How to store a bicycle in an apartment? In fact, this is not an exact question. To answer it, you need to ask a number of additional questions: what kind of bike (folding or not), what size of the room, when to store the bike (in winter or summer), etc. The answers can be different, and in order to solve this problem, you need to consider many factors.
From this article you will learn several ways by which you can store your bike in the apartment, based on the additional questions above. We will also discuss how you can prepare a place for a bicycle in advance and where it is undesirable to put it.
Where you can not put a bike
There are a lot of options where to store the bike, but there is also a small list of places where storing the bike is not recommended or strictly prohibited. It is important to remember such places in order not to listen to complaints from neighbors in the future and not to experience your own disappointments when the bike is stolen:
- More than 95% of bicycle thefts are committed on the landing. Even a thick chain wrapped through the entire frame will not protect you from the thief's crafts.
- Technical rooms are not the most suitable option. Increased humidity and dust can adversely affect the condition of the bike, namely the saddle and grips.
- Keeping your bike on the balcony (unglazed) is a difficult test when it comes to long periods. Snow, rain, moisture - all this will put your bike machine in an unfit condition, even if you cover it with a thick film.
The best option is a warm room where your faithful friend will not suffer from hooligans and will always be at hand.
Prepare a place before buying a bike
Often the question: “How to store a bicycle in an apartment?” ask after his purchase. And this is wrong. A prudent person will prepare a place for storing a bicycle in advance and only then will go buy it. Of course, this is not as fun as in an emergency to look for a suitable place and stuff a dirty bike there, but it will be more correct.
To avoid many problems finding a place, you can look at the folding bike, which will not occupy a large space. This mechanism is very convenient and allows you to hide the bike in cabinets and mezzanines. Folding bicycles are also quickly assembled and disassembled, so there will be no problem with this.
With an ordinary bike it will be more difficult. If you choose such a bike, it is better with an aluminum frame, which is much lighter than steel and has corrosion protection. Hydraulic fork and brakes can be severely damaged during prolonged minus temperatures, keep this in mind.
Short of home
Ideally, in order not to stain the walls or floor, the bicycle does not need to be left at home, at least during the season. To constantly clean the wheels and wash the floors after themselves, few people want to. And how to store a bicycle in a small apartment, if it is all furnished?
The staircase is the latest, extreme option. If your porch is not under guard of the guard, then leaving it there overnight is extremely undesirable. As we learned at the beginning of the article, 95% of bicycle thefts are committed on the landing and often in the dark.
In order not to constantly bring the dirty bike into the apartment, you can rent a small garage, preferably warm, with like-minded friends. In such a place, you can not only leave the bike for a long time and not worry about its safety, but also, if necessary, repair and lubricate the parts, without being afraid to stain the floor.
In the porch
One of the favorite places for storing a bicycle in the Russian Federation is the landing. In many entrances you can find bicycles, and even strollers, bolted to a railing. This option is very convenient: the bike does not stain the carpet or linoleum in the apartment and is always at hand. But what do neighbors say about this?
How to store a bicycle in an apartment, they are not worried. For them, the most important thing is to comply with the simplest requirements - not to block flowering plants on window sills, not to interfere with heavy furniture and just not annoy your presence. And everything else - decide for yourself. In addition, storing a bicycle in the stairwell may violate fire safety requirements, namely the provision of free exit from the premises.
But if nevertheless you decide to leave the bike in the stairwell, then you need to find a small unused corner that will be on your floor. With the help of bicycle fasteners, you can hang it on the wall, so it will not take up much space and block the passage.
On the balcony
Many cyclists claim that the only place to store the bike is on the balcony. But not so simple. For example, if the balcony is not glazed, then you can leave the bike there only in warm weather (summer, spring or autumn). Snow is very detrimental to hydraulic parts (brakes, fork). Even when you cover the bicycle with a film, it only saves from rain, but condensate still builds up and destroys the mechanisms.
And if your balcony is glazed and warm enough, then perhaps this is the best place to store a bicycle. But now it is necessary to decide how to put it. If we are talking about long periods, for example, wintering, it is recommended to unscrew the pedals, the steering wheel and the front wheel so that they do not interfere, and fold the bike into the far empty corner or a special cabinet.
Another option is bike mounts. This can be a wall hook, suspensions to the ceiling and other mechanisms. Such equipment will help to quickly put the bike in storage and not take up much free space.
Conservation
How to store a bicycle in an apartment in winter? The first step is to completely clean it. This does not mean that you can simply wipe the frame with a damp cloth and wash the wheels. It is important to remove dirt that has clogged in the pedals and chain. You should also clean the bike from old grease and process all the details of the new one. Among other things, it is recommended to loosen the shock absorbers and all cables.
Fully disassembled, the area occupied by the bike will be much smaller, which will allow you to hide it in a closet, mezzanine or under the bed if it has a high podium. If there is no pressure on the tires, it is best to lower them completely, and if the bike is standing, then, on the contrary, pump up.
In many small apartments there are still cupboards, mezzanines, which are located between the hallway and the kitchen. If you have it and large enough, then this is the best place to store a bicycle for a long time.
In the closet
When designing a dressing room, you can leave a small place to store your bike. If you suspend it vertically, then you can use the frame as a rod for trempels, and the steering wheel as hooks for bags. Thus, your bike not only does not take away the workplace, but also helps to pack things.
There is also special furniture that is designed for convenient storage of a bicycle and additional equipment. Such furniture is not cheap, but it fits perfectly into almost any interior and allows you to store your bike in high quality. If you have a large entrance hall or a wide vestibule, then such a design is exactly what you need.
On the wall
Unfortunately, not everyone in the apartment has a large closet where you can hide a bicycle. Therefore, it is necessary to look for alternative options. One such option is walls. As a rule, the wall mount is more suitable for long-term storage of the bicycle, because constantly washing the wheels quickly gets bored.
How to store a bicycle in an apartment? The first step is to prepare the working corner of the wall, on which we will mount the bracket. It is best to mount the bicycle bracket on the wall near the exit of the apartment so as not to stain the rest of the rooms. It should be noted in advance that it is not recommended to store a bicycle near a heating battery or even an electric convector. A constant source of heat that will come in contact with the bicycle will adversely affect the protective varnish and rubber.
In bike shops, various mounts for storing the bike in a horizontal position are sold: hooks, shelves, fasteners, brackets, racks, etc. A bike mount on the wall is the most optimal option that is cheap and you can install it yourself. When designing such a mount, remember that the weight of the bike is from 15 to 20 kg (adult), so the fasteners must withstand 5-7 kg more than expected. Also, the distance from the wheels to the floor should be at least 20 centimeters (for easy cleaning).
On the ceiling
The last idea how to store bicycles in the apartment is on the ceiling. It sounds, of course, strange, but this option is quite practical. The roller-mounted ceiling system helps you easily mount the bike over the cabinet or in an unused corner of the room. Of course, if you have low ceilings, then this option will not suit you. But living in an apartment where the ceiling height is from 3 meters, you can successfully implement the idea with a ceiling suspension system for your bike.
Before fastening the bike, it is necessary to clean the wheels so that dirt does not spill onto the head. To do this, first you need to wash them, then leave the bike in the stairwell for 5-10 minutes, and when most of the water drains, wipe the floor and fix it securely.
Conclusion
As we found out, there are a lot of ideas on how to store a bicycle in an apartment. The most important thing is to be prudent and prepare such a place in advance. Some state houses have special cells on the ground floor that are designed to store bicycles, strollers and other children's vehicles. Keys are stored only by those who use this site. Of course, the presence of a third-party utility room would easily ease the situation. Not everyone has acquaintances who can leave such vehicles in storage, because a bicycle takes up a lot of space. In this article, you will definitely find a suitable option for you, and storing your bike will no longer be a problem.