Rust/Sand-Management Suggestion Drop
 

I recently moved about a block away from the beach here in SF. At first I kept my bike in the carport downstairs, but within a month the cassette was downright sandy and the bare metal components were visibly rusting more than it had the entire 8 previous months I'd had it thanks to the almost constant Pacific breeze.

I've since started lugging it up the stairs and keeping it in my apartment, but of course there's no way to keep it out of the salty/sandy wind when I'm out riding. In fact, one of my shifter cables got so rusty it stopped holding tension on the shifter. The bike's currently at Swell Bicycles up the street getting cleaned, tuned, new cables, etc., but I thought this might be a cool place for people to drop their suggestions for keeping their bikes rust-free & well-lubricated in tough conditions.

Lube more often? Wrap exposed cables? Drop 'em below!

If it's going to be an issue, then start thinking of your bike as a consumable. Buy them at prices you can afford to replace often. Save your really good bike for when you go off somewhere not so unfriendly.

But yes, if you can DIY the disassembly, cleaning and lubing of stuff on the bike, then do that more often. Or again, if it's a cheap enough bike for your pocketbook, just trash it and get another.

stainless cables, keep them well greased. You might see surface rust on parts, but as long as the moving parts are well lubed, they should be fine. Commit to washing more frequently to remove accumulated salt from offshore breezes, dry off after washing, and lube, lube, lube

Regularly wipe the bike down with Bikeforums favorite spray lubri-can't WD-40. Report back if the bike suffers major damage from the devil of spray lubri-can'ts.

Maybe another bike owner from SF could offer suggestions as to how he copes with the problem.
Boeshield, IIRC, was developed specifically to prevent corrosion of bare metal.

I am hoping someone else in the Outer Sunset sees this. & thanks for that, I'll check those out.

WD-40 always worked for me, just ask my ex.

My building does have a hose out front. Could I just spray it down whenever I get back from riding or would that wash the lube off?

I'd have to learn more about bikes to feel confident disassembling but I'd hate to think of a perfectly good machine going to waste like that...especially something that's both well-made and old. I see plenty of people around with much prettier bikes than mine so it can't be impossible.

Wow, you have a 1977 Motobecane Super Mirage. Very cool! Try asking this question in the Classic & Vintage forum (or perhaps the mods can move this thread there). The question of protecting vintage steel bikes from rust and sand in a coastal environment is a good one.

fenders for the sand.

Well remember that virtually everything on the bike that wears out is replaceable. And a lot of it really doesn't cost that much if you know how to DIY. For cleaning and lubing wheel bearings and things I'd think a LBS wouldn't be expensive on that. But I do my own so I've never ask. But when I do have stuff done by my LBS's, they usually do it for much less than I would have charged to do the same for another.

Just keep it as clean as you can. Clean and lube your chain after every three or four rides. It's not hard. You don't even need to remove it. Just wipe it off with a cloth rag that is damp with a cheap light lube or mineral spirits. Then lube it with one of the bike chain lubes that say they are "dry lubes" or ones that leave less gunk. If you don't wait till the cogs and chain are completely gunked up, then they are easier and take less time to clean.

Your only downfall in all of this is if your bike is old enough, you will have more and more trouble as the years go by finding replacement parts. And it might get to the point where a worn component you can't find will force you to upgrade at more cost several other components that have plenty of life.

So two or more bikes, one for a daily beater and one to show off will maybe do better.

I too live on the coast and face this problem. I hose the bike off after every ride, I grease my cables (pull them and lube them), I use wax on the chain because it doesn't wash off or grab sand as easy as most lubes, I use silicon spray w/teflon on the shifters and DR;s, definitely wax the exposed parts of all cables, and learn to live with a little rust on some of the bolts holding everything together. Good luck and don't forget to polish the frame on a regular basis.

If you use Boeshield, it won't wash off by simply rising with water. I used Boeshield on my motorcycle this Winter, and hosed it down after riding to get the salt off before putting it in the garage. You will have to reapply the Boeshield from time to time, but not after each time you rinse it off. WD-40 won't be the same, you will have to reapply it each time, which really isn't a bad thing. It was designed to displace moisture. Boeshield will offer greater protection though.

I'd use Boeshield if it weren't so damned expensive.

It lasts a long time. I bought two 12 oz cans last year, since I was using it on a motorcycle with a side car. I barely used much from the fist can, and I used it all Winter, reapplying from time to time. So now I probably have one full can, and 3/4 can left. On a bicycle one can would probably last for years.

Much appreciated. It's my first real bike but people have led me to believe it's somewhat unique. Maybe it's just the black paint & red cables people like. I'll include a pic below...

And okay, I will do that. Thanks!

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9685214be6.jpg

Well I grew up working on cars so I COULD DIY my bike if I wanted to. I do have dry lube I use periodically but will be doing it more often now. You'll have to tell me what an LBS is lol.

And they did mention my bottom bracket is worn out. Something about it being old and needing adjustment as opposed to modern ones that don't need adjustment. Old stuff breaks, who'da thunk.

Any specific kind of wax? Or would, say, surf wax work :lol:?

LBS = Local Bike Shop

LHBS = Local Home Brew Shop

My neighbors think I'm strange because I ride my bikes rain or shine. I have a fair weather bike and a foul weather bike. Recently they have started donating me candle stubs when they learned that I melt wax for my chains. Some are scented, all have been colored. I go with the flow. For chain lube wax is wax. But yeah, if I had to buy wax I would definitely use surf waxhttps://www.ramforum.com/styles/core...foro/clear.png! https://www.ramforum.com/styles/core...foro/clear.pnghttps://www.ramforum.com/styles/core...foro/clear.pnghttps://www.ramforum.com/styles/core...foro/clear.pnghttps://www.ramforum.com/styles/defa.../Rock%20on.gif

No suggestions, sorry. But when we lived in The Richmond, we noticed that there is a pronounced "Rust Belt" in the last 5 blocks before the Great Highway. Cars looked like they came from upstate New York, they had so much rust.