CF7

Hi All,

I just bought a Giant Roam 2 as a way to get some exercise and get back on something with a handlebar and two wheels. I originally planned on keeping the bike on a stand in my attached garage but I'm second guessing after comments from a rep at local Performance Bike suggesting that bikes should NOT be stored in a garage. This rep rides a high end road bike probably several times more expensive than what I paid for the Roam. While the Roam isn't an "expensive" bike, it does fit my needs for now and I would like to keep it in good shape as I do most other things I work and pay for. Any thoughts on whether I should I shouldn't store the bike in the garage? Located in Tampa, FL.

hockey

If your garage is not air conditioned do not store your bike there. Corrosion from inconsistent humidity levels plus contaminants will result in pitting and rust. Speaking from experience.

CF7

Basically that the humidity here in Florida is tough on the bike components (cables, chain) and anything that moves on the bike.

jon c. 

We keep our good bikes in the house. I have a beater Bianchi on the porch that hasn't show much ill effect. But we keep bikes on the porch at the beach house about half a block from the gulf and they get rusted and pitted quickly.

It depends on your location and the conditions in the garage. If you're not too close to the coast and you're riding the bike regularly, it probably won't be too bad, but if you can keep it in the house it's always preferable.

adamhenry

I live about a mile from the beach. Our humidity is nothing like Florida but my tools in the garage corrode due to the ocean air.

FullGas

if you value your bike, store it indoors.

if it's a cheap beater, then don't worry about it.

Jean_TX

I once lived in Lakeland FL for 17 years and I stored my bikes in the garage. Neither bike suffered any corrosion. The bike store guy is being a tad anal...

CrankyOne

Depends on the bike and quality of materials, paint, and components. Dutch bikes from Workcycles and Azor have a good powder coat paint and stainless components. They can stay outside or in a garage, even in varying humidity, salt, snow, and sun for decades with little to no damage. This even if maintenance is totally neglected. Gazelle, Batavus and some others are a step below but still hold up well. If they are not ridden frequently then an annual oil job on the cables if it has them would be good.

Lessor bikes, if kept clean, maintained, very well oiled and free from dings, should do fairly well too though perhaps not multi-decades. At least so long as they are used fairly frequently. Sitting for weeks or months at a time will lead to problems.

Several people have told me that newer CF bikes should be kept inside though both for the frame and some bits of the components that won't tolerate the salt and humidity as well. I've no direct experience with CF in Florida though since all of our Florida bikes are Workcycles.

fietsbob

lock it up in the garage and lock up any tools in the garage that can be used to defeat the lock you use to lock the bike..

a lot of bikes dissapear from garages left open just for a few minutes.

FullGas

my reasons are totally rational, my garage has a limited degree of security...perhaps yours is more fortress-like.

bikes (~$9K) are stored in one bedroom, dive gear (~$30K) in another.

also prefer climate-control for my toys, extended periods of high heat and humidity aren't good for them. also reduces any potential damage from rodents and insects.

Maelochs

Lakeland is well inland and Tampa is a port city. However, "Tampa" covers a pretty large area, and if you aren't seafront, I'd do it. If you see excessive corrosion, do something else.

FBOATSB

Theft protection being the exception of course, if you have to keep your bike indoors, Then you should ride it indoors. Unless you only ride it very occasionally. It's all about normal periodic maintenance for your bike to last practically forever. What did all those bicycles do before air conditioning?

DrIsotope

New, untapped market: bike humidors.

fietsbob

Or for FLA Dehumidifiers ..

jon c. 

I think the salt air is much more of a factor than humidity. As I said, there's a huge difference between the impact on bikes stored on the porch at our beach place and the bike stored on the porch on our house, which is about 25 miles inland.

OldTryGuy

7/26/1986 my 1981 Paramount and 1983 Paramount took up residence in my garage 1.5 miles from the Gulf of Mexico here in SW FL. Still riding them without issues. Keep my 2013 Propel Advanced SL in the same garage.

John_V 

I also live in Tampa and have two bikes which neither are kept indoors. Since I ride daily, my carbon fiber road bike lives in the van, along with my wife's trike, and is parked in a carport. My aluminum hybrid is kept in our shed under a plastic cover and has been there for the last six years. I seldom ride the hybrid anymore but when I do, I only need to wipe away the cob webs and put air in the tires. Every few months, I'll take the hybrid out of the shed and give it a good cleaning on days that I'm cleaning my road bike. I rode the hybrid for two years after purchasing it and it looks the same today as when it was my main bike. All of my riding buddies keep their road, mountain and hybrid bikes in the garage. No problems.

CF7

Sounds good. Thanks!

bikecrate

I live in Tampa as well and have always stored my bikes in the garage. They are designed to be outdoor equipment so I'm not worried about it.

OldTryGuy

MANY houses in FL do not have attics or basements, the garage is used for storage and thus the cars remain outside. MY WIFE'S car squeezes into our 2 car garage but mine remains OUTSIDE to make room for bikes and stuff.

Jaxjag

Yeah, my bike in Jacksonville is and will remain in the garage. I clean it periodically and put some protectant on it. It gets a lot more salt from my sweat dropping on it than it does in the garage. I would be more concerned with theft than damage from heat and humidity.

SquidPuppet

This is almost funny, if it weren't for the pathetic part getting in the way.

doctor j

My bikes are stored inside for reasons of security and longevity.

SquidPuppet

Yep. I'm slow. I had to read it nine times before I figured out that you were talking about how awesome you are.

SquidPuppet

Funny stuff. I'm not the one posting the monetary value of my possessions.