Bicycles Asked by bicyclops on May 26, 2021
I have to leave my bike outside at work for 8-10 hours at a time.
If it’s -3°C or -6°C, is there anything special I need to do to ensure it will still ride when I’m ready to go home? i.e., will it freeze up?
Also, I can bring it inside at home but I read somewhere that the constant defrosting/refrosting could be worse than just leaving it out in the cold 24/7. Is this true?
Frequently lubing your components (especially your chain) is crucial in cold weather. Lube (which won't freeze) pushes out water (which does). Besides the protection against freezing, it also will help extend the life of your components even in the face of sand, salt, and gravel debris from cities deicing the roads. Fenders with mud flaps are useful as well, as they will protect your drivetrain from slush. Basically, anything you can do to keep the bike's componentry dry is crucial.
To this end, I would bring the bike inside overnight every day in order to warm it up. This lets water drip off of it, and you can wipe off any that's left with a pile of used rags before you take it on the road each day.
The temperature flux might cause wear on the components, but I suspect the amount pales in comparison to the damage done by freezing (ice expands, putting pressure where it shouldn't go), salt (which corrodes steel), and sand (which prematurely wears components due to grinding).
Correct answer by Stephen Touset on May 26, 2021
My bike was outside all of ten hrs, and when I got on it I couldn't go any where!. My chain was so cold it was just sliding around the cassette. I had to walk home from work. So when I eventually arrived home I poured hot water over the chain and cassette. It done the trick, but it happened again. Its a pain!
Answered by Pete carson on May 26, 2021
Whether it will freeze is dependent on the weather conditions.
Theoretically, enough freezing rain could coat your entire bike, including your drivetrain, with a frozen layer. I have driven in a car in freezing rain and the car did receive a frozen coat several millimeters thick. All of the parking ultrasound sensors were "permanently on" so they told they touched an obstacle, due to the frozen layer. It required a parking in a warm environment to melt the frozen layer.
Other than that, it is unlikely your bike would freeze. A long time ago, I worked at a place where parking places were scarce. So I parked a kilometer away and rode the rest of the distance with a beater bike. The beater bike was always stored outdoors 24 hours a day during the winter at similar temperatures than what you describe. No damage from outdoors storage. It worked perfectly fine. And yes, it was a derailleur bike.
Answered by juhist on May 26, 2021
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