Why don't the Dutch use umbrellas? What's the point if your hands are always holding the handlebars of the bike! It's true: Amsterdam has more bicycles than people, and the Netherlands has 35,000 kilometers of bike paths.
The bicycle is popular all over the world. 200 years later - and it was invented in Germany in 1817 - he created his own subculture, his own sport, his own philosophy.
At any time, it strangely excites and brings incomparable emotions.
“During this time, I began to learn to ride a bicycle in the arena. It’s very strange why I’m drawn to do this. Evgeniy Ivanovich tried to dissuade me and was upset that I was going, but I was not ashamed. On the contrary, I feel that there is a natural foolishness here, that I don’t care what they think, and it’s just sinlessly, childishly fun,” Leo Tolstoy.
And even the advent of the automobile could not diminish its role. “The bicycle is the most civilized means of transportation known to man. Other modes of transport are becoming more nightmarish every day. Only the bicycle remains pure at heart." - Iris Murdoch.
From poetry to action: we decided to create a detailed guide on how to properly store a bike, where you can do it in Moscow and how to prepare a bike for storage so that you can be right on top next season.
On the wall
One option is to hang the bike on the wall. You can place it horizontally or vertically, the main thing is to choose a place where it will look organic and complement the space. For example, next to paintings or a bookcase.
Any fastenings will do, from standard hooks to original fixtures. A suspension can be made from an old bicycle seat and handlebars, creating a designer accessory. It’s important to just turn on your imagination.
Use a secure bike lock
Today there are many types of bicycle locks, but not all of them are equally reliable. Most cycling enthusiasts 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 proper 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 a chain weighs more than a cable (on average, a chain up to 1 m long weighs more than 1 kg), sawing or cutting it without attracting attention is quite difficult.
What to buy
- Lock with code and textile shell from ABUS Web, 1,199 rubles →
- Lock with a 5-digit code from AliExpress, 779 rubles →
- Bluetooth lock with alarm from AliExpress, 2,108 rubles →
A chain lock in a soft fabric braid does not scratch the bicycle frame.
An alternative to a chain is a U-shaped lock. It’s not entirely convenient to carry it with you, but you can always find a way out of the situation. For example, there are also folding locks that are made of steel plates and, when unfolded, have the same dimensions as a U-lock. These plates fold easily and this lock does not take up much space.
What to buy
- Stainless steel U-lock from AliExpress, 1,524 rubles →
- U-lock with three keys from AliExpress, 1,400 rubles →
- Folding stainless steel lock from 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 using a special wrench. The likelihood that a thief will have just such a key is low.
What to buy
- Stainless steel wheel stopper from AliExpress, 213 rubles →
- Chrome wheel stopper from AliExpress, 358 rubles →
- Ultra-light wheel stopper from AliExpress, 648 rubles →
And lastly: use several locks at the same time - this will reduce the likelihood of theft.
On the shelf
If you want to save more usable space, you don't have to hang your bike on an empty wall. You can equip a special shelf with an additional section for the frame. At the same time, the surface of the shelf will remain functional - for example, for storing bicycle accessories or favorite books.
You can hang your bike from any suitable rack using the saddle. The result is an interesting composition that does not require additional fasteners.
No disassembly
If you bought a non-folding model, but do not want to disassemble it for certain reasons, then you can store it in assembled condition. Most often, due to the small size of apartments in classic high-rise buildings, this format is not common and athletes are looking for more convenient places for personal transport. They become: strollers in entrances, garages, dachas. However, when choosing such areas, pay attention to preparation so that at the beginning of the cycling season you do not have to urgently repair your bike or buy new tires.
Another option would be special bicycle centers that guarantee their customers optimal conditions and reasonable prices. In such bicycle centers, an agreement is concluded that guarantees the safety and financial responsibility of the performer, and you get maximum free space and don’t even have to worry about where to put your bike in the apartment.
Cycling is a favorite hobby of many residents of big cities and small towns. Speed of movement, comfort and complete independence are its main advantages. Don't be intimidated by its rather impressive size. Once you've carefully considered the conditions of your home and found the best storage option for yourself, you won't want to give up your two-wheeled friend.
In the garage
The garage is another place where you can gracefully store your bike. Wall mounts will again help organize storage space. A good place in the garage for sports equipment is in the corner with tools.
The bike will look neat when placed horizontally on the side wall next to your car.
Under the ceiling
The bicycle will not take up space in the room, but will remain visible as a kind of accessory. You can place it on ordinary hooks - this technique will be successful in an interior with an abundance of wood.
You can use an adjustable suspension with cables and reels. This option will fit organically into a modern loft. Getting your bike out and hanging it back will be easier than with regular ceiling hooks.
Security and more
No matter how you store your bike, it is always important to remember safety. The ceiling mount must be well screwed, the wall mount must be secured with special fasteners depending on the wall material, and the floor mount must not be loose.
Place and storage conditions also matter. Cold and high humidity have a detrimental effect on all bicycle components, regardless of their cost. Dryness and warmth will keep the equipment intact and in good condition for many years.
By the way, about presentation. Protection from direct sunlight won't hurt either. After all, some materials fade, fade and degrade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation and excessive heat from sunlight.
Storing a bicycle in a vestibule or storage room outside the apartment will speed up the transfer of your two-wheeled property into the hands of new owners without your consent and free of charge. So... it’s better to hang on the wall or under the ceiling)
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to wash the bike before storing it, or at least wipe it with a cloth immediately after arrival. Let it stand beautifully and please the eyes, and the next trip will require less time for preparation.
You can forget about the crowded hallway and even make a two-wheeled horse part of the interior.
Under the stairs
The bicycle can be stored under the stairs in the apartment or even in the entrance. But if at home it is possible to place it in a suspended state with the wheels facing up, this is worth taking advantage of: the result will be a very creative picture, as if the movement is taking place on both sides of the stairs, above and below.
Properly preparing your bike for storage
1. First of all, the bike needs to be washed. Wash off all dirt from the frame, wheels, tires. Pay special attention to the chain. To wash your bike well, you don’t need to throw it into a bathtub, pool or lake; you just need to direct a stream of water and arm yourself with a brush and a rag.
2. Dry the bike and make sure no water gets inside the frame.
3. We take care of the chain: you need to lubricate it. If you are storing your bike for a long time, for example for the winter, then do not skimp on lubricant.
4. Other parts of the bike will also benefit from lubrication: chain tensioner, bottom bracket, chrome parts, fork legs, etc. Silicone grease will protect the metal from corrosion and the paint from cracking. You can also use wax polish to protect paint and varnish on painted metal surfaces. The shift cables on disc brakes and vibration brakes can simply be sprayed with WD-40. To protect your tires from cracking, treat them with a special silicone spray.
5. If in the process of preparing for storage you discover a breakdown, then correct all the defects immediately; there will be no time for this before the season.
6. Place the chain on the smallest sprockets at the front and rear. This way there will be the least possible load on the rear derailleur, and the chain should not be under tension.
7. Reduce the pressure in the chambers to 1-1.5 atmospheres. Do this even if you store your bike hanging.
8. Take out all the batteries and accumulators from the lights and remove the bike computer (although most likely you have already done this, you didn’t wash the bike with it, right?..). Store all electronics separately in a dry and warm place.
9. Remove the tension on the springs and cables of the speed switches and brakes. If your bike has disc brakes, loosen the mounting screws so that the pads do not touch the brake disc. Often, rust begins to appear where the disc touches the pads.
In the closet
Closets can be used to store clothes and any other things, so why can't you do the same with a bicycle? It is not necessary to completely hide it behind the doors. It will look great on an open shelf, especially with special holes for wheels, as in the photo below.
A sliding wardrobe will create a special effect: a bicycle mounted on the outside of the wardrobe will move along with the sliding door.
On a special stand
Do you have not one bike, but two or three? Then it makes sense to build a hanging rack. It can be made of wood, metal or other material that best fits into the interior.
An analogue would be a wall hanger designed for several bicycles. A similar structure can be placed on the ceiling, but this will require a specially designated area.
Floor structures
Don't want or can't make holes in the walls? No problem, there is another option - floor structures. There are also a great many modifications of them. The most common 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 more interesting solutions. For example, racks that resemble stepladders. Or absolutely incredible designs that look like... you can’t say what right away. Everyone has different associations. One end of these “art objects” rests against the wall, the other against the floor. The paradox is that, despite the surrealism, they are very convenient to use.
A cyclist who wants to relax with a cup of tea parks his two-wheeled vehicle right on the table.
By the way, about originality. Japanese designers have developed unusual bicycle racks for cafes, which are tables with slots in the sides. A cyclist who wants to relax with a cup of tea parks his two-wheeled vehicle directly at the table: the bicycle seat becomes a bar stool. Creative? So why not use the idea to create an interior feature? You can, for example, use the same principle to “assemble” a workplace in your home office. And the bicycle was attached, and the art object appeared!
There is a solution! Anything that gets dirty can be hidden in a special bicycle cover.
Towards the end, we will answer the question that probably tormented you while reading the article: “What to do with dirt?” Yes, a bicycle cannot be called the cleanest vehicle. It’s hard to wash the wheels every time, and it won’t save the situation, because there are still chains and pedals covered in grease. But there is a solution! Anything that gets dirty can be hidden in a special bicycle cover. Aesthetic, practical, effective.
What? Cycling culture to the masses! A cyclist does not live by vestibules, storage rooms and balconies alone! It's time to use modern developments. Adopt any of the mentioned methods for storing wheeled vehicles and modify your homes according to your needs. You provide an innovative approach to solving bicycle storage problems!
On a podium made of pallets
Wide wooden pallets will play the role of a fashionable podium, especially next to elements of a similar style - simple and rough. This could be a massive barrel cabinet or box chairs. In addition, the bicycle can be conveniently secured between the boards. But remember - this solution requires a lot of free space.
