VegasJen

I have a couple bikes I keep with family in Florida when I come out to visit, which means they only get ridden two or three weeks a year.

I just got out here yesterday and the Cervelo looks pretty good but I'm already seeing small specks of surface rust on the derailleurs and a good coating of rust on the caliper springs. I cleaned up and lubed the chain, and it looks pretty good. The other bike, an early 2000s Trek Lexa, though has quite a bit more rust on the chain, cassette and other exposed metal.

So what can I do to slow down or prevent rust in between these visits?

Iride01 

Maybe just lube all the exposed metal parts liberally and not wipe it off. Or spray with a rust/corrosion inhibitor after the last use. CRC use to make a good one. But I've not had to use it in many years.

Yan 

Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Rust Inhibitor Clear Spray (6-Pack) from Home Depot.

For existing rust, dip overnight in dilute solution of oxalic acid crystals dissolved in water. Available for purchase plenty of places. I got mine from a taxidermy supply website. I've gotten less picky about bike appearance and wouldn't bother these days unless it's really dire rust. Cool to watch the chemistry though.

VegasJen

I'll look into the suggestions. As for the looks, the Cervelo is a damn nice bike. I'm not going to let it look like crap because of some humidity, so long as there's something I can do about it.

Something that I really appreciate about living in the desert.

calamarichris

Honda Spray Cleaner Polish. It's like furniture polish for motorcycles. Stuff is magic.
And if you have to leave your bike in storage, just spray on a layer, and you can wipe it off when you return.
I've got bikes that are nearly 40 years old, but they still look showroom-new.
Also keep them indoors if you can.

VegasJen

I will definitely check out that product. Only available through Honda dealers? And yes, the bikes are stored in a garage.

bboy314

Any chance the property has a pool, with chlorine being stored in the garage?

pdlamb

You'll need to get the rust spots off, they'll seed rust under any coating.

You might try Boeshield T-9 spray. It's a chain lube, it's a corrosion preventative for airplanes, but it doesn't prevent Alzheimer's, unfortunately.

WaveyGravey

Knowing that the air is humid in Florida, but are the bikes kept under cover and out of the rain?

terrymorse 

There's still the problem with condensation at night. Unless it's in a space that never gets below the dew point, it's going to get wet at night.

CrimsonEclipse

The above suggestion are all good to minimize corrosion on your bikes.

That said, you have to accept that the bikes and components will corrode out long before you ware out the components since they are low utilization bikes.

It's something you just have to accept in the tropics.

VegasJen

Zero chance of that.
<sigh>
This is one reason I prefer living in the desert. Also, I don't do well in the humidity. I would much rather deal with a dry 115° than a humid 90°. The humidity sucks my will to live.

pdlamb

So obviously you need to move there, then you won't care if the bike rusts.

wheelreason

Store in a well ventilated conditioned space, and do not cover with a plastic or impermiable cover. Agree with overlubing parts, and a good going over when you are about to use. Humid, salty air, and sitting around unused is like the rust trifecta, so you will get a bit of rust no matter what most likely, but that will be cosmetic. Goes without saying that stainless cables and fasteners is a good idea, you will know soon enough if you have some that aren't.

rosefarts

I wonder if a bike would fit into an XL sized vacuum seal bag. Like the ones for large comforters.

It might work.

VegasJen

The family has been trying to convince me similarly.
Hmmm, 🤔

Pratt

Something like this would be my approach as well. I would also stuff some rust preventive paper in there. Midway USA sells the paper.

pdlamb

If I were trying that, I'd put a can of dessicant inside the bag. Sealing the bike into a moisture-saturated bag wouldn't be much help.

rosefarts

The assumption is that the bag is also vaccumed flat. Even if there is a tiny bit of moisture in there, in the absence of oxygen, it shouldn’t rust.

A few bags of silica gel certainly wouldn’t hurt in addition to the vacuum.

Calsun

Using bike covers will help a good deal. Clear lacquer spray will fix oxidation in the future and for hard to reach areas I use clear fingernail polish. I live 5 miles from the ocean and so have a lot more salt in the morning fog and so keep items indoors, including the small shed I put together to hold 5 of our 7 bikes.

Small plastic shed large enough for two bikes can be purchased that are not terribly expensive (check Home Depot or Lowe's). My shed was larger and cost $1,300 with sales tax and took a full day to assemble.

TomM

Living in Florida I've never had an issue with rust on bikes.