Can You Leave Your Bike Out In The Rain?

Bikes are made for outdoors and an odd day of rain exposure will not affect a well maintained and lubricated bike. But are all bikes that well maintained? Most cyclists never spend time to check if they can leave their bike in the rain. The question often crops up in their mind ‘Can You Leave Your Bike Out In The Rain?‘

Rain water damages bikes. Prolonged exposure to water and dampness will cause rust, corrosion, peeling off of paint, metal wear etc.. One must know effect of rainwater on bike, how long it can be exposed, possible damage, preventive measures and maintenance to enhance performance in economical way.

Five years in to cycling, I have seen extreme weathers including tropical rain and I must say that my bike is in absolute top condition at all times.

How Can Rain Affect Bike?

Rain as such does not affect directly but the effects of water can be devastating if not paid attention to. The rain water washes off oil and lubricants from the parts of bikes where applied. The dirt on the road mixes with water and the rolling tyres pull the dirt and water and sprays the bike with wet mud particles. The water dries off leaving the dirt on the bike.

The dirt now mixes with the grease and oil and turns into a very abrasive matter that eats into the metal.

Most of the damage is caused to the moving parts of cycle. Chain takes the maximum beating where as wheel hubs become the costliest part to get damaged.

Damage To Bike By Deadly Mix of Rainwater and Mud

Water by itself can be dried by towels, warm air with hair dryer, sponging and drying the cycle in sun. Lubricating the cycle after it completely dries up gets the cycle in top condition.

Most of the times the water pours on bike and while in movement the tyres pull up water from surface and splash the cycle with water mixed with slush, mud and all particles spread on surface which mix with water. This water-particle mix on the cycle flows down and enters all parts. The damage is immense on the moving parts. If not attended to it causes metallic wear and tear, deterioration of plastic and rubber parts and increases friction. The cycle becomes extremely heavy and induces fatigue.

Parts of Bike Affected By Rain Water

Plastic Parts

Plastic parts are mostly undamaged by rain but long exposure discolours the plastic. The plastic parts should be dried up and joints cleaned with a brush. Do not apply and coating on the plastic parts.

Metal Parts

Metal Parts on the bike are painted, chrome plated or raw metal. Water effect all three. While painted parts and chrome plated parts can be towel dried, the raw metal of chains, gears and pedals need thorough cleaning to get rid of mud.can

Frame

Frame is always painted with high quality paint. However the weather plays with paint and the paint may loose lustre, become pale and start peeling off from edges. Ideally the frame should be quickly be towel dried or dried with warm air jet. A hair dryer always comes in handy.

Wheels

Wheel in complete has a hub, spokes, rim, tyres and tubes. Drying the rim and spokes with a towel, cleaning and drying hub using a brush and towel and at the end cleaning tyres is good maintenance.

Chain and Gears

These need maximum attention. Not only is a chain and gear exposed to elements, they are parts that undergo maximum friction and hence so much more damage. The cleaning needs to be done very deliberately. Clean with spray or detergent water and brush off the accumulated mud from joints and crevices.

Seat

Unless a foam padding is used, a quick towel dry is enough.

Safety Lights

Towel dry or dry it with warm air. Be particular of the charging port and use an earbud to soak water. Ideally leave it in the sun or warm area to dry before putting it up on charge.

Brake Cables

Clean and lubricate the point where the cable enters the sheath.

Brake Shoes/Discs

Clean with dry towel the brake shoe and the discs with fresh dry towel. Ensure no towel is used which has trace of lubricant on it.

Hub of Wheels, Pedal Bearing and Pedal Axle

Clean with dry towel, brush and pay particular attention to small ports for lubricants.

Tips To Maintain Bike After A Ride in Rain

Once you have dried yourself, changed in comfortable clothes, dried your hair and feel comfortabe, it is now the time to give the bicycle the same treatment you gave yourself. Here are the tips to look after the bike after a ride in rains.

Keep Tool box and Maintenance Towels Handy
Use a garden hose and direct the jet from top to down covering complete bicycle.
Pay attention to the parts facing surface, most mud and grime accumulater there.
Lift and lightly bang the cycle on surface outside for water to fall off.
If you have a bike cleaner spray (not mandatory) spray it liberally.
Dry the cycle (except chain and gears) starting from the soft to hard areas, e.g. frame first and rim and tyres last.
With a separate towel wrapped over a screwdriver, clean every crevice. Clean all joints, gears, chain, sprockets, pedals and hubs.
Most time must be spent on cleaning chain. Grime damages the chain most.
Change towel frequently. Wrap towel around rounded parts and with a ‘to and fro’ motion clean all such surfaces.
Once you are satisfied with thorough cleaning and drying up the bike, leave it in area with free air. Let last drying take place

Lubricating The Bike After Rain

#1 Unless required, leave the bike to dry naturally for 24 hours. Lightly lubricate all the points to include brake cable. Ensure that the lubricant in not applied on brake shoes and discs.

#2 Lubricate the chain just before the next ride.

How Can The Bike Get Soaked In Rain Water?

When Parked in Open Throughout The Year.
Parked in Covered Space But Exposed to Rain When Taken Out.
Semi-Open Parking Exposing Bike to Rain Water.
Soaked in Rain Water During Outdoor Cycling

Parking The Bike to Save From Rain Water

Biggest enemy of a bike is ‘dampness’. Small covered areas are likely to retain dampness for long. Closed damp enclosures are even more damaging to bikes. Parking bikes under sheds, under open with just a small roof saves bikes from water but exposed to elements. Tropical and dusty areas when coupled with rain water or dampness cause more damage to a bike than we think.

Ideal parking for a bike is covered room or garage hung on the wall. Anything lower than this is compromise with a given situation.

FAQs

Will Your Bike Rust If You Ride It In The Rain?

Rust is a function of prolonged exposure of metal to to damp/wet conditions. Why bike? Any metal if exposed for long will rust. Keeping the bike dry and lubricated will not rust it. This has to be ensured every time it gets wet.

Will my bike rust if I leave it outside covered?

One or two days exposure to rain will not affect the bike if it is thoroughly dried and lubricated after a day or two. More than this will certainly commence the deterioration.

Do bike covers prevent rust?

They can only if the design permits free flow of air. Trapping of air will result in dampness creating adverse conditions inside the cover.