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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> A few questions:
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Message started by arteacher on 04/17/13 at 13:24:59

Title: A few questions:
Post by arteacher on 04/17/13 at 13:24:59

1: I bought a new cover for the bike a year ago. It is still in good shape but I want to wash it and treat it to keep it water proof and UV resistant.
What would you suggest?
2: I want to treat the tires as well. I realize that most tire treatments won't work because they make the tires too slippery. Has anyone found one that is suitable?
3: has anyone found a nice looking mud flap the fits the front fender? Stainless maybe?

Title: Re: A few questions:
Post by johnnyyuma on 04/17/13 at 13:42:58

Regarding the tires, I recently tried black conventional kiwi shoe polish (you rub it in with a rag, just like you would on a pair of shoes) then took a shoe brush and polished it up. Looks great, I was very impressed. Of course I don't use it on the tread area of the tire. I don't ride in rain or otherwise get the tires wet so I assume there wouldn't be any runoff to the treads and make them slippery.

Title: Re: A few questions:
Post by houstonbofh on 04/17/13 at 20:28:51

A good tire and wheel cleaner and a stiff bristle brush will blacken the tire right up.

Title: Re: A few questions:
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/17/13 at 23:22:48

Check tent maintenance stuff, sporting goods, they know about waterproofing & maintaining stuff.

Title: Re: A few questions:
Post by ToesNose on 04/18/13 at 04:43:02

As far as the cover you're always just best off having a quality cover that is designed to last and ventilate properly, especially if you store your bike outdoors and that is it's only protection from the elements. I learned this the hard way growing up in a sea side community, a good cover makes a huge difference fending off rust and corrosion.

Scotchgarding works for only a short period of time unless your not taking the cover off and on, when you take the cover off and the material contracts from folding and rolling it degrates the scotchgard. So to get the full benefits you have to reapply fairly often.

Silicon sprays like "camp dry" and such work well, but they tend to degrade most tent/cover materials over time causing premature drying and cracking.

If your bike cover is made of a wter resistant breathable material and doesn't have vents built in sprays may cause different problems making a greenhouse effect.

I'm assuming that the area your bike sits is in the open since you asked about water proofing and UV protection, the best combination if it is feasible is to have a cover that breaths well and is water resistant and have a tarp over that but not resting againt the cover. IE: if it's next to a house or shed make a tarp lean to and park the bike under it covered.