Hello, I’ve been commuting on my steel road bike for two years now and find the salt has been rusting my frame a bit (obviously). I just re painted it but was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to keep it going for a long time. I like this bike a lot and wish to ride it very long term because I do not like modern road bikes and do not wish to buy one ever. How long has your steel road bike frame lasted? How do you keep it going?
Years ago, I tried to spray WD40 or something inside my steel frame wherever I can.
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Thanks! How well did that work in your experience, is that bike still in use for winter riding?
When all I had for commuting was a steel frame, I used to stop riding it in the winter because of this exact concern. Winter is hard enough on a drivetrain around here, I don’t want it killing the frame, especially on a bike I loved.
Honestly, I’d try to find an aluminum beater. That’s what I ride all winter on the road. Studded tires, fenders, lights, the works.
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Bike shops use this when rustproofing frames as do car rustproofers.
Bonus, its made from sheep lanolin so your ride will be baaaad ass.
Use a small hose to spray it into the various frost holes on your frame, remove fork and bb to really get it in there.
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Also, my steel bike frame lasted twenty plus years, drivetrain not so much. Its not a ford pinto, its a bicycle, worst thing that can happen is your bb seizes into the frame and you can’t replace it when it needs it.
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Excellent, I’ve heard good things about this elsewhere as well, I’ll give it a go!
You want to leave the frame sit in various positions over a couple of days so it soaks in and covers every inch of the inside of the frame. upside down, on each side etc. Mechanics would usually let it sit for 3 days or so before reassembly, rotating it to various angles in the bike stand.
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Aluminum is appealing for its rust resistance but I worry about its lifespan in terms of breaking/stress.
I’ve seen aluminum frames deteriorate due to oxidization. Its like they were made of sand.
Yeah, that’s why I try to ride beaters in the winter, that I haven’t fallen in love with and don’t care if they eventually die. Going on six years with the current one, many years left in it. Which reminds me, I need to bleed its brakes as it’s almost time to start riding it again.
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That fluid film is easy to find too… canadian tire princess auto and sometimes walmart has it
I usually spray rust check inside the tubes and use turtle wax on the paint. No issues so far coming up on 3 years of commuting and locking up outside everyday all year
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