UNFORTUNATELY for some, storing a bike outside is a necessity, with no room in their home, shed or garage for their pride and joy.
If you have this issue, it’s worth investing in a bike cover to keep it protected.
Although your bike can handle most elements while it’s being ridden, leaving it sat in damp conditions for extended stretches of time can lead to damage such as rust.
That’s why it’s worth purchasing a bike cover, as it will help to extend the life of your bike and its components.
A bike cover will generally be made out of a waterproof material that will also protect your bike’s paint job against fade from the sun’s UV rays.
Those at the premium end of the scale will include features such as eyelets for chain locks to be thread through, while elasticated hems will keep the cover in place on your bike, even in strong winds.
Not sure where to start when looking for a bike cover? Follow our guide below to find the perfect one for you.
1. Zacro Bicycle Cover
- Zacro Bicycle Cover, £9.99 from Amazon – buy here
Zacro’s offering will protect your bike come rain or shine (and snow, dust and wind for that matter).
The cover has elasticated bottom hems, double-stitched hems that have been sealed to prevent water leaking through joins in the fabric, and can fit almost any bike (including 29” mountain bikes).
It also includes a free storage bag that the cover can be stuffed into when not in use.
2. Awnic Waterproof Bike Cover
- Awnic Waterproof Bike Cover, £9.98 from Amazon – buy here
Only slightly more expensive, there’s not a lot in it between the Awnic cover and the Zacro offering above.
It too is wind-resistant, waterproof and anti-UV (helping to protect your bike’s paint), while it is marginally thicker, so should be slightly better at resisting tears.
One notable feature is the buckle at the base of the cover, which can be tied and tightened in the highest winds.
3. B’Twin Protective Bike Cover
- B’Twin Protective Bike Cover, £14.99 from Decathlon – buy here
Decathlon’s in-house brand offers up some great value products that are possible to check out in-store before you buy too.
Its bike cover does as you’d expect, protecting your bike from the elements, while its unassuming black cover could help keep it hidden from potential thieves.
A big selling point though is its two-year guarantee, which ensures it’ll be able to withstand a couple of tough winters at the least.
4. Goose Bicycle Cover
- Goose Bicycle Cover, £24.75 from Amazon – buy here
The premium grade offering from Goose is the most expensive single-bike cover on this list, but its additional features might make it worth the investment.
The cover is made from a 210 denier Oxford fabric that is a light, flexible canvas that has had a waterproof treatment to protect your bike from wet conditions.
Security eyelets at the front are ideal for a cable lock, a storm strap at the rear helps to keep it in place during high winds, while front and rear elastic hems guarantee a perfect fit. It also is available in a range of sizes to match your bike.
5. BTR Ultra Bike Cover
- BTR Ultra Bike Cover, £29.99 from Amazon – buy here
The Ultra from BTR does exactly as it says on the tin, offering up heavy-duty and resilient protection for your bike against the elements.
At 2.5kg, it’s the heaviest on this list by far. But its 210 denier polyester fabric, PVC coating and sealed waterproof seams make it perfect for keeping your ride rust-free year round.
What’s more, it’s big enough to fit two bikes, while it also has two security eyelets at the front for a chain lock and a storm strap to keep it secure in windy conditions.
6. Bags and Covers Direct
- Bags and Covers Direct 2 Bike Cover, £49.99 from Amazon – buy here
Taking your bikes with you on your holidays and looking for a way to protect them against the elements when they’re stored on your motorhome’s bike rack? This purpose-built design should have you covered.
At almost £50, it’s certainly not cheap, but its specialist construction from a waterproof membrane will keep water, grit and any other harmful spray you’ll encounter on the UK’s roads away from your bikes.
The cover should be able to fit two bikes with most sizes and shapes catered for, but a made-to-measure service is also available if your bikes fall outside of its guidelines.
7. BikeParka The Urban Bike Cover
- BikeParka The Urban Bike Cover, from £29 at Wiggle – buy here
A bike cover intended for regular, daily use needs to be rugged while also remaining lightweight enough that it can be packed away when not covering your bike.
The Urban Bike Cover by BikeParka manages to do both those things, and much more.
Its polyurethane coating protects your bike against the most extreme elements, while the fabric also has a UPF50+ rating, meaning it will keep your bike’s painted parts away from the paint-damaging UV rays of summer.
What’s more, it can also be packed away – parka-style – into an ultralight bag that can attach to your bike’s frame. And given its 400g weight, you won’t even notice you’ve got it in tow.
Available in a number of colours, including a jazzy camouflage, this bike cover certainly combines substance with heaps of style.
8. Oxford Aquatex 3 Bike Cover
- Oxford Aquatex 3 Bike Cover, £19.99 from Wiggle – buy here
While all of the above are great if you only have one or two bikes to cover, things can soon start to get expensive if you’ve got a family’s worth to keep out of the elements.
Enter the Aquatex 3 by respected accessories brand Oxford. It will comfortable be able to store three bikes within its 2 cubic metre-plus volume, and is great for us outside but also as a dust cover in a garage or shed.
Its 100 denier fabric construction is waterproof, while double stitching should ensure that there are no leaks from bust seams for years of use.
Which material is best for bike cover?
Most bike covers are made from polyester, but not all polyesters are made equal. It’s best to look out for the denier of the fabric – the higher the number, the thicker and therefore more rugged it’s going to be – while other factors to consider include double stitching of seams and a polyurethane coating.
The only thing to bear in mind is that, the thicker the denier, the heavier the bike cover – a key factor if you’re going to be removing and reapplying to your bike on a daily basis. In this instance, you might be better off going with a lighter cover.
Should I cover my bike?
If you want to increase the longevity of your bike, it’s worth using a bike cover if you can’t store it somewhere dry like a shed or garage. A bike cover will protect your bike’s components from water, which over time will cause parts to rust and require replacing. It can also prevent UV rays from the sun.
Protect your bike from thieves as well as the elements. Check out the best bike locks, here.
Keep up to date with all the latest fitness products over on our Sun Selects Health and Fitness page.
Enjoyed our roundup of the best bike covers? For more fantastic product recommendations, head over to the Sun Selects main page.
Source: Read Full Article