The most effective solution is to not let it appear in the first case – prevention really is better than cure here!
Salt on the road can cause a bike that’s just put in the shed post-ride to start rusting literally overnight, especially during the winter months.
But by spending just 5-10mins when you get home, giving your bike a good rinse with fresh water, paying particular attention to the drivetrain, drying it off and re-lubing, is all you need to do to avoid a brown chain next time you get it out to ride.
I know this sounds really preachy and 'holier than thou' but it really will save you grief, time and cash. Making sure you have all the kit and products accessible and ready to go for when you get home makes not bothering far less likely.
Catch your sweat
Another rust pitfall to dodge is sweat when using your bike on an indoor trainer. Using a bike 'thong' sweat cover (yes, they're a thing) that prevents your corrosive drips falling onto your bike and, again, not neglecting cleaning and lubing, will both prevent rust getting a foothold.
If you’re using a bike a lot on an indoor trainer, check under the bar tap every now and then for corrosion as this can easily cause a catastrophic failure when you next take it out on the road.
If rust is already present, what you can do about it really does depend on where it is on your bike, the severity and how long you’ve neglected it for.
How to remove rust from a bike chain and cassette
If it is just a case of overnight superficial surface corrosion, you can probably save the day. Liberally spray on a product such as WD40, maybe even removing the components, work it in a bit with a stiff brush and leave it to work its magic for a few hours.
Then, maybe with a bit more WD40 sprayed on, go at it with a stiff/wire brush. Give it a good rinse with water, dry and then apply lube.
Hopefully the rust will have gone but, even if it has on the surface, if you've let rust build up for any significant period of time, it’s likely that the hidden pins and rollers in the chain will be corroded, potentially weakened and the chain should be replaced.
Unfortunately a new chain often means a new cassette and maybe chainrings as these components wear together but hopefully this will be a case of lesson learned.
How to remove rust on bolts
Bolts, such as on your stem, can also get rusty. Again, removing, soaking in WD40 and then giving them a good scrub with a stiff/wire brush can do the job, but any rust can make a bolt more prone to rounding out when tightening/loosening or even compromise structural integrity, so, if in doubt, replace.
How to remove rust on a bike frame
If you have a steel frame that’s showing signs of rust, especially around the welds, this could be indicative of early signs of failure and, rather than trying to remove the rust yourself, you should take the frame to be examined by your local bike shop or a frame builder.
Top image credit: Getty Images
