Whenever we get a new, shiny bike, we all want to know exactly how we should take care of it and if there’s anything which we should avoid doing, like getting it wet.
If you’ve recently got a new road bike, chances are it costs a decent chunk of money, and that might leave you asking the question can my road bike get wet?
Can I ride it in wet weather, or can I store it outside with the possibility of it raining?
Road bikes are designed to get wet because they are predominantly cycled outdoors. Water will get onto your bike from rain, surface water and other water sources but will not damage it. You can limit how wet your bike gets by using mudguards and fully protecting your chain and gears with waterproof grease, oils and lubricants.
It’s not a silly question because bikes are made of metal, and we all know that metal corrodes easily and then rusts and gets ruined.
However, bikes are regularly cycled in the rain, and so you might be a bit unclear about whether it’s okay to get your bike wet or not.
And the answer is yes, they can get wet, and it won’t damage your bike. In fact, road bikes are designed to get wet.
The components of the bikes are oiled and lubricated for that reason.
When you are cycling your bike, you naturally dry the bike because of the air’s movement around you. As you cycle faster, you create more wind resistance, and this drys the bike and removes the water.
Furthermore, if you ride into the wind again, it drys the bike, similar to a hand drier.
Therefore, if your bike does get wet and you continue cycling, it will dry as you travel along your route.
The only area where water is likely to collect and could become a problem is inside the frames.
Each section of the frame is labelled as;
- Top Tube
- Head Tube
- Down Tube
- Seat Tube
The most probable spot where water would accumulate are in the seat and head tube because water can enter into these areas if the seat and handlebars are not lubricated and sealed correctly.
But don’t worry, once you return home from your bike ride, you can easily remove, dry and re-lubricant these parts.
Your road bike can get wet, but it shouldn’t stay wet for extended periods of time. To keep it in top condition, wipe it down to remove dirt and water after any damp or muddy rides, and keep it in a sheltered spot, away from the rain and sun.
A tarpaulin will be enough to shield the bike if you haven’t got anywhere better to keep it.
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How Long Before My Road Bike Rusts And Corrodes When Wet?
The four most common types of material used in a road bikes construction are Carbon Fibre, Steel, Aluminium and Titanium.
However, most bikes are made up of a mixture of these materials as the frame, groupset, and wheel might all be different metals.
Nonetheless, all metals begin to rust and corrode if they are left untreated and open to water and oxygen.
But how long can you leave your bike wet before the water and oxygen start to eat away at your bike?
- Carbon Fibre – the best quality of carbon fibre is that it doesn’t rust, and it can take years for it to break down through corrosion. But carbon fibre is an expensive material and will be the most costly type of road bike. Therefore, protecting the bike is critical if you want to keep its value and strength. Beware of the sun because the sun breaks down carbon fibre faster than water, thus store it out of direct sunlight.
- Steel – unfortunately, steel is the most sensitive to water, and the rust and corrosion process can begin within 5 days. If you stored a steel bike outside and uncovered, the bike will be impacted by the weather very quickly. If your bike is mainly steel, you must dry and store it away after every ride.
- Aluminium – the construction of this material is similar to carbon fibre, whereby it doesn’t rust. However, it does begin to deteriorate if it’s not taken care of. The corrosion process can take many years to break down aluminium, but it loses its strength and becomes weak and prone to break if its neglected.
- Titanium – if you were to untread and ignore water on a titanium road bike, you can expect to see rusts and corrosion within 70 days. The deterioration process is slower than steel, but as severe once the corrosion happens. Similar to steel, a titanium bike must be dried and stored away from outside conditions.
What To Do If Your Road Bike Gets Wet
Don’t panic if your bike does get wet or even if it gets left outside.
Bring it into a dry environment, and wipe it down with a towel or clean, dry cloth.
Give it plenty of time to dry thoroughly, and then invest an hour or two into re-greasing the seals. Remember to dry and oil the chain as well; it’s probably easiest to let it air dry, but you can use a cloth to speed up the process and get rid of any debris which could cause it to stick.
Even if your bike starts showing signs of rust, you can save it; remove the rust as soon as possible with a ball of aluminium foil to stop it from rusting the metal further, and try not to leave the bike out again.
How To Protect Your Bike From Becoming Wet
There isn’t much you can do to prevent your bike from getting wet aside from not cycling in wet conditions.
But most of us want to ride our bikes in all conditions, so here are a few tips to keep your bike protected from the wet weather and water.
1. Buy mudguards – most of the water that enters your bikes frames will come from the spray created from your wheels. A front and rear mudguard will significantly reduce the amount of water rising towards the bike. Mudguards are inexpensive and will assist in decreasing the quantity of water on the frame.
2. Wash and Dry – following every ride, especially during wetter days, it’s important to wash and dry your bike before storing it away. Water and a good bike cleaning kit will keep your bike protected and looking new. Dry the bike naturally by leaving it outside or use a small hand towel. Don’t airdry with warm or hot air because this will damage the bike.
3. Oil and Lubricant – all moving and non-moving parts require oil, grease and lubricant after each wash and before storing. All moving parts need lubrication, or the stress and strain can lead to breakage. A small amount is all you need because over applying your components with oils can impact their effectiveness.
How Long Can You Leave A Road Bike Outside In The Wet?
Even with the best intentions, the chances are that you will leave your bike out from time to time, often unintentionally. You might think you’ll put it away later and then get distracted or find you haven’t got time.
A road bike shouldn’t really suffer from being left out for a couple of days, even if it rains.
Likewise, if you ride your bike through puddles and splash up the frame, it should still be fine. However, if you leave your bike out in the long term, it will start to suffer.
Therefore, a day or two maximum before you should wash, dry and lubricant your bike, then store it away.
There’s nothing wrong with riding the bike before washing. Once your return home, then give it a good clean and store away.
You will also see sun damage stripping the colour off the bike if you live in a hot country, which will damage the rubber on your tyres.
This makes the bike look old, weakening the strength, and de-values the price.
So, it isn’t just water you need to watch out for, all elements impact the condition of your bike.
Ideally, you shouldn’t leave your bike out at all, but a bike that has been sitting outside for a week or more – especially in wet or humid conditions – is likely to start showing signs of damage.
Newer bikes and high-end ones will hold up better, but the chain may begin to rust, and you might see the rubber on your tyres start to break down.
