Maintenance and care

When you have a bicycle cover , your bike is not just protected forever - your bike still requires maintenance and that you are aware of its condition. A bicycle garage does not mean that your bike rusts or that moisture occurs under the bicycle garage itself. A bicycle garage protects but does not prevent it from occurring - the more you pay attention to your bike and your bicycle garage the longer it will last.

We have compiled a collection of tips for using and maintaining your cover for bike/ bicycle garage.

Dry and clean

When you put your bike, it is generally best that your bike is dry and clean - this way you avoid too much moisture and condensation forming under the bike cover itself.

Remember to check your bicycle garage / bikecover

Despite the fact that the material of the cover is for outdoor use and it is waterproof, moisture can end up under a cover in different ways. For example, due to rising moisture from a damp surface, condensation due to temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cover or when the bike is not completely dry under the cover.

When you use an outdoor bikecover and leave it on for a longer period of time, we recommend that you regularly (weekly) check the condition under the cover. Remember to regularly check if your bicycle garage is drying out - especially if it is in a shady position.

Puddles of rainwater

Try to prevent puddles of rainwater on your bicycle garage as much as possible. After a heavy downpour, always check for puddles of rainwater and remove it if necessary. Continuous water on the garage can cause the water to slowly pass through the bicycle cover.

Make sure to ventilate

Preferably use an outdoor cover for a maximum of a few days in a row. If you use a cover for a bike for a long time, it is recommended that you take it off the bike once every week or every two weeks to ventilate, especially if it is during a rainy period - of course, take off the bike garage when it is not raining.

Despite the ventilation options, moisture can get under the cover in many ways. Remember to make sure that your bike is dry before placing the bike garage over your bike again.

Avoid algae formation

Prevent algae formation by not placing your covered vehicle under a tree or next to a bush for an extended period of time.

Be aware of where you park!

Always place your bike on a surface that is dry - or at least not on top of a puddle, as the moisture in a puddle can quickly evaporate and rise up and end up under your bicycle garage. We recommend that you regularly turn your bike over to avoid too much discoloration on one side of your bicycle garage.

Watch out for the wind

When you put a bicycle garage over your bike - you make a sail - so make sure that your bicycle garage is firmly attached so that it does not disappear - if you have the opportunity to put your bike in shelter, then it is clearly best so that it does not fall over so easily in strong winds.

For motorcycles/scooter , we recommend that you use a stable surface, preferably out of the wind as much as possible.

Cleaning your bicycle garage / bicycle cover:

Brush off loose dirt with a soft bristle.

• Rinse the case with clean water only.
• Do not use soap: it will damage the waterproof coating.
• Remove stains:
  • Bird droppings: Rinse off with water as much as possible and brush away the rest with a soft bristle when dry.
  • Resin drops: Skim off gently with a spoon. Dry the rest and then gently crush it between your fingers.

Patch tears/holes on your bikecover

It is not unusual, or for that matter unavoidable, that something is stuck in your cover when you attach it to your bike - it can be the brake lever, fender strut or something else - it can often cause a tear or a hole to occur.

Tears and holes can also easily occur after if there is moisture/water on your bicycle garage when it gets frosty, so the garage itself becomes stiff and can "crack" due to the ice/frost. We recommend that you patch them regularly - if you have used a bicycle cover in Ribstop / tent fabric, then you can advantageously use a tent repair kit.

Storing your bicycle garage

To keep your bicycle cover in good condition, it is necessary to store it clean and dry, for example in the included storage bag (if one is provided) when you are not using your bicycle garage / bikecover.

Using bicycle cover in transit

We recommend that you usebicycle garages / bicycle cover that are suitable for transport  if you need to take your bike with you on the back of the car / caravan. Should you still decide to use a traditional bicycle garage we recommend that you secure it further with lashing straps or auto-elastics to prevent quick wear and tear from flapping in the wind. Check the condition of the cover thoroughly after a few kilometers and then at each stop.

If you have a motorcycle, scooter or moped, you should also be aware of the following

Chilling

It is probably most traditional motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, such as motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, where applicable. But make sure you've cooled down your vehicle sufficiently before putting your cover on the bike. An exhaust can get very hot, so your cover can melt on the exhaust. Condensation can also form if the vehicle has not cooled down completely. You can prevent this by cooling the car down first.

Car paint/wax/coating

Has your car/motorcycle/scooter recently been sprayed or treated with e.g. glass coating or wax? Then make sure that the paint/(wax) coating is completely cured before using an outdoor cover. Sunlight can cause the temperature under the cover to rise high, which can cause blisters if the paint is not completely cured.