Storage of bicycles in the apartment is quite a relevant issue for lovers of an active lifestyle. Even a small bike can impede free movement around the apartment. Let's figure out what to do so that two-wheeled vehicles do not clutter up free space and even complement the interior of the room.
Bike storage outside the home
How to store a bicycle when the latter is not in a place in the house? If the balcony is overloaded with other things, and the stairwells in the house are not able to ensure the safety of two-wheeled vehicles, it is worth resorting to alternative options. In this case, it makes sense to join forces with like-minded people by renting a small storage room or garage. In such places it is convenient to leave the bike not only between trips during the warm season, but also to preserve transport for the winter.
Another option is to put the bike in storage in the basement. The only obstacle here may be an increased level of humidity in such a room. Therefore, in such conditions, the bike may begin to rust. In some houses there is the possibility of storing two-wheeled vehicles in the attic. In any case, it will not be superfluous to address this question to the manager of the house.
In the porch
Closed stairwells are the best place to store your bike. In this case, the bike is always at hand, and dirt and sand do not enter the house. However, such a place should be securely locked, since the entrances occupy a leading position in the number of thefts of two-wheeled vehicles. And even the presence of a reliable lock on the fence of the landing does not always guarantee the safety of the bike.
Under the ceiling
The top of engineering is the storage of bicycles in the apartment using ceiling mounts. The latter are a fairly complex system in the form of cables, suspension blocks and hooks, fasteners.
To place the bike under the ceiling, it is necessary to bring it to the place of attachment, then lower the cable, fix the frame with hooks or cable ties, and then pull the cables towards you. The latter will raise the bike to the ceiling thanks to the block mechanisms. After the bike is securely fixed to the ceiling, the vehicle will not occupy free space in the room.
Despite the complexity of the mechanism, this storage method is extremely reliable. The design of this plan is difficult to disable, and the presence of separate attachment points serves as a guarantee that two-wheeled vehicles will not fall on the head of the owner. The only drawback of the ceiling mounts is a rather high cost, as well as difficult installation.
How to place a bike on the balcony?
For many active people, the balcony is the only place where you can put the bike after the next walk. Despite the obvious advantages of this solution, there are some nuances here. Open balconies are only suitable for storing a bicycle during the warm season. Changes in humidity and temperature have a detrimental effect on the metal elements and hydraulics of the bike. Even in the case of preliminary weakening of the cables, thorough lubrication of the components with oil and placing the iron horse under the waterproof material, it is quite difficult to avoid the development of corrosion processes under the action of condensate.
It is most convenient to place a children's folding bike on the balcony. The latter takes up a minimum of free space. In addition, the structure in the folded state is quite simple to carry through the entire apartment without clogging the room. If the weight of the bicycle does not allow you to carry it around the house each time in your hands, you should buy special shoe covers that are pulled onto the wheels or use a cover that covers the entire bike.
Bike on the wall
This option of placing a bike in an apartment is common in Western countries. In some cases, two-wheeled transport can become a fairly organic part of the interior.
The wall bracket is a double hook that has an elastic coating. The structure is mounted on a vertical surface, and the upper tube of the two-wheeled transport frame is hooked on top of it.
The above option has several advantages. Firstly, the wall bracket is extremely easy to install. Its installation requires the use of only a few bolt fasteners. In addition, in the case of suspension of the bicycle on such a design, there is no load on the rim and spokes. However, this option may not be very convenient for placing models with complex geometry of the frame or double-suspension bicycles.
Storing the bike on the hook behind the wheel
A good option is a suspension for a bicycle. The hook, which hooks the wheel, is fastened with dowels to the wall. Similar solutions are extremely affordable. In addition, a bike of any model can be hung on a hook. At the same time, this option should not be resorted to if hydraulic brakes are installed on the bike. Suspension on a hook in the latter case can lead to their rather quick failure.
Storage of bicycles in an apartment in limbo suspended by a wheel requires preliminary cleaning of tires from dirt and debris. Otherwise, you will have to regularly clean the wall. In addition, such mounts are considered rather unreliable. Landing the structure on the dowels with fixing with self-tapping screws can lead to unpleasant consequences both for the integrity of the bike itself when it falls, and for the owner of the bike.
In the closet
To ensure the storage of bicycles in the apartment, you can design a special closet. The most convenient solution is to install such furniture in the hallway or hallway. In this case, you don’t have to wear a bike through the entire apartment. You can develop a layout for such furniture for several bicycles.
Today, ready-made furniture for sports equipment is on sale. Most often it is presented in the form of a folding screen, wooden or metal frames. In the upper part of such products there is a platform for placing two-wheeled vehicles. At the bottom are shelves and drawers, where it is convenient to place all kinds of tools and accessories. Such structures are installed along the wall and do not take up too much space.
Storing the bike
An excellent solution is an adult or a children's folding bike. In some designs of such a plan, not only the frame is refracted in half, but the steering wheel, seat, pedals, and other structural elements are also removed. With extremely limited free space, bicycle storage in the apartment can be carried out by removing the wheels. Focusing on such a decision, when buying a bike it is worth stopping on a model with numerous eccentrics.
Floor stand
Bike storage racks are often used in shops and repair shops. However, similar solutions are suitable for an ordinary city apartment. Having placed a bike on a rack, it becomes much more convenient to service it. Unfortunately, this method cannot be compared with wall mounts in terms of saving free space.
Useful Tips
Before storing a bicycle in an apartment during the off-season or during a long trip, it is recommended to perform several actions that will extend the life of the iron horse:
- clean the bike from dust and dirt;
- remove old grease;
- grease gearshifts, brakes and joints;
- thoroughly wipe the metal components with an oiled piece of cloth;
- loosen shock absorber springs;
- to inflate the tires, in the case of placing the bike standing on wheels, since the weight of the bicycle can lead to their deformation;
- Coat the tires with a protective silicone that will protect them from drying out.
Independent manufacture of bicycle storage brackets
If the owner of the bike has no desire to spend money on the purchase of an expensive factory-made bracket, you can make a practical design yourself. Here you can try to implement several ideas:
- To make a design in the form of two wooden corners, which are fixed on the wall using screws and serve as a stand under the bicycle frame. It is enough to wrap the surface of the latter with electrical tape or cover it with another protective material, which will avoid scratches on the bike.
- Make a wooden shelf with cuts under the shape of the frame. Holes are easy to make with a jigsaw. The design can be screwed all to the same wall.
- Install a homemade metal hook on the wall. In this case, it is worth focusing on the design features of factory analogues, paying special attention to the reliable fixation of the device on the wall.
Some craftsmen design more sophisticated bicycle storage brackets. However, as practice shows, the higher the complexity, the less reliable such devices are.
Finally
As you can see, there are a whole host of good options for storing two-wheeled vehicles in an apartment. One of the optimal solutions is the use of special floor and wall brackets. Proper placement of the latter makes it possible to save a whole lot of free space, ensuring comfortable movement even in the cramped apartment. The widest choice of brackets at points of sale of bicycles and accessories to them make the presented option available to any lover of an active lifestyle.