Spending time down in the Carolinas on vacation, I have seen
a lot of bicycles suffer tremendous wear and tear due to sand, salt, water, and
other elements. The salt air alone can quickly degrade a bicycle to an unusable
state if not properly cared for. Most bicycles no matter how much TLC you offer
them will eventually show some rust. Given the humidity and the salt air
conditions, surface rust can appear in as little as a few weeks after bringing a
new bike to the coast. Rust on the
surface will eventually slow down and serve more as an appearance nuisance than
hinder your ability to ride the bike. If one is really afraid of getting rust
on the bike, then consider rust proofing the bike starting with the inside
tubing of the frame. That process involves taking the bike apart. That also is
a prime reason why people on the coast ride beach cruisers obtained for a few
hundred bucks knowing they will have a shorter life span. Those that have bikes
on the coast can follow some of these easy tips to keep the bike in decent
shape.
1.
Storage - Even if you don’t ride the beach
cruiser on the sand or in the sea, there is a tremendous amount of humidity
that can wreak havoc on the bike. Store the bike in a garage when not in
use. Keeping that bike out on the porch
all season will expose it to salt spray in the air created by the nearby surf.
2.
Rinsing & Drying - Rinse salt and sand off
bike with fresh water hose after going for a seaside ride. The worst thing you
can do is leave the salt or sand on the bike for long periods of time which can
wear away at the bike. Dry the bike off with towel or compressed air after
rinsing.
3.
Tires - Keep
tires properly inflated. Bike tires underinflated can cause damage to rims if
the bike manages to hit a deep hole or crack. Pedaling is also much less of a
chore when tires are properly inflated.
4.
Chain - After finishing a beach or trail ride,
remove any grit or debris attached to chain and relubricate if necessary. Bike
chains are usually the first integral bike part to be destroyed by salt. Plan
on going through a few chains if you are planning on having the bike for a long
time.
