How to store your bike correctly in winter

There are times when a bike is not purchased just because there is nowhere to store it. Indeed, if you live in a typical small apartment, it can be very difficult to find the location of the iron horse. However, there is a way out.

Storage requirements

Immediately, we note that the issue of proper bicycle storage should be considered from two sides: firstly, the storage option during the period of active use, and, secondly, storage in the off-season (late autumn, winter) when the bike is not in use.

The optimal storage option should meet the following criteria:

• Quick and easy access to the bike;
• Technology should take up a minimum of space, "not stealing" vital space from people;
• Protect your bike from direct sunlight. This has a bad effect on the painting of equipment, and on the condition of the plastic and rubber parts (anthers, oil seals);
• The temperature in the "garage" for your bike must be above +5 degrees Celsius;
• There should be no temperature drops, since this, firstly, will have a bad effect on the elasticity and mechanical properties of some parts, and, secondly, it will contribute to the appearance of moisture, which has a very negative effect on the state of any equipment;
• Keep your bike away from heaters, the high temperature will have a destructive effect on tires and seals;
• There should be no direct exposure to water and high humidity. This is especially true for basements and balconies.

Possible options

In fact, there are more options for storing bicycles than it might seem at first glance.

In the garage or basement

Whether you live in your home with a heated garage, basement or spacious hallway, bike storage is easy and simple: the bike is always close at hand and in decent conditions. If you decided to go for a ride, they took out the "iron horse", and then quickly and simply led into the allotted "stall". Well, for storage in the off-season, you can make special racks or hooks for secure attachment. Experienced designers manage to "fit" the hanging bike into the overall concept of the interior.

A detached heated garage is another great bike storage option. And if it is located not far from home, then it is quite suitable for short-term storage between trips.

On the balcony

A balcony is only suitable for storing a bike if it is well insulated and heated. Otherwise, storage on the balcony is equivalent to outdoor storage, with all the ensuing consequences. If you leave the bike on a closed balcony, make sure it is not exposed to direct sunlight. The problem can be solved with a special cover, oilcloth or dark film.

A significant drawback of storing a bike on the balcony is the need to wash the wheels after each walk, wipe the frame and pedals, and then try to carry the bike through the whole apartment without catching pieces of furniture and walls.

In addition, the balcony in Khrushchev is very small, and it is not easy to place a bicycle on it. Especially if there is already some kind of improvised bedside table, or you are already using it to store something.

Storage of equipment on the balcony or in the basement threatens with high humidity, and, as a result, a negative impact on the "vital" mechanisms of equipment. For example, in the basement, next to cabbage and potatoes, an atmosphere with a high moisture content is invariably created.

And on the balcony, not far from the clothes hung for drying, there is also an excess of moisture. And these aspects cannot be disregarded if you want to keep the bike in working order, and not just leave it to the mercy of fate anywhere, as long as it does not interfere.

Alternatively, residents of apartment buildings often store their bicycles in porches or stairwells. From the point of view of temperature and humidity indicators, the option is not bad. However, if you look at this option from a security standpoint, not everything is so cloudless. Alas, there is a risk of theft, and standard bike locks are unlikely to provide reliable protection.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the opinion of your neighbors. There is a law according to which you cannot clutter up staircases with any kind of things.

In addition, your neighbors may simply be against this way of storing your vehicle, and they have a right to it. In the event of litigation, the law will be on their side. But if, nevertheless, the neighbors do not mind, and the bike is attached very neatly and does not interfere with movement, the staircase is an excellent option for storing the bike.

The tambours in the hallway are perhaps one of the best options. Today, more and more often, several adjacent apartments located in a common vestibule have a common door to the entrance. If you are lucky with your neighbors, and they are quite adequate, not scandalous people, then you can easily place your bike in this very vestibule. In order not to interfere with movement on the vestibule, the bike can also be attached to the wall or ceiling. The main thing is that the mounts are reliable and safe.

In some areas, there is a separate winter storage of bicycles in specially equipped parking lots. Usually this is done by individual entrepreneurs on the basis of bicycle workshops. It should be noted that this is not the most common solution to the problem of storing bicycles for residents of apartment buildings, but in vain. The method is affordable and practical.

There is also the option of storing the bike directly in the apartment. And while the issue of washing remains relevant, your bike will always be at hand, warm and free of excess moisture. Someone prefers to carry out cleaning on the staircase, leave it there until it dries completely and only then bring it directly into the apartment. But remember that you also have to clean the landing if sand or dirt remains after cleaning the bike.

Storage options in the apartment

• In the hallway on wheels;
• On a special rack (on the wall) in a room or corridor;
• On the ceiling in a room or hallway;
• In a closet or in a specially equipped cabinet in an upright position.

The first option is ideal during the period of active use of your vehicle. If you need to "attach" the bike for the winter - attach it to the wall under the ceiling, pressing the wheels against the wall.

The main inconvenience of storing a bicycle in an apartment is black spots from tires on the linoleum. They appear when the "iron horse" stands in one place for a long time. At the same time, the concept of "long" has very blurred boundaries - from several days to a month. Of course, a lot depends on the type of linoleum.

Some species absorb any chemicals very quickly, and it is almost impossible to get rid of these stains. Other types of linoleum are more "tolerant" to such pollution, and yet, to keep the hallway in a decent form, you will have to make a lot of effort. Therefore, it is better to foresee this moment in advance and put the bike on plywood or cardboard, and not on the flooring.

Practical advice

There are little tweaks that can help you significantly extend the life of your bike. Before storing your bike for winter storage, you need to prepare it.

After any trips in bad weather, when the vehicle becomes wet and dirty, it is imperative to wash and dry it. Do not put it off until later, because wet dirt causes rust, and the wear of the chain and sprockets increases.

To save space, it is recommended to fold the handlebars along the frame and remove the pedals. This advice is relevant for long-term storage of the vehicle, but if you need to leave the bike for a couple of days, it is better not to carry out this procedure. It will not give you pleasure, and it will not be useful for a bicycle either.

Therefore, if storage space is sorely lacking, remove the front wheel and fender, turn the steering wheel along the frame, and put the wheel and fender on the frame, or even put it away in a separate place.

Carbon and titanium models are light enough so they can be easily hung from a wall or ceiling. Aluminum bicycles are also fine for free-weight storage. If you have a steel bike at your disposal, then you have to tinker with it. The weight of such models is about 15-20 kg, and, you must agree, lifting this load at least to shoulder height is not an easy task.

If communications pass near the storage place, this is not a suitable option for your bike. For example, in basements there are water supply or sewage pipes, on which condensate invariably accumulates, which means that moisture will definitely get on the bike.

Ideally, for long-term storage, the bike should be hanging rather than standing on its wheels. Many manufacturers even stipulate this point in the instructions - the vehicle should be stored suspended from the upper frame tube.

Whichever storage method you use, do not leave your bike unattended during winter storage. "Visit" him. If the bike is on wheels, then rotate the pedals, changing the place of contact of the wheels with the surface.And if you have suspended the bike by the wheels, then periodically rotate them at least 90 degrees to avoid deformation of the rim.

So, a small apartment is not a reason to give up buying a bicycle. There are many ways to store a vehicle. And the correct preparation of the bike for the rest period is the key to long-term and pleasant operation.

Video: how to properly prepare and store a bike in winter