Out here on the North Shore, a “short break” can turn into months if work, wet weather, or physio keeps you grounded. Damp garages, salty sea air, and freeze-thaw cycles love to chew on bikes that just sit there. The good news? A few North Van-specific storage habits will make sure your whip comes out of hibernation as ready as you are.

1. Give moisture nowhere to hide

Before parking the bike:

Wash, dry, repeat – Blast off the clay and loam, then towel-dry everything, including fork crowns and shock linkages.
Drop the chain lube – A fresh coat of wet-lube after the bike is bone-dry seals out flash rust during those damp 3 a.m. temperature swings.
Crack the suspension – Back out rebound/compression clicks to mid-range and store the bike upright so oil soaks through every seal.

2. E-bike battery rules for the (very) rainy season

Pull the batteries? - Yup. If the bike’s sitting more than a month.
Where do I stash ’em? - Indoors, room temp. Your uninsulated shed (if you even have a shed) hits 0 °C on clear nights and 38 °C under July rafters—both outside the happy zone.
Charge first? - Always full. Store half-dead and you’ll lose capacity. Top them up again before that first Seymour lap. Don’t leave it plugged in.

3. Tubeless wheels & sealant hacks

Valve-up parking – Hang or store wheels with the valves at 12 o’clock so Orange Seal (or whatever you’re running) doesn’t gunk up the cores.
Expect a top-up – Our freeze-thaw cycle murders latex. Plan to burp, inspect, and refresh sealant before you roll Upper Oil Can come spring.
Check rim tape – Temperature swings shrink tape glue. If you hear “pssst” in March, time to retape.

4. Salt, sweat, and corrosion patrol

Pedal the Spirit Trail or commute to Lonsdale Quay? Winter road salt splashes linger all off-season. Rinse your drivetrain with warm water, dry, and hit it with a corrosion-driving spray (Muc-Off MO-94, Pedro’s Bike Lust, etc.) before storage.

5. Quick-start checklist for your comeback ride

Top off batteries
Pump tubeless to riding pressure
Re-dial suspension settings
Spin every bolt check—steerer, linkage, axle, rotor
Squeeze both brakes till they bite high and firm

Missing any tools or sealant? We’ve got you covered right here at Dialed. ;)

Need a hand or just want it done for you?

Swing by Dialed Bike Service, 315 Mansfield Pl., North Vancouver—five minutes from the Fromme gate. Book ahead or walk in Tuesday–Saturday (10 a.m.–6 p.m.). We’ll winterize, store, or full-service your bike so you can focus on healing up or planning that next Cypress shuttle.

Call 604-318-8015 or hit dialedbikeservice.com to book.

See you (and your bike) soon. Stay Dialed!

Bike Storage, North Van Style