How to store a bike in an apartment?

Bicycle owners most often use it from spring to autumn, and with the end of the warm period, they think about where it is better to place their vehicle for the winter in an apartment environment. Many people use a balcony for storage, but you can also find non-standard ideas for placing a bike at home.

Usually the mechanism of bicycles is represented by two systems: folding and non-folding. The folding system is much more practical, it eliminates the additional search for storage space. When folded, this design will easily fit in any unobtrusive corner of the apartment, on the mezzanine and even under the bed.

When choosing a storage location for your bike, it is important to follow certain rules.

• Eliminate moisture and temperature extremes. Humidity contributes to the formation of rust on the metal and negatively affects the painted layer (in budget versions, it can even crack and peel off). Sharp fluctuations in air temperature will lead to the formation of condensation, which also has a destructive effect on the metal structure. Storage on an unglazed balcony, in an unheated garage, basement, bathroom is unacceptable even when using a covering material.
• Places exposed to direct sunlight and in close proximity to heat sources (batteries, convectors, heaters) are not suitable for storage. When exposed to strong heat, cracks may form on the rubber, and plastic elements will lose their original appearance.
• Optimal storage option - disassembledby placing it in a waterproof case.

An excellent option would be warm glazed balcony. But to prevent direct sunlight, you will need to cover the bike with a thick cloth or place it in a bicycle cover.

In many houses of the old room stock ("Khrushchevs") - there are fitted wardrobes or dark roomsideal for storing your bike. Of course, from an aesthetic point of view, they look not very attractive, and the owners of the apartments are trying to remove them. But when dismantling these old structures, one should think not only about freeing up free space, but also about creating modern dressing rooms in their place, where there is a place for large-sized things.

Before putting the bike into hibernation in winter, it should be thoroughly cleaned from dirt. Be sure to wash the vehicle and wipe it dry (if possible, you can let it dry on its own).

To create an anti-dust effect and an additional protective layer on the frame it is recommended to wipe it with a soft cloth and a few drops of machine oil. To protect the tires from cracking, you will need their treatment with a special silicone spray.

It is important to decide in what condition the bike will be stored at home. In the normal horizontal state (wheel-supported) it is necessary to maximum inflation of the tires to the level indicated on the side of the tire. No inflation required for suspended storage.

With prolonged downtime you need to get the batteries out of the headlight and headlamp to prevent oxidation of the contacts.

An entrance hall with a large square, a spacious loggia or a balcony with an appropriate level of insulation will allow you to easily allocate an area for storing a bicycle.

When living in small apartments, you can find a variety of ideas and mounting methods for organically fitting the vehicle into the interior.

Wall placement will help save space. Practical storage hanging in a horizontal position at a height that does not interfere with the free movement of people around the room.

WITHThe simplest and most convenient types of fasteners are hooks that screw into the wall. They come in different types and designs. The choice depends on the level of suspension height and the weight of the bike model.

A good option is special shelf that is attached to the wall... It is a device in the form of two boards adjoining each other with a slot in the middle. A bicycle frame is inserted into this slot.

For such placement, it is recommended to use Da Vinci two-piece system... The front wheel is attached to the hook, and the rear wheel is located in an additional bed, which prevents it from touching the wallpaper and leaving tire marks.

It is important to determine the material of the walls before installing the fasteners. The load-bearing brick is the most reliable. Plasterboard is not the best option, as the mounts can loosen over time and the bike can suddenly fall.

When living in a studio apartment or a small one-room apartment, it is very difficult to choose a place to store a sports unit.When, it would seem, there is no place at all, ceiling placement will come to the rescue. It is rational and in no way infringes on space.

Ceiling mounts are designed for concrete or timber floors only.

The simplest device consists of two strong hooks, which are fixed on the plane, and the wheels hook onto them (the bike is placed "upside down").

If you have several bicycles, it is worth using roof railing system, which is more desirable to install on the balcony. It is made of durable steel or aluminum profiles in the form of two longitudinal and three transverse rails.

The longitudinal strips are firmly fixed to the ceiling, and the transverse ones, equipped with roller hangers, are attached to them from below... Steel hooks are mounted to the transverse profiles, which move freely along the horizontal plane. They can be easily adjusted in height. The bicycles are suspended on hooks from the wheels, and the sports unit, as in the previous version, looks upside down.

A convenient way to store horizontally overhead storage is the so-called bicycle lift. You can buy it in specialized stores. It is a lifting mechanism attached to 2 blocks that are attached to the ceiling. Each unit has several holes for mounting the mount. According to the diagram provided, a rope adjustable in length is passed through fasteners, hooks and roller guides.

The bike is attached to the handlebars and saddle on two extra strong rubberized hooks. With the help of a rope guided by a roller mechanism, you can easily adjust the desired storage height, then easily lower and raise the bike. The package contains detailed instructions, so there will be no installation problems.

If you do not want to mount the mounts to a wall or ceiling, you can buy racks or bike stands.

The racks resemble a kind of metal hangers with hook-holders at different heights. Ideal for storing multiple two-wheeled vehicles. One sturdy rack can accommodate up to 4 bicycles. They hang neatly above each other without taking up extra space.

Stands are low, elongated racks, at the bottom of which there are several compartments (open or closed) for storing things. At the top of the body there are special slots where the bicycle wheels are placed. The slots secure them securely and prevent the bike from falling. These coasters look very impressive, and the handlebars can serve as a kind of hangers for light items (bags, scarves, hats).

Craftsmen will be able to make such racks and stands on their own. The main thing is to choose a durable and aesthetic material.

The presence of a small storage room (dark room) in the apartment allows it to be used as a bicycle.

It is permissible to store the bike disassembled. Partial disassembly of a conventional bicycle: removing the wheels, turning the handlebars - will allow you to place it in niches behind cabinet furniture, under a bed, in free space behind a sofa or armchair.

In one section, you can hang the bike vertically by the hook, fixing it with an additional holder, and in the other, you can place the attributes and necessary accessories: tools, a pump, care products, a helmet, cycling gloves, glasses and much more.

For such storage, it is possible to release (re-equip) the old cabinet available at home.For the convenience of closing the door, it will be more practical to remove the steering wheel and saddle. Alternatively, you can remove the doors and leave the bike unchanged. The cabinet will take the form of an open rack.

Storing your bike in winter is not a difficult problem. Glavnoe, decide on a more suitable option and implement it.

For information on how you can store your bike in your apartment, see below.