Bike covers

Ghost Rider

Are there such things as fully sealable bike covers? I'm thinking of buying a road bike but, if I do, I won't have room to keep all my bikes indoors so I'd be thinking of keeping at least one of them out the back. (I don't have room for a shed, unfortunately.)

If there were such things as fully sealable bike covers, would keeping a bike in one be substantially different from storing it in a shed?

Tayto2000

I had to keep my bike in a back garden for about a year and a half before I moved to a place that had a shed, I kept it under a cover for the entire time. Not ideal at all and a good bit of rust developed. I reckon I had to change all the cables and steel parts a lot earlier than would otherwise have been necessary.

Fully sealed covers don't exist as they would seal in the moisture also.

If you can't fit a shed, would you consider a garden store? Have a look in Argos for examples.

Ghost Rider

Actually, since I started this thread, I've discovered that such a thing does exist, albeit designed for motorcycles. After sealing the bag, you use a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air.

http://www.vac-bags.co.uk/bike.htm

Wonder how effective they are...

Tayto2000 wrote:

I had to keep my bike in a back garden for about a year and a half before I moved to a place that had a shed, I kept it under a cover for the entire time. Not ideal at all and a good bit of rust developed. I reckon I had to change all the cables and steel parts a lot earlier than would otherwise have been necessary.

Fully sealed covers don't exist as they would seal in the moisture also.

If you can't fit a shed, would you consider a garden store? Have a look in Argos for examples.

Tayto2000

Two problems with that. First it's for dry storage, which assumes you're packing whatever you're vacumn wrapping into a nice dry shed and second it's designed for longterm storage, you'd have a hard time vac packing your bike every night. Also, you would be sealing in moisture unless eveything was thoroughly dried first.

If you're looking for a good cover, I recommend a breathable motorcycle cover. They're large enough to completely cover the bike and keep things dry and ventilated. A bit expensive though, you'd prob. be looking at €60+. I had a few bike specific covers and wasn't happy with any of them.

TBH, unless it's a utility bike, inside or a shed really is best. A plastic garden store is €150 in Argos, plus you can keep other bits in it. I was considering one before I moved house but don't know what they're like.

Ghost Rider

I think your concerns can be addressed. Regarding dry storage, it's not that it needs a dry shed, it IS dry storage! (Otherwise, what would be the point of it?) I can always dry my bike for a few hours in the house before storing it.

As for storing it every night, I wouldn't be doing that. I'd probably be storing it once a week. And, according to the people who make the product (to whom I wrote), that can work fine so long as you keep the drying-bag in a sealed container when it's not used. Also, these can be replaced for £5. (They recommend replacing them once a year.)

As for a breathable motorcycle cover, will that not just expose the bike to whatever moisture is in the air (i.e. quite a lot during Winter, I'd have thought)? The Vac Bag seems to solve that problem.

Tayto2000 wrote:

Two problems with that. First it's for dry storage, which assumes you're packing whatever you're vacumn wrapping into a nice dry shed and second it's designed for longterm storage, you'd have a hard time vac packing your bike every night. Also, you would be sealing in moisture unless eveything was thoroughly dried first.

If you're looking for a good cover, I recommend a breathable motorcycle cover. They're large enough to completely cover the bike and keep things dry and ventilated. A bit expensive though, you'd prob. be looking at €60+. I had a few bike specific covers and wasn't happy with any of them.

TBH, unless it's a utility bike, inside or a shed really is best. A plastic garden store is €150 in Argos, plus you can keep other bits in it. I was considering one before I moved house but don't know what they're like.

Tayto2000

Well, based on the descriptions of use it seems to be designed for vac-packing stuff before it goes into long term storage.

That said, it's fairly cheap and I see now it also comes with a moisture absorber (sorry, hadn't noticed that bit). Still wouldn't be 100% convinced about keeping it outside in the rain etc but for that price can't hurt to give it a go especially if you'd be able to dry it before packing it.

Ghost Rider

Worth a go, alright.

Tayto2000 wrote:

Well, based on the descriptions of use it seems to be designed for vac-packing stuff before it goes into long term storage.

That said, it's fairly cheap and I see now it also comes with a moisture absorber (sorry, hadn't noticed that bit). Still wouldn't be 100% convinced about keeping it outside in the rain etc but for that price can't hurt to give it a go especially if you'd be able to dry it before packing it.