Bicycle storage: where to store a bicycle in a small apartment

Ways to place the bike in the garage

If the family has only one bike, provided that it is properly prepared for winter, most owners find a place for the bike in the apartment. If this convenient mode of transport is used by every family member, then its placement for storage turns into a serious problem.

Even if there is a spacious garage, it is rarely possible to place special racks in it for parking bicycles. To save space, they use a variety of storage options, among which the most popular are:

If you have a large enough garage, then you can fix several bicycles on the wall by the frames at once.

Hanging the bike from a frame parallel to the wall. To do this, use special mounts available on sale at bike stores. Such fasteners can be made independently. With sufficient wall space and the correct positioning of the mounts, several bicycles can be accommodated at the same time. With this storage method, the bikes take up minimal space.
With a small wall area, you can fix the bike perpendicular to it. In this case, the bicycle wheels are attached to the wall using special mounts. This way you can place several bicycles in a small area, however, they will take up a lot of space. For rational use, the mounting space should be placed as high as possible, then a set of spare tires or boxes with spare parts can be stowed under the bicycles.
If the garage has sufficient ceiling height, it can be used to store bicycles. In this case, a complex fastening system is used, consisting of cables, hooks-fasteners and suspension blocks.

Owners of garages with high ceilings may be advised to mount their bikes there.

The bike is secured parallel to the ceiling, and the block system helps to gently lift or lower the bike down.

The easiest way to attach bicycles to the ceiling is with metal hooks

At high heights, ordinary metal hooks can be used for fastening, on which the bike is suspended.

Regardless of the method chosen, you must ensure that all items used to store bicycles are securely fastened. A high-quality structure mount should confidently support the weight of any bike model.

Storage in the apartment

To compactly space a two-wheeled vehicle is a big problem, especially if the room where it is located is small

It is very important that the bike is stored in an apartment away from hot radiators and other sources of heat. Rubber parts and seals of the vehicle forks are capable of deformation under the influence of hot air

If there is a spacious hall, it is possible to store the bike there in winter after setting up a place for its stay. The floor is covered with thick polyethylene, a piece of linoleum or wrapping paper. In the same way, you need to prepare the place if the bike will be stored in a room.

In rainy weather, leave your vehicle at the entrance for 5 - 10 minutes until it dries out, and only then bring it into the apartment.
Those who have a small studio apartment can hang their vehicles on the wall.
So that the useful area under the bed does not disappear, it is convenient to keep your bike unassembled there. And if it is foldable, you can hang it on a hanger in the hallway.
For storing expensive models of sports bicycles, special cabinets are provided.They can be purchased ready-made or made to order, based on the characteristics of your interior.

Alternative locations

If the apartment does not have enough space to accommodate a bike, you can look for alternative storage options.

Garage

During the winter period Conveniently store your bike in the garage. The main thing is to choose the optimal solution. A large garage can be equipped with a rack for several bicycles. You can also arrange reliable fixings on the wall or ceiling. They can be in the form of solid monolithic hooks or flexible hangers.

Balcony

On the glassed-in balcony, you can place your bike in several ways:

attach to the ceiling or wall with hooks;
install a mobile stand.

Basement

The well-equipped basement is ideal for storing your bike during the winter. In this case, you can use wall stands or mini ceiling lifts.

Video tips from bike technicians and experienced bike riders

Preservation of the bike for the winter:

Master class from the pros:

How to hang a bike on the wall of the loggia? Wall Mount Overview:

The cost of a modern bike starts from several hundred dollars and can reach several thousand conventional units. Therefore, it will be doubly offensive if you find rust on the frame or cracked tires before the start of the season. To avoid this, you need to store the bike on the balcony in winter in the right conditions, be sure to take measures to preserve the equipment.

Having made high-quality preparation and equipped a storage space, you will not have any problems during the off-season. And after its completion, it is enough to assemble the bike and, if necessary, remove excess lubricant, after which your iron friend will be completely ready to conquer new peaks.

How to place your bike on a wall or ceiling

There are several ways you can store your bike on a corridor wall at home. Special bike lockers are unlikely to be suitable for a small apartment, but there are other options:

Shelf stand. It can be an ordinary wooden rail with a side, nailed to the wall. A bicycle is placed on such a shelf and leans against the wall. It is quite possible to make such a simple storage system on your own.
Special rack. Their variety is widely represented in sports stores today. There are shelves that allow you to hang two or even three bicycles from the wall at once. Such a rack is attached to the wall using dowels, self-tapping screws or other types of hardware, and the vehicle is suspended from the frame, thanks to a special bracket, lock or collet grip.
Special hooks and holders. There is a huge variety of designs of this type on the market today. Thanks to compact hooks, brackets or holders that can be easily attached to the surface with ordinary screws, you can place your bike not only on the wall, but even on the ceiling, which will save even more space. On such a hook or bracket of an iron horse, you can hang it from the frame in the vertical or horizontal direction.

Thus, even in a very small apartment, a permanent bicycle storage can be organized without any particular problems. You just need to show desire, a little imagination, effort, time and finance. There are many ways to solve this problem today.

Where are bicycles usually stored?

Usually, transport is sent for the winter to those places where it will not interfere with anyone - it can be a balcony, a shed or a garage. The luckiest bicycles are in the owner's apartment.

What diseases lie in wait for bicycles left in the cold or even just without shelter from rain and snow?

Rust that will settle on all metal parts of a two-wheeled car. Then it will be difficult to get rid of it, and the bicycle's life will be sharply reduced.
Rubber on wheels also does not like temperature changes too much, and even sharp ones. Winter frost, even without drops, will have a very bad effect on her. Under its influence, the rubber will lose its elasticity and begin to crack.

Wall mounts

Do you prefer less complex design solutions? Then turn your attention to the numerous wall mount options. Creativity is off the charts! Retainers can be styled to suit anything from small storage shelves to antlers

By the way, the "shelf" option is the most popular, as it is versatile - suitable for apartments in any style. The idea is simple, like everything ingenious: the bicycle frame is fixed in special longitudinal slots, and sometimes even as if put on the shelf from above. Convenient and fast.

There is nothing special to say about hooks - everything is obvious here. However, one of the ideas deserves to be mentioned separately. If you have identified a corridor as a storage place for your two-wheeled vehicle, then you will like the method that allows you to fit the bike into the interior in an original way. Imagine: front door, hanger, shoe cabinet - everything as usual? However, there is no wallpaper on the wall, but a special sticker with a picture of a cyclist in real size. Hooks for fixing the vehicle are located in appropriate places. When not in use, the bike takes its place, blending into the picture. And empty mounts "play out" with the image and do not catch the eye. A curious way, would you agree? Moreover, stickers are increasingly becoming the trend of the season.

Floor structures

Don't want or can't punch holes in the walls? No problem, there is another option - floor structures. There are also a great variety of their modifications. The most common one is a la shelving. Simple, but practical: in one of the sectors there is a bicycle, and in the rest there are accessories for it.

However, there are also more interesting solutions. For example, racks resembling step-ladders. Or absolutely incredible constructions, similar to ... you can't tell right away. Everyone has different associations. At one end, these "art objects" rest against the wall, the other against the floor. The paradox is that, despite the surrealism, they are very easy to use.

A cyclist wishing to relax with a cup of tea parks his two-wheeled vehicle directly at the table.

By the way, about originality. Japanese designers have developed unusual bike racks for cafes, which are tables with slots in the sidewalls. A cyclist wishing to relax with a cup of tea parks his two-wheeled vehicle directly on the table: the bicycle seat becomes a bar stool. Creative? So why not use the idea to create an interior piece? You can, for example, use the same principle to "assemble" a workplace in your home office. And the bike is attached, and the art object has appeared!

There is a solution! Anything that gets dirty can be hidden in a special bicycle cover.

Under the finale, we will answer the question that must have tormented you while reading the article: "What to do with the dirt?" Yes, the bicycle is not the cleanest vehicle. It is hard to wash the wheels every time, and this will not save the situation, because there are also chains in the lubricant, pedals. But there is a solution! Anything that gets dirty can be hidden in a special bicycle cover. Aesthetic, practical, effective.

What? Bicycle culture to the masses! The cyclist is not alive by vestibules, storage rooms and balconies! It's time to use modern developments as well. Take on board any of the mentioned ways of storing wheeled vehicles and modify your homes according to your needs. Give an innovative approach to solving bicycle storage problems!

Choose the right parking space

The ideal option is to store your bike in the hallway, on the loggia or next to the workplace. Only in these cases you can not worry about its safety.If for any reason you need to leave your bike in other places, you should be very careful in choosing them.

Here is a list of places you don't need to park:

crowded sidewalks in the city center;
lively embankments;
sites near metro stations;
deserted courtyards;
deserted alleys.

Most often bicycles are stolen in crowded places, but leaving your personal transport on a deserted street is also risky. Here you need to observe the golden mean: park your bike where there are always people, but there are not very many of them.

When leaving your bike in a dedicated parking lot near a shopping mall, cinema, restaurant or other public place, take a look at how often other cyclists use it. Cases of thefts from bicycle parking are not uncommon.

How to store your bike correctly in winter

Most often, bicycles are stored on balconies, but there they are too exposed to the aggressive effects of sunlight and precipitation. Therefore, garages are often considered as an alternative to an apartment.

Storage preparation

Before storing your bike in the garage for a long time, you need to prepare it. Compliance with the recommendations will preserve the appearance and working condition of the vehicle until spring:

Remove all dirt and old lubricant from the bike. Thoroughly clean the elements with a rag or brush and then treat with solvent

At the same time, remember that in the spring you will need to lubricate the chain and other rubbing parts back.
Apply fresh lubricant and change technical fluids, paying particular attention to chains, derailleurs and brake cables.
Use silicone to protect metal parts from temperature fluctuations and moisture.

For conservation, certain actions are performed with the elements:

The chain must be set to minimum sprockets everywhere.
Loosen all brake cables and springs.
It is recommended that you halve the tire pressure, even though you have carefully monitored and inflated this parameter throughout the season so that the tires have the correct pressure.
Remove the computers from the unit.
Loosen the head and seat straps.

Such measures will protect the bike from breaking the cables and cracks in the rubber, which can appear from the cold.

To save more space, do a few tinkering with your bike before attaching it to the holder:

remove the pedals and place them next to the cranks;
turn the steering wheel so that its handles and frame are at a 90 degree angle;
dismantle the seat if it is not needed for hook;
if the bike is stored on the ceiling, the wheels can be removed.

Location of the bike in the garage

If the garage is equipped with batteries, do not place bikes next to them.

In general, the ways of storing a bicycle in a garage are not much different from an apartment one. Don't worry if this is your first experience as storing your bike in the garage is just as easy and convenient. Let's take a look at the main options:

Ceiling mount. Two blocks of holders are fixed on the ceiling, between which a rope with hooks for the handlebar and saddle is pulled. It is enough to pull on the free ends, as the bike rises up. This method is suitable for any type of bike, difficulties arise only with the initial installation.
Wall mounts. The design consists of clamps installed on the wall at different heights. They usually have rubberized ends to protect the bike parts from damage. The vehicle is fixed to the frame, so it can be difficult with the ladies and foldable models. Of the advantages, it is worth noting a more rigid fixation, the ability to place several units at once and their constant visibility.
Fixation for the wheel. In this case, different devices are used, which are united by the fact that the bike does not hold to the frame, but to the rotating element. Thanks to this fixing, you can save a lot of space, because the units are installed in an upright position.However, this method is not recommended for models with hydraulic brakes. The load on one of the rims also increases, which leads to frame distortion.

The garage is an ideal place for wintering a bicycle, where transport does not bother anyone, and proper preparation will protect it from possible changes in temperature and humidity. If you have perfect cleanliness in this room, then you can put the bike in a case so that it does not get dirty. Garage bike mounts are identical to apartment options, so cyclists can choose the one that suits them best.

Bicycle storage: what you need to know about?

Many bike owners do not always pay enough attention to how their bike is stored and in what conditions. But this approach cannot be called correct at all. Bicycle storage, like any other transport, must be approached responsibly. Therefore, we will try to tell as much as possible about the conditions in which it is better to store bicycle transport and the principles of its maintenance.

Temperature regime

It is not recommended to store your bike in low temperatures (below 0 ° C). You should also avoid sudden and significant changes in temperature. Due to the drops, condensation forms, which spoils the metal, therefore, the general condition of transport. Therefore, you should not leave the bike on the street or on the balcony for the winter. But in a garage for these purposes it is perfect, because even in an unheated garage, the temperature rarely drops below 0 ° C.

Storage preparation

Before leaving the bike to stand until spring, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures, thanks to which, even in conditions far from ideal, the transport systems will not lose their properties and in the spring it will be as good as before wintering. More details about these measures are below.

How to store

It is also important how the bike will be stored. Will it stand on wheels or will it be suspended

Disassembled or whole

It is worth paying attention to the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the downtime of your model's bike. After all, bicycles differ in both materials and nuances of structure and work.

Storage methods

There are several ways to store your bike in your apartment. You can disassemble it into parts, as well as use special stands, hooks, hangers and other devices.

Exploded view

You need to disassemble the bike in the following order:

Loosen the fasteners and remove the steering wheel. You can also rotate it so that it is in a position proportional to the frame.
Remove the seat and pedals one by one.
Loosen the nuts or eccentric on the hub to carefully remove the front wheel.
Remove the rear wheel.

All bike parts must be packed separately and stored in a warm place.

Racks

To hide the bike in a hard-to-reach place in the apartment, special stands or racks with adjustable height and angle can be used. These devices are ideal not only for storage, but also for DIY repairs, including wheel alignment and centering. The presence of rubber protectors on the hooks of the rack prevents scratches on the bike frame.

Wall hooks

In a small apartment, it is advisable to use wall hooks to store your bike. To install them, it is enough to drill holes of a suitable diameter.

Vertical storage hooks

You can store your bike in an upright position using hooks fixed to the ceiling. In this case, the vehicle is suspended by the wheel.

Shelf mount

There are two types of bike racks - for hanging from the frame and with a saddle holder. This piece of furniture can be easily decorated with books, flowers or other elements.

Hangers

A wide range of bike hangers allows you to attach this vehicle in a variety of ways:

to the wall or ceiling behind the wheel;
behind the frame to the ceiling or wall;
to door.

On the ceiling

With the help of various mounts, you can hang your bike from the ceiling vertically by the wheel, and horizontally by the wheel, seat or frame.

Special wardrobe

It is advisable to place a special small locker in the corridor for storing a bicycle and related accessories. This piece of furniture should be open, with a depth of at least 20 centimeters.

Special mounts for the bike on the wall

Now that we have found a suitable bike shelter, let's think about how we can secure or hang it so that it is safe and secure for everyone in the household, including young explorers.

So, the bike mount on the wall can be different - some types are sold in bike shops, others are made by craftsmen with their own hands. We are talking about a kind of wooden shelves, hangers for bicycles, where the latter are suspended from the frame. They do not take up much space, and it becomes possible to hang several bicycles on one shelf. In addition, a beautiful wooden hanger will neatly fit into the interior of the hallway.

For the frame, the bike can also be hung on special metal brackets with hooks

The advantage of such a bike rack in an apartment is that you can attach not only one bike to it, but several - this is important for those apartments in which each of its inhabitants has their own bike. By the way, by placing two brackets at different heights, you will provide storage space for four bikes, fix children's bikes lower, and adults higher

The vehicle is suspended from the wheels on bicycle hooks - a good option, but not entirely convenient, since in this case the bicycle is located perpendicular to the wall, which means that it remains in sight all the time. However, if you place the hooks somewhere in the corner of the hallway or any other room, it turns out to be quite compact.

In an upright position, you can fix the bike behind the steering wheel using brackets, in this case, just like in the previous one, such a mount is equipped with a support for the rear wheel so as not to spoil the wall.

For several bicycles, a wooden or metal rack is used, on which up to 4 bicycles can be fixed in two tiers.

Among the "exotic" options for storing the bike, one cannot fail to note its fixation on struts under the ceiling. A similar block system can be purchased ready-made or made on your own. The disadvantages include the inconvenience of using it in the apartment, because the height of our ceilings is low, only some 2.5-2.8 m, which means that the bike will interfere with the normal movement of households.

Regardless of how you hang the bike on the wall - horizontally or vertically, you must understand that by the time of "hanging" it must already be clean, otherwise the wall and floor covering will quickly come to an end. And in fact, there are few extreme lovers who will allow you to hang your beloved "friend" with clods of dirt on the wheels.

Balcony storage: far from the best option

The first thing that comes to mind for a bike owner who decides to keep a bike in an apartment is to send it to the balcony. However, this solution cannot be called ideal for a number of reasons:

Even a glazed balcony does not guarantee complete protection of the bike from significant changes in air temperature and relative humidity. This is especially true in winter.
In addition, a steel horse left on a balcony or loggia can be exposed to direct sunlight, which negatively affects the paint layer, chrome parts, plastic parts and rubber. Thus, a bicycle on the balcony requires additional protection in the form of a cover or cover.
It is very inconvenient to keep your bike on the balcony all the time. Especially in the summer, when after a walk it has to be carried through the whole apartment. And make the way back when you want to ride.

That is why the option looks much more preferable when the bike is stored near the front door during the active season, and in winter it does not bother anyone, taking shelter in a secluded, but heated and dry corner.

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Preparation

Preparatory measures are considered a must if someone wants to store a bike at home. Each element should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Areas that may be subject to corrosion, it is desirable to treat with grease, it is imperative to treat the chain. It is advisable to additionally acquire special tools for preparation.

These include:

Chain-washing machine;
Solid oil;
Wet wipes, etc.

All these things contribute to the normal preparation of the vehicle for storage in the winter.

Also, for storage, you can use specially made covers, which will significantly limit the contact of the bike with the environment.

Use a secure bike lock

There are many types of bicycle locks today, but not all of them are equally reliable. Most cyclists use inexpensive and fairly thin cables with a key or combination lock, but such a cable is easy to bite - this lock does not provide the required level of security. It is advisable to use the cable as additional protection, but not as the main one.

A more suitable option is a chain lock. And although the chain weighs more than the cable (on average, a chain up to 1 m long weighs more than 1 kg), it is quite difficult to saw or cut it without attracting attention.

What to buy

A lock with a code and a textile cover from ABUS Web, 1 199 rubles →
5-digit code lock with AliExpress, 779 rubles →
Bluetooth-lock with alarm from AliExpress, 2 108 rubles →

Chain lock in soft fabric braid does not scratch the bike frame

An alternative to the chain is the U-lock. It is not very convenient to carry it with you, but you can always find a way out of the situation. For example, there are folding locks, which are made of steel plates and when unfolded have the same dimensions as a U-lock. These plates are easy to fold, and such a lock does not take up much space.

What to buy

Stainless steel U-lock with AliExpress, 1,524 rubles →
U-lock with three keys from AliExpress, 1,400 rubles →
Stainless steel folding lock with AliExpress, 2 255 rubles →

Another type of reliable bicycle locks are wheel and saddle stoppers. It is better to choose them with non-standard bolts and nuts, which are unscrewed with a special wrench. The likelihood that a thief will have just such a key is small.

What to buy

Stopper on a wheel made of stainless steel from AliExpress, 213 rubles →
Chrome wheel stopper from AliExpress, 358 rubles →
Ultra-light wheel stopper from AliExpress, 648 rubles →

And the last thing: use several locks at the same time - this will reduce the likelihood of theft.

Choosing a storage location

When choosing a place to store a bicycle, you must take into account the degree of warmth and cold, humidity, and permeability of the room. Changes in temperature can provoke the appearance of rusty spots on the case, because warm air contains more moisture, which eventually settles on the surface. A too damp room is also a bad option for keeping a bike in it.But in a walkable room, the device will touch everything, which will cause discomfort for residents, or someone will break the details of the device.

The garage can also accommodate a vehicle. There will be approximately the same air temperature and no wind, as well as precipitation. But it is unacceptable to leave the bike in the pit, because it is damp there.

You can take your bike to the dacha, and it will perfectly survive the winter in a barn or other reliable building. The main thing is to comply with the same storage conditions: moderate temperature, dry air and protection from rain and snow.

If the decision to store the bike is made in favor of an apartment, then you need to choose a place remote from heating or heaters. Close proximity to heat will adversely affect the color of the vehicle.