Cycling UK Forum

Does anybody know for a fact what is the best way to store ordinary bicycle tyres and tubes in ordinary domestic circumstances?

This relates to new items, and to long-term storage.

In general away from UV and without excessive pressure on any point.

So I'd suggest popping them in the loft if you have one, else the back of a cupboard.

Wedged either side of the washing machine they also stop it 'walking' during the spin cycle.

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Windowless garage that is in darkness most of the time.

OK ... given that our loft gets ridiculously hot in the summer, how about putting them in black plastic bags in the coolest part of the house, in such a way that they don't get squashed?

Any advance on that? And does anybody know (as opposed to would like to hazard a guess) how long they might keep like that?

The top pros on the continent buy tubs that have been been in storage for a couple of years because it matures them and makes them faster.

I found out this from watching a Lance Armstrong documentary. In the scene when they went to see the Belgian guy who stores the tyres it showed them going down into his basement which seemes to be a cool dry area.

So like anything else that needs to be stored for long periods; a cool dry stable environment. If it were my I'd avoid anywhere that might get too cold like a garage or shed.

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Most helpful, Gaz. Thank you.

I dust tubes with talcum powder before storing in a coolish dry place.Since I don't have a handy retailer I always have a few in stock just in case.