TooFatForLycra

So there is one Bike Rack outside of my job and there is absolutely no protection from the Elements. The Bike will Sit in the Sun in very humid weather for 6 hours, before the sun goes down. Then another 2.5 hours until I'm able to leave work.

I'm worried this will cause a lot of damage to the bike. I mainly use it for exercise, but I'd love to be able to commute to work most days.

Andy_K 

I leave my bike out every day like that, though we generally don't have significant humidity. I do leave it out like that in the rain. It's less than ideal, but if you stay on top of regular maintenance it'll be OK.

Abe_Froman

Rule of thumb - if it's not an expensive enough bike that you're paranoid about it getting stolen, don't sweat the sun and rain. Just make sure you keep things lubed up and it will be fine.

Viich

Many people here bike in all weathers - I leave bikes locked to the fence on the snowbank because the bike rack was gone (under the snow), snow, sleet, freezing fog...... pretty much anything. Bikes are tough. Generally the tougher environment you put it through, the more maintenance you'll need though.

Gresp15C

Sunlight definitely deteriorates organic materials. I have a bike that is more faded on one side than the other due to probably being stored outside in one orientation for a long time. Black materials are less susceptible to damage because the pigments block most of the sunlight. But you might find yourself replacing consumable items such as tires and brake shoes more often.

pdlamb

I did exactly that for a couple-three years when my job moved to a couple locations where I couldn't bring it inside. Saddle cover for my Brooks and extra attention to lube -- chain, cables, brakes, stem. Same bikes are now enjoying the bike shelter I conned management into buying.

chas58

I've done it for long term. It's really hard on the tires (or really anything with rubber or plastic). Direct UV from sunlight causes premature ageing. I had my office move the bike rack under an awning to keep it out of the sun.

Phil_gretz

XPORT bike cover from Performance Bike. A fitted tarp with Velcro and drawstring that covers all but the bottom 1/3 of your wheels. Keeps sun (mostly) and rain (somewhat) from your bike, protecting rubber and leather from unwanted UV. Replace every 3 years or so. I have one, and my co-worker, another commuter, is on his 2nd. They're cheap, ford for easy carry in a pannier, and durable enough. You're welcome.

RubeRad

I heard good advice here at BF once; bicycles are OUTDOOR SPORTING EQUIPMENT. They can handle it. However, the sun will probably eventually eat your rubber/plastic bits (seat, grips/bartape, tires).

Warning: I bought a super-cheap bike cover off eBay, and it shredded on 1st use. It was like saran wrap. Not even saran wrap, because that stuff is so strong I can never tear it off the roll. More like damp toilet paper.

Gresp15C

I agree. A bike is made to be used. If I had no choice but to park outdoors, I wouldn't avoid riding a good bike. But I'd consider color (black tends to be less susceptible) and budget for replacing the consumable parts sooner.

Similar situation with musical instruments. People take priceless high-end instruments to raucous bar gigs.

RubeRad

The fabric or vinyl or whatever covers the seat will have the hardest time. I recommend buying a cheap stretchy seat cover as a sacrificial sun barrier. This kind of thing (although black to attract less attention)

Gresp15C

I suppose another option is just a colored plastic bag over the seat when it's parked.

locolobo13 

As a kid in the 60s we leaned our bikes against a tree in the front yard. Somewhere in the 70s bike thieves started prowling the neighborhood. So we got cheap cables and locked them to the trees.

Nowadays, my bike is parked in the laundry room at home and a utility room at work. Although if my boss had said no to the utility room there is bicycle parking in the parking garage.

RubeRad

I keep a few plastic grocery bags in my kittier, so if an unexpected rain shower comes up, I can wrap my leather seat.

Gresp15C

Thanks for the reminder! I just put a leather seat on my "fun" bike, but forgot about adding bags to my kit. Of course if I was caught in a rainstorm while riding, I wouldn't worry about it.

RubeRad

In other words, you are looking for some funbags. Aren't we all...

Stormsedge

I've left my MTB outside less than 200yds from the ocean for two years out of necessity. Kept it lubed and covered the leather seat with a loosely wrapped plastic shopping bag. None the worse for wear.

ThermionicScott 

What I do is to get a 1 or 2 gallon Ziploc bag (depending on the saddle), roll it up, fold it once and then stuff that into the midpoint of the saddle. It stays put and I always know where to find it.

wphamilton

A cheap waterproof saddle solved that problem, and everything else is not worth worrying about. Lubricate things a little more often, that's about it.

Gaelen

I only have one bike and it's used for everything, I'm car free. One side is nearly completely white from exactly what the op mentions, originally it's early 90's safety (highliter) green. I haven't noticed anything that would ruin it. As has been mentioned, you should be fine as frog hair if you don't mind keeping up with maintenance.

CrankyOne

Probably 80 percent of bikes in The Netherlands (and Denmark, Sweden, Germany, ...) never see the inside of anything. They spend their entire lives outside in the sun, wind, rain, snow, hail, and dust. And they keep on working year after year after year.

tengtengvn

Most bikes I saw in the Netherlands look pretty beat up & in very bad conditions. In Germany, they look a bit better.

CrankyOne

Dutch use their bikes daily for 70 years, Germans only 60 and not on Sundays. :-)

Some folks buy cheap and often, others buy higher quality less often. All Dutch will ride them until they fall apart, get stolen, or are thrown in a canal after too many drinks.

Our neighbors on each side of us are great examples, one bought cheap bikes from Hema and hope they'll last 10 years (though will ride it for at least one extra year) while the others have a Gazelle and Azor that cost two or three times as much but they expect will last their lifetime. A bike from Hema will get a lot of rust and sound squeaky but still be serviceable. The Azor will likely not see rust for 30 years and even then only a tiny bit. EXCEPT..., that he applied fake rust to a bunch of the frame joints to make it look rusted so it's less likely to be stolen.

acidfast7

agree ... a bike is simply a disposable tool just like everything else.

I lock mine in a ramshackle shed at night just because I don't want to stare at it through my front bay window.

RunForTheHills

You don't really believe that do you? I have had one of my bikes for over 35 years and still love riding it. Take care of your tools and they will last you a lifetime.