Bikes and Salt Air

[CindyVA]

I was going to bring my new aluminum frame road bike down to Ocean City Maryland to ride on the weekend.

I will carry the bike inside my car to the beach and store it inside of our condo. The riding will be on the paved road (Coastal Highway) mainly from the Ocean City Inlet to Bethany Beach, DL.

Is there anything that I need to be worried about? Should I clean it off or lube it, etc.

This weekends will be shorter rides (approx. one hour) but we go there just about every weekend in the summer and I hope to ride longer and more frequent rides.

I know storing a bike outside in salt air is corrosive, but is just riding it?

Any thoughts?

Cindy

[Tuckervill]

Do wash it and lube it when you get home!

My hubby took his bike to Florida in October and rode it on the beach paths. Then he put it away for the winter. It was rusted pretty well by the time he looked at it again in the spring! In fact, we went out on the first ride of the year and two spokes broke before we got a mile out.

I didn't look at it before we rode...I guess he didn't either!!

Karen

[Bad JuJu]

I live on a bayshore in northwest Florida, and I store my bike in a workshop so it's fairly well sheltered, but the workshop has no door--just an open doorway. which faces away from the shoreline. The water is brackish--not as salty as in the gulf, but not completely fresh either. All of which is to say that my bike lives in a potentially corrosive environment, but it is as sheltered as I can make it. I've had it for about 1 1/2 years now, and I just yesterday noticed a tiny rust spot on the front derailleur. But the spot surrendered pretty easily to some chrome polish and careful rubbing.

I don't always ride near home, but do at least one 20-mile ride per week on a main road on our peninsula--never more than a 1/4 mile or so from the bayshore.

If you keep your bike clean and well-lubed, you shouldn't have any excessive corrosion.

[OakLeaf]

I wash my bike as soon as I get home from a ride on the beach road, every time. Our preferred ride is a little farther inland, for several reasons (less traffic, less wind, you can go in a loop rather than out-and-back; but also the salt). I had salt air corrode a brand new pair of polished aluminum hubs once, during a 60-mile ride, before I could get back and wash it.

My motorcycle chain and brake disks (which I'm not as diligent about washing as I am the velo ) rust very quickly in a coastal environment.

[withm]

Cindy
I live in Bethany and don't think you'll encounter any undue environmental hazards for your bike. If you encounter sand of course you'll want to walk your bike through those areas but you shouldn't have that on Coastal Hwy unless we have a huge storm this week, and nothing is in the forecast. Just take usual care and clean up your bike when you get home. You should be fine.

You have much greater risk from the other drivers than the salt air. The stretch from OC thru Fenwick I would caution you to be very careful watching out for "right hooks."

[IFjane]

Cindy

You have much greater risk from the other drivers than the salt air. The stretch from OC thru Fenwick I would caution you to be very careful watching out for "right hooks."

Cindy - I agree with withm - be really careful on the highway. Otherwise, just clean the bike to get the salt off it, then give it a pat and thank it for taking good care of you on one more ride!

[CindyVA]

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to wipe her down.

I have ridden down the highway a lot and know how to dodge the buses, right turns, etc. My biggest irritation is the folks that ride "against traffic" in the bus/bike lane. Why do they think that is safer?

I usually ride my beach bike (which is a 7 speed Calois) but I'm bringing my road bike down because I want to do a more serious ride!

We have a condo at 137th street in O.C. and go down there most weekends during the summer. My goal is to ride the Seagull Century in Oct so I wanna practice on my new road bike (which I'm still getting used to).

If you ever want to go for a ride, let me know!

Cindy