its really bad, the metal next to the rubber wheel is all orange. Both wheels. Any ideas?
If it's really bad and you've allowed it to corrode then taking the rust off will only be a cosmetic job and it would be better to replace the wheel. Even if you remove the coating of rust it will only be a very short time before it returns.
Hi. Alex has actually answered your question well here, but I agree with some of the other points too. 1. If there is ANY way to keep the bike indoors, this is best. 2. Take Alex's suggested maintenance measures 3. If possible, dry off the bike with a cloth before putting the cover over it (as humidity will increase the rate of rust formation) and try to secure it on a non-wet floor (so, in a dry, covered bike rack, rather than against a lamp-post) when you are away from home. 4. Clean chain thoroughly before lubing it. 5. When removing rust, treat these areas with anti-rust and as others have said, you need to paint over and/or wax over any bare metal. 6. Trouble with rust is that once it takes hold, its very difficult to get rid of it. If there's no way of keeping it indoors, consider selling it (while it's still fairly rust-free) and buying an aluminium bike. An aluminium frame will feel different and you may or may not prefer it, but your investment will probably last longer.
make up a paste of baking soda and water. The paste needs to be thick enough to stick to the rust and metal. Let it dry then scrub it off with steel wool, sandpaper, or a wire brush. You may need to do several applications. NOTE: just scubbing with steel wool, sandpaper or a wire brush will work--the baking soda paste helps to loosen up the rust. another rememdy is to let the wheels soak in cola, but it would probably be cheaper to buy some phosporic acid from the hardware store and follow the instructions for rust removal. there are also any number of commercial rust removers available in the hardware store. If you use any of them make sure you buy some heavy duty rubber gloves to protect your hands. make sure your wheels haven't rusted through. If they have then you should replace them because they are no longer safe to use.
