All bicycle riders are extra worried about their beloved bikes during winter. Because it becomes a bit difficult to keep the cycle anywhere. During the winter, most riders are concerned about bike storage, and then the question comes to their mind: can I leave my bike outside in the winter? And I can tell you this answer from a lot of research and personal experience.
Yes, you can go on your bike out in the winter, but it’s not recommended as winter and cold weather can be harsh on your bikes, causing too much rust. Also, extra cold weather can damage the bike tyres and many other losses. As I have many personal experiences with these issues. That’s why today I will tell you much more unknown information about the issues of leaving the bicycle in winter. So let’s start our journey.
Can You Leave Your Bike Outside In The Winter?
Yes, dear, you can leave your bike outside in the winter, but it is not suggested. There are some reasons behind this-
- Generally, bikes are made of metal and they will rust if you leave them out in the rain or snow.
- Also, the tires will get hard and brittle in the cold winter weather. Because of this many times, the tyres are likely to be flat, as a result of which riding will become very difficult.
- Since most parts of a bicycle are made of metal, various parts can get damaged when you leave them outside during winter.
If you live in an area with mild winters, you can leave your bike outside without much worry.
- However, if you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s best to store your bike indoors to prevent damage from the extreme cold and salt.
- But even after that if you really want to keep out of your bike then you must follow some way.
- I can say from my personal experience that the best way to leave your bike outside in the winter depends on the severity of the weather in your area.
Furthermore, you need to take some safeguards to make sure that your bike doesn’t get damaged.
- At the very first point, you should clean and lubricate your bike before you put it away for the winter. This will help protect it from rust and corrosion.
- Then you should cover your bike with a tarp or a bike cover to keep it dry.
- After that, you should leave your bike in a place where it won’t be exposed to extremely cold winter weather.
Is It Really Bad To Leave Your Bicycle Outside In The Winter?
Yes, leaving a bike outside in the winter can be bad for it because the cold can damage the bike tires, bike frame to crack, chain to rust, inner tube, and other bike components. It can also defect your bike’s paint and finish.
Also, the cold weather in winter can seriously damage your bike’s brakes and gears. Bicycle frames and handlebars are constantly brittle due to the cold which can be a reason to break different parts of your bike.
Advantages Of Leaving Your Bike Outside In The Winter
There are a few advantages to leaving your bike outside in the winter. At this point in the article, I am going to tell you about those things.
1. You Can Get a Good Cleaning Process
When you leave your bike outside during the winter, the bike will be constantly exposed to snow and rain. As a result, the bike will get a good cleaning in snow and rainwater very easily.
2. Able to See Your Bike
When you leave your bike inside, you may not be able to see it as well. But when it is outside in your sight view, you will be able to keep an eye on it and make sure it is safe. And your favorite bicycle will never escape your eyes when you keep it outside during the winter. Even if it’s the beautiful winter outdoors, you look outside and you can see your bike.
3. Prevent Rust And Corrosion
The most common advantage is that it will keep the snow and ice off of your bike, which can help to prevent rust and corrosion. In general, if you want to remove rust and corrosion, you need to spend a lot of time and energy.
But this task will be made easier by leaving your bike outside in the winter. But keep one thing in mind, definitely don’t keep the bike wet for too long.
4. Help To Get Some Exercise
Exercise is rarely done during winter. Because in this cold weather everyone gets a bit cozy and prefers to stay indoors.
- If you keep your bicycle outside during this time, you will have some advantages in terms of exercise.
- If you have to go outside to get your bike, you will get some exercise. This is a good thing, especially when you don’t get to ride your bike as often as you would like.
5. Kill Any Bacteria
- Leaving your bike outside in the winter can actually help it last longer.
- Traveling to different places is done by bicycle and the roads mean the movement of different types of bacteria.
And you must know that extra cold is very helpful in killing various types of bacteria. So that the cold weather can help to kill any bacteria that may be present on the bike.
6. More Likely to Ride Your Bike & Less Likely to Forget
If you leave your bike outside, you will be more likely to ride it. This is because you will see it every time you go outside and it will remind you to ride it. And you can get a big chance to ride your bike in the snow and ice, which can be a lot of fun for you.
Disadvantages Of Leaving Your Bike Outside In The Winter
Yeah, you can find so many disadvantages too to living on your bike outside in the winter. Now I am going to tell you about those things in detail.
1. Bike Can Get Stolen More Easily
Theft is more common in the winter. There are a few reasons bikes can get stolen more easily in the winter. One is that people are less likely to ride their bikes when it’s cold outside, so thieves have more opportunities to steal them.
Bicycles are easily stolen if they are often left outside. And winter is a popular time for bike theft, so leaving it outside can be risky. So if you live in an area where bike theft is common, it’s best to keep your bike inside during the winter.
2. More Chances To Rust
The most common disadvantage is that your bike will have more chances of rusting when you leave it outside in the winter. Rust can form on any metal surface, but it’s more likely to form on a bike that’s left outside.
You may already know that most parts of a bicycle are made of metal which is prone to rust very easily. And also know that metals rust when exposed to water. If the bike is kept outside during winter then the number of rust increases. Because outside snow and rainwater increase the rust of the bicycle.
3. Get Damaged Easily
Your bike may be damaged by the elements if it is left outside in the winter. Due to excessive cold, various parts of the bicycle get damaged.
Many parts of a bicycle become very brittle when cold. Due to this the necessary parts like handlebars, tires, and brakes of the bicycle get damaged very quickly.
4. Takes A Lot Of Time To Clean
The weather is different during the winter season with extra snow, rain, and humid conditions outside. Due to this, the bicycle gets dirty very quickly if kept outside. And which costs you a lot of time to clean up later.
5. Never Leave A Painted Bicycle Outside
Never leave your bicycle outside if it is painted.
- If painted bicycles are left outside during the winter there is a chance that the paint will completely peel off.
- If it rains or snows, your bike will get wetter in a very short time.
Although the paints are waterproof, they still have an adverse effect in such weather conditions.
6. Bike Can Get Frozen
Excessive cold can cause the bicycle to freeze and stick to the ground which is very harmful to the bicycle. That is why the bicycle should not be left outside in winter.
7 Storing Tips & Process Of A Bicycle In Winter Or Snow
The proper way to keep your bike in good shape is to store it well. If you want to keep your bike in winter, you can do the following things. And the following tips and processes can help you keep your bike in good shape in winter.
- First, choose a dry location to keep your bike. The perfect way to store your bike during the winter is to keep it in a cool and dry place. If you have the space, you can store it in a garage or shed.
- When you don’t have the space, you can store your bicycle in your house, but make sure to keep it away from any type of heat source.
- If you have to store your bike outdoors, cover it with a tarp or other waterproof protective cover. You should store your bike away from direct sunlight. Also, make sure that you can protect it from bad weather. And your bike is not exposed to heavy rain or snow.
- Before storing your bike in winter, make sure to clean it thoroughly. Once your bike is clean, dry it off completely. This will help prevent different types of rust and corrosion.
- Inflate your bike tires to their recommended pressure. When your tires are not inflated, they can become flat over time. Therefore, you should perfectly check the pressure of your tires before you store your bike.
- Lubricate your bike chain and all the different moving parts. You can apply a light coat of lubricant to all the moving parts to get a good output. If your chain is not lubricated, it can become rusty over time. And you should use a good quality chain oil to lubricate your bike chain.
- If possible, elevate it off the ground to prevent moisture from seeping in and also prevent rusting.
Final Words
Winter means a different kind of cool weather, this time cycling fun is different. But in the winter your favorite bike needs more care, so it should not be left outside at all. Therefore, proper storage will keep your bike looking brand new through the winter.
