Bike storage in the apartment

Many residents of megacities due to the rise in price of fuel change from cars to bicycles. Yes, and outdoor enthusiasts are becoming more and more. But with the advent of a two-wheeled friend, a new problem also appears - storing a bicycle in an apartment if there is no separate garage. Question: where to store the bike, implies different answers. Depending on the time of year: if it is autumn and winter, then it is necessary to remove the unit before the next season, and if it is a warm period, then it becomes necessary to leave a “friend” somewhere after cycling. In this article we will look at some interesting ideas for storing a bike at home, so do not rush to change such a useful and fascinating cycling to chess if you do not have a garage.

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Important storage rules

Before deciding where to store the bike, you need to consider the basic rules and learn how to store the bike. Listen to the following recommendations from vehicle manufacturers:

1. Low temperatures (below 0 degrees), high humidity and sudden changes in temperature negatively affect the details of the bike. Therefore, in winter time, it is impossible to put equipment in an unheated vestibule, on an unglazed balcony.
2. Direct sunlight damages rubber and plastic parts, so keep your bike on the balcony in a case.
3. If the bike is put for long-term storage, for example, for the winter period or departure time, then do the following:
   • Clean the equipment from dust and dirt.
   • Parts clear of old grease.
   • Lubricate brakes, joints, gear shifters.
   • Wipe all metal parts with an oiled rag to prevent corrosion.
   • Lower shock absorber springs.
   • Loosen each of the spring mechanisms.
   • Lubricate tires with special silicone glue so that they do not dry out during storage.
   • If you keep your bike in a standing position, inflate tires to protect them from deformation.
   • Cover the bike frame with a layer of rags.

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Main winter storage methods

Prudent outdoor enthusiasts think about storing a bicycle long before they buy it. And that's right, because the folding bike mechanism will save you from many problems: the unit can be safely folded into a standard pantry or a typical mezzanine located above the front door, and such a model will not take up much space on the balcony.

Important! When choosing a technique, remember: in terms of corrosion, an aluminum frame is preferable to a steel one, and the absence of hydraulic lines, such as: brakes, a fork, will not allow them to suffer from wintering in cold conditions.

Consider the main storage location of the “bike” - both at home and outside the home.

Out of home

Ideally, it would be good not to bring the bicycle home at all, so as not to stain the floor and walls after a walk, at least during the bike season. If the stairwells are not suitable for storing two-wheeled vehicles, then look for like-minded people and remove the garage together, preferably warm, to store the bikes not only in summer but also in winter. Winter storage services are also offered by some underground parking facilities.

Important! Alternatively, you can contact the management company, in some homeowners associations there is the possibility of collective storage of two-wheeled vehicles in the attic from autumn to spring.You can, of course, take a duplicate of the keys to the basement, but the increased humidity from the communications will negatively affect the technology - it will begin to rust.

In the porch

It is very convenient to store the bike in the stairwell - and the dirt does not penetrate the house, and the equipment is always at hand. One problem is the neighbors who prevent bicycles and strollers from carrying furniture and stain collective property, and simply - annoy!

Important! The most powerful argument that does not allow placing a “wheeled friend” in the entrance is fire safety requirements, because the fire supervision has everything clearly prescribed: escape routes must be clear, and any obstruction is a violation and a fine. In addition, the staircase takes the leading place in the number of bicycle thefts, sometimes even the thickest chain is not a guarantee of the safety of property.

But if the entrance is guarded and you are lucky with your neighbors, then you can use a common place for storing a bicycle.

Important! Choose the most deaf and unobtrusive places in the entrance, and for reliable fixation of your “two-wheeled friend” in place, use vertical fasteners or hooks so as not to interfere with the cleaning of the stairwell.

How to store a bike on the balcony?

Most lovers of this technique are firmly convinced that the balcony is the only place where you can store a bicycle in the apartment, but there are several nuances:

• An open balcony is suitable only for a summer “rest” of a bike, and this is not an option, if you imagine how you will roll a dirty bike through the entire apartment.
• The insulated covered balcony is suitable for storing your equipment - both in winter and in summer.

Many craftsmen are thinking about the issue of storing a bicycle on the balcony, inventing special devices:

• Shelving and cabinet-like structures with drawers and niches.
• Shelves with integrated fixtures.
• Hooks and brackets.
• Cyclos mounts.
• Special racks.

What storage of a bicycle on the balcony will be more convenient just for you, determine yourself, based on these possibilities:

1. Most of the devices are designed to hang the unit, since this storage method is less harmful to the tires and more rational in using free space: there is always some space on the floor for storing other useful things.
2. Items of cabinet furniture with mounts for bicycles can always be selected taking into account the design of the room. In cabinet furniture there are always shelves on which it is convenient to store things for bike rides and not only. Furniture that involves perpendicular to the walls placement, suitable even for narrow balconies.
3. Special racks that are mounted on the wall are usually designed for several bicycles. The technique is located along the wall one above the other. This design is reliable, simple and space-saving. The only thing to consider when using such a rack is that the width of the wall should be greater than the length of the vehicle. If there is not enough space, disassemble the bikes and store them in their covers when folded.
4. Very practical for storing a bicycle in the apartment are a variety of mounts built into the shelves. However, it should be borne in mind that the equipment frame must be placed on the shelves only horizontally, which imposes some restrictions on the owners. But then the shelves always fit into any design decision.
5. The Cyclos mount is compact and looks like a flower pot. The mount is available in several color options and has a very interesting appearance. The main advantage of this mount is the ability to store the bike at any desired angle.
6. Of course, the easiest option that is available even to a teenager is a hooked bicycle. But it does not look as stylish and beautiful as the above methods.

Important! Regardless of which method you prefer, consider these additional recommendations for storing a bicycle in an apartment:

• Make sure that the rays of the sun do not fall on the equipment, as the protective varnish may crack, the paint will peel off and the plastic and rubber will be deformed. If it is not possible to store the bike in a case, then use a special cover or simply cover the adjacent part of the glass with a roller blind (cover with foil).
• If the balcony is so small that you can not use any of the above methods, then partially disassemble the bike: remove the front wheel and turn the steering wheel in the same plane as the whole structure.

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How to store a bicycle in an apartment?

The question of how to store a bicycle at home worries many sports fans. Consider various options for placing transport in the warm season.

In the hall

Another place to store a bicycle at home that immediately comes to mind is the entrance hall. There may be such options:

1. If you have a large entrance hall, you can simply put the vehicle against the wall. However, in this case there will be a problem with mopping or the ability to open doors wide.
2. It is better to use a vertical or horizontal version of the suspension of the bike. If you choose a vertical storage system, then hanging the bike with the wheels up, the frame can be used as a bar for the shoulders.
3. Attach the product to the wall or ceiling, if the hallway is small.
4. If the hallway is large, then make a special cabinet for transport, even without doors, but with shelves: place a bicycle in one section and accessories for it in the other: pump, lubricants, tools, helmet, etc.

In the corridor

The corridors are different - both in area and in the length of the walls, so there is enough space for imagination. You can use various openings, niches, walls and ceiling, even the end of the corridor, having mounted a wardrobe for a vehicle there.

Important! Find a storage space near the front door so that you don’t pollute the apartment when you bring your equipment after a bike ride home.

In the room

People for whom the bike is not just a means of transportation, but the principle of life, ideology, do not particularly think about where to put the bike in the apartment. It can be a hallway, or even a bedroom.

Important! Do not store the bicycle near a heating battery or electric convector, as under the influence of excess heat, the protective varnish on the frame deteriorates and the rubber dries.

If you decide to live in a room with a bicycle, then make sure that it harmoniously fits into the style and interior.

Let's look at some interesting ideas for storing a bike:

• Use of wall mounts. When storing equipment in an apartment, you can use two opposite options:
  1. A complete match of the color of the bike and the overall color scheme of the interior.
  2. The cardinal opposite of color schemes. In this case, the two-wheeled interior item will become the focal point of the entire room.
• Involve vertical space, subject to sufficiently high ceilings.
• Building “walls”. For example, between two vertically suspended bicycles, place a bookcase or bookcase.
• Turn a bicycle into a necessary interior item, for example, in a stand for flower pots: you can put baskets on the trunk or hang on the steering wheel.
• Design a room in a sporty style. Draw a picture on the wall along the contour of the vehicle with contrasting paint, attach the hooks for storing the bike. Place other sports accessories nearby - as a result, the room will acquire a sporty style and will look very bright.
• Special furniture for bicycles. Furniture for two-wheeled vehicles and sports equipment is a "screen" with hooks and shelves. Wooden or metal frames are made without walls or without doors, below are boxes for inventory, and above is a place for a bicycle. Such a cabinet looks easy due to its profile.
• Use the “dead” areas of the room, for example, between the wall and the cabinet or the gap between the wall and the sofa. Even 20 cm is enough, between the wall and the door, to accommodate a thin sports bike. You can remove the steering wheel and wheels for this purpose.
• On the ceiling. The roller suspension system is only suitable for rooms with high ceilings.

Important! When decorating, use all imagination and irony, for example, you can put a “two-wheeled friend” in a large frame as a family member, or use designer covers to fit it into the interior, knitted accessories look especially moving and home-like.

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Where to store a bicycle in a small apartment?

The best solution for small apartments is to buy a folding version of the equipment, which can be stored in any closet or in free space behind the sofa.

During long-term storage of a bicycle in a small apartment, you can use a mezzanine or any niche. It is recommended to save space to make the equipment more compact by removing several elements:

• Wheels.
• Wings.
• Saddle.
• Seatpost.
• Steering wheel.

Important! The steering wheel can not be removed, but deployed 90 degrees. Rearrange the pedals so that they “look” inward. A bicycle disassembled in this way will halve the footprint.

The compact design obtained as a result of manipulations can winter under the bed in a special cover or in the closet.

Important! Do not forget about the mezzanine cabinets in the hallway. If you did not dismantle them during the repair, then use the mezzanine for winter storage of the bicycle in a small apartment.

Special mounts

As soon as you choose a place to store two-wheeled vehicles, think about special mounts that will help to hang the bike securely and conveniently, without damaging the details of the vehicle. In addition, it is very important that the mount is safe for all family members, and not too reduce the space of the room.

Consider the main mounts:

• Hanger shelf for vertical mounting. Such hangers are made of wood. You can buy them at the bike store or do it yourself. A bicycle is suspended on a shelf by the frame, and several transport models can be hung on one such shelf. Shelves can be of various shapes, but due to the fact that the hole for the frame is made at an angle, the bike will be securely fixed. Such bicycle hangers not only fit perfectly into the interior of any room, but also serve as a place to store small things.
• Metal hooks attached to the wall. One of the main advantages of such mounts is that they can be folded back to the wall if unnecessary (if the bike is actively used). You can hang the transport of the whole family on hooks if you place them at different levels: some are higher, others are lower. The disadvantage of such a fastening is that you can’t hang the ladies bike or “bike” with a beveled frame on hooks.
• Hanging on special bike hooks. On such mounts, the bike is suspended by the wheels in an upright position. It is better to place transport in niches, between furniture or behind a door in the hallway. The disadvantage of this mount is that the bike must be raised high, and this is difficult for teenagers and women to do.

Important! With this method of storage, a stand for the rear wheel is necessary so as not to damage the surface of the wall.

• Special brackets. For vertical storage of the bicycle in the apartment, use brackets that can be mounted both to the wall and to the ceiling.
• Metal racks and holders. Usually such racks are made of metal, but some craftsmen can make such a mount from wood.
• Roller ceiling suspension system. The bike is suspended from ropes to the ceiling. The transport is mounted on the floor, and then - on the cables rises up. For this option, either high ceilings or a place in the corner where it is difficult to get.The reliability of such a fastening will depend not only on the quality and reliability of the ceiling, but also on the system itself and the quality of its installation.

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Stock footage

With the skillful organization of space in the apartment, you can always find for your “two-wheeled friend” exactly the place in which he will be comfortable, and you will be calm not only for the bicycle, but also for all households.