Bags and garage storage in humid climates

[Adam]

Hi all,

Recently moved to a much more humid climate--Hi Riv folks in Atlanta!

I'm trying to figure out a new living situation, wondering what folks in humid places do to keep their on-bike bags from getting mold and mildew? Maybe I'm overthinking it, but my garage is under the house and feels really damp.

Thanks!

Adam

[Josh C]

I run a large dehumidifier in my drywall-finished garage, or it gets too humid and things mold. It has a wall heater, but no AC to pull the humidity out of the air. 

[Brian Turner]

I’m in Kentucky with a similar climate as ATL. My bikes all live in a detached garage that is not climate-controlled, so it gets really cold and really hot in the extreme seasons. Fortunately, I’ve never had an issue with moldy bags or corrosion from the temp fluctuating. I keep a few bags on my bikes, but the ones I’m not using, I store in a large plastic storage container and they all seem to be fine. Maybe try something like that, with some desiccant packs thrown in for good measure?

Brian

Lexington KY

On Jul 8, 2026, at 7:11 AM, Josh C <getjosh...@gmail.com> wrote:

I run a large dehumidifier in my drywall-finished garage, or it gets too humid and things mold. It has a wall heater, but no AC to pull the humidity out of the air. 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9ae285ff-4612-4f3e-8dfb-335cfe053e06n%40googlegroups.com.

[Kim H.]

Recently, I bought my first Sackville Rollo handlebar bag. Well before I received it, I did some homework about how I could waterproof the canvas more, since I live in a very humid and wet climate. I often ride in the rain here in the PNW. As far as the protection of the leather on the bag, I use Obenauf's HP Leather Conditioner. It works very well. I use it on my leather shoes.

What I came up with is a product called 303 Marine Fabric Guard, which repels moisture and stains. It is safe for all fabrics. As to if it fights off mold and mildew, it impedes and hinders the formatoin of mold and mildew. It does this by restoring the fabric’s water and stain repellency, which keeps the material dry and prevents dirt from soaking in—creating an environment where mold is far less likely to grow.

I do store my bicycle and my handlebar bag inside my home when I am not riding.

Kim Hetzel. 

[John Bokman]

I have made the mistake of leaving wet -through canvas bags inside my humid detached garage. They stay wet. So much so that the garage starts to smell of mildew with the wet bags hanging on the bike during the wet months. Due to this negligence, I have lost Riv bags to mildew. Having learned my lesson, I now bring wet bags inside my living space when they are saturated. I also quit using transverse saddlebags, which can be a hassle to remove from the bike. And I have begun using fabrics (X-PAC) that resist mildew. Yes, humidity can be a problem, especially with cotton baggage.

John

Oregon

[George Rosselle]

Hey Adam,

I'm out in Loganville, a bit east of Atlanta. Yeah, you need a dehumidifier to avoid the mold. If you get out this way reach out to go for a ride.

George

[Drew Fitchette]

Welcome to Atlanta, Adam!

I did the dehumidifier thing for my basement after having some stuff get ruined from our first year here. Now I store my bikes in a spare room instead, and stick unused bags/gear in big plastic tubs for storage. 

I live in Southwest near the Beltline, and have ridden with a few folks locally from the list. Email me if you ever wanna go for a ride or connect!

[Brian Turner]

As an aside, if you do go the dehumidifier route, if you've never used one in a damp basement environment, be prepared for that dehumidifier to fill up quickly and often! In my limited experience, it's best if you can tie it into a sump drain, or another drain situation where it can constantly empty itself without you having to dump it all the time.

Brian

Lexington KY

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/ce131850-9c4b-4417-96b1-1406635e2c90n%40googlegroups.com.

[Josh C]

Exactly. You'll want a dehumidifier that has a pump feature, so that you can attach a small hose and let it pump the water out without constantly dumping a container. My garage has a sink so the dehumidifier drains into it. At my last place, I just ran it under the garage door, which worked just fine as well. 

[Adam]

Thanks everyone,

Sounds like I should definitely work out a plan soon rather than after a bunch of bags get mildew.

I appreciate the ATL ride suggestions and will hit folks up once I'm farther along with the unpacking process. A bit discouraged by the awkwardness of commuting by bike in this weather, but I'll figure it out.

VERY excited about hills after 5 years in Chicago!

Adam