it’ll be fine, especially if it means n+1

[lordofthemark]

@dasgeh 62081 wrote:

Is a shed an option? What about some sort of furniture on the porch to mask/cover/protect it? Personally, I think it’ll be fine, especially if it means n+1

to clarify

A. any new bike (or good used bike) will get the inside space. The outside space will go to the old bike – Roadmaster MTB – IE an old department store MTB that I estimate is worth maybe $50 on CL, if that.

B. some of my neighbors have been keeping similar bikes outside, and they are still there. This is the suburbs (though OTOH, its Annandale)

C. Thinking about it, I would probably keep the bike in the back, where it won’t be that visiable. No one has stolen my rusty manual lawn mower.

D. We will not be putting a shed back there. There is no porch. Could put some kind of tarp over it, I guess.

[Author]

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