How to store a bicycle in winter: on the balcony, in the garage, in the apartment

Nowadays it has become fashionable to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means avoiding fatty and salty foods, no bad habits and daily physical activity. If time and finances allow, then you should give preference to gyms or fitness clubs. But not everyone can do this. And cycling is just in time.

It is worth noting that the bicycle today is used by many people as a means of transportation. For some, it replaces public transport: it is very convenient and cheap. But all conveniences end with the onset of cold weather. Therefore, the question arises of where and how to store your “iron horse” in the winter.

How to prepare your bike for winter

First of all, you need to understand that simply finding a place to store your bike is only part of the task. But the most important thing is to carry out the preparatory work. Now everything is in order.

If you complete all of the above steps, you can leave your bike for the winter even in unheated rooms.

Partial disassembly of the bicycle

If you don't want to get your hands dirty, then you can simply unscrew the pedals and hook them on the back of the connecting rods, remove the front wheel and fender, and turn the steering wheel 90 degrees relative to the frame.

It is not a good idea to lower the seatpost together with the saddle; it is inserted into the frame tube too tightly and if it is pressed down and rotated sideways, scratches will appear on it. It is better to pull the seat and pin up and remove them.

If you want to put the bike under the bed, on the mezzanine, behind the closet, you will need to remove, in addition to all of the above, the rear wheel. The chain hanging on the frame must also be removed and placed in a bag, box with a lid, or a resealable jar.

To avoid having to sweep away dust from your bike when spring comes, you need to cover it with cloth or paper.

All of the above advice may not be followed either by extreme sports enthusiasts who will ride a bicycle in the snow in winter, or by people who do not care about the condition of their workhorse.

Choosing a place to store your bike for the winter

To correctly determine the wintering location for your bike, you need to take into account the temperature in the room, the presence or absence of excessive humidity, sudden temperature changes and how these factors will affect your vehicle. The main thing to consider:

• A bicycle consists of many parts, for the manufacture of which different materials were used. They react differently to high and low temperatures, expanding more or less, which can cause paint or chrome plating to crack.
• If you do not protect the plastic and rubber with lubricant, microcracks may appear. Condensation gets there and at low temperatures the pores increase.
• The constant presence of sunlight or a switched-on lamp makes painted parts faded and fragile.

This information is important for those whose financial condition does not allow them to change bicycles annually. But there are also people who leave their bikes on an unglazed loggia, near bags of onions and carrots, or hang them outside the balcony, despite the bright rays of the sun, strong winds and frequent snowfalls.

How to fold it compactly?

This is the most difficult question for those who put away their bike for the winter.
Storage in an apartment is very problematic due to its size, and not everyone has a garage. So what to do? Bicycles with a folding frame are the easiest to store: they take up half the space. You can save a lot of space if you disassemble the bike at least partially - it’s much easier to come up with a separate place for the wheels and frame than for the entire structure.

Reducing the width of a bicycle is easy: you need to remove the pedals and screw them on so that they point inward. The steering wheel should be loosened and turned so that it is aligned with the frame.

Poor places to store bicycles in winter

The main enemies of the iron horse are:

You should not keep your bike on an unglazed balcony in winter. This may lead to the fact that in the spring there will be nothing to ride. You can, of course, smooth things out a little and pack it in waterproof film. A canvas cover will also work. The main thing is that the case has handles for hanging the bike on the wall.

Poor bike storage option

If you have a garage, you can leave your bike there for the winter. Just don’t put it in the basement or in a viewing hole. There is constantly humid air, which can lead to the appearance of rust spots on it.

General requirements for storage conditions

During the riding season, active riders in one way or another decide the issue of the temporary “habitat” of a bicycle.
Some do it successfully, others not so much, but thanks to regular use and proper care, our two-wheeled friends practically do not let us down, unless we ourselves make some mistake. Another thing is storing a bike during the off-season for travel, when its general condition and the degree of readiness for going out on the road depend on the conditions in which it will remain for 4-6 months.

To save yourself the hassle (of which there is already enough in the spring) with “major bicycle repairs”, just follow a few simple requirements:

• when choosing a storage location, immediately exclude options with high humidity and/or temperature changes;
• The bicycle must not be stored outdoors, in the cold, in direct sunlight, or in dry/overheated rooms (or, for example, in an apartment, but next to electric convectors, heating boilers and radiators, autonomous cooking surfaces, etc. .);
• the optimal storage method is unassembled and in a waterproof case;
• Before sending the bike to winter parking, it certainly needs to be properly prepared (we’ll tell you exactly how below).

Prolonged downtime negatively affects any transport, as it continues to “wear out” even during inactivity. And if you don’t pat it in the fall, creating optimal conditions for storage, then the wear process will significantly accelerate, which often leads to the bike being almost completely unusable.

Where to store your bike in winter

Good places include glass loggias or balconies. But all the same, the bicycle will need to be covered with a thick cloth so that direct sunlight does not fall on it. If wet laundry is hung in these places, then drops should not fall on the bike.

It is recommended to cover bicycles with a cloth on balconies and loggias.

You need to pay attention to the barn or garage. If the garage is small, then it is worth considering the option of hanging the bike on the wall. You can build a hanger yourself using wood or plastic. This is a budget option and does not require large investments. It is worth remembering that you only need to hang a bicycle by the frame, and in no case the wheels, saddle or handlebars.

If you have sufficient funds, you can purchase at a retail outlet a special hanger in the form of hooks or a rack that is sufficiently strong and has a good appearance. Moreover, it is attached both to the wall and to the floor. Its cost is significant, but it allows you to hang as many as two bicycles.

Through the online store you can purchase a custom Cyclos mount, which in appearance resembles a flower pot. This product has compact dimensions and you can hang a bicycle on it not only in a horizontal position, but also at an angle or vertically. This product is presented by the manufacturer in a variety of colors.

Fastening device

1. Basic device. In the minds of most people, a bicycle rack is a kind of grille installed on a drain. Since the bike rack is mounted on the roof, it creates aerodynamic drag and this method of transportation can damage the vehicle or deform the gutters. Firstly, not all fasteners are mounted on gutters, and secondly, a competent approach will eliminate mistakes. Devices for transporting bicycles by car contain the same set of components:
   Load-bearing beams.
2. Pipes with which the wheels are attached to the trunk.
3. A clamp holder that provides reliable fixation of the frame.
4. Overhead clamps.
5. A few words about roof rails. Bicycle racks installed on a car are often mounted on roof rails. If we compare bicycle racks on the tailgate or mounting options on a tow bar, then roof-mounted mounts are the most convenient because:
   Doesn't hide the back of the car.
6. Space in the cabin or trunk is used for its intended purpose.
7. Rails make it easy to install the bike holder on the car.
8. Many cars are equipped with roof rails as standard.
9. Bicycle racks for tailgate. This type of car bike rack requires a rear door. The structure is attached to the top and bottom of the door, and has an emphasis on the glass. Secure with straps or slings. There is a nuance in the need to select a trunk for the car. Universal models are rare. Unique prototypes allow you to transport from one to three units of bicycle transport.
10. Tow bar mounts. They are presented in two options:
    The folding device looks like long handles for a trolley, at the ends of which there are 5-centimeter clamping tubes. They clamp the towbar ball when moving the handles to the sides. The design is equipped with upper and lower brackets for fixing the bicycle.
11. Platform. In principle, the fastening is identical to the folding one. It is only equipped with lighting devices that duplicate the car display and security locks.

Bike rack for tow bar

Best Bicycle Storage Spots

The most ideal place is an apartment. But not everyone has enough space to store additional equipment. Bicycles should not be placed in close proximity to heating devices. High temperatures will do a disservice to tires and fork seals.

Oddly enough, the best option is to store the bicycle disassembled under the bed. It does not take up free space, is not exposed to temperature changes and constant sunlight. If there is no shortage of money and the apartment is large, then you can purchase a special closet to store your iron pet in winter.

The wealthiest people prefer to give their expensive bicycles to specialized bicycle repair shops or to special parking lots equipped for this purpose. There are warm and dry boxes, with dim lighting. But such a service is available only to residents of large cities.

Winter summer and box garages

The first refers to an ordinary booth, which is locked from the outside with a key. In general, a garage bought to order can be insulated from the inside yourself, for example, upholstered with foam rubber. The room will cool down less and heat up more slowly, temperature differences will decrease, therefore, temperature deformation of the supporting structure will no longer threaten.

A significant nuisance is the appearance of moisture, which is well absorbed by the insulation. It is very easy to bring moisture inside the garage. It's enough to ride through puddles and mud, and then leave the bike in the garage. You can, of course, wash the wheels, but drying them will be problematic. And dragging the bike home, and then back into the box, looks irrational.

In addition to the winter one, there is also a summer garage for bicycles - an open booth with a canopy. A well-known option is metal walls and a polycarbonate roof. It resembles a miniature bus stop and is designed for storing a bicycle in dry and warm seasons near a residential building, for example, in a country house. The design is more additional, for those who fundamentally do not want to bring a bike into the house and place it on the ground. A garage without a door can provide some protection for your bike from sudden rain.

The summer option is more like a parking lot

A box garage would be very interesting. The oblong structure is equipped with a retractable open housing where bicycles are placed. Next, the box is pushed back and locked with a key. This type of bicycle garage will also be good for your home; it is convenient to store a bicycle in it at any time of the year.

Garage box - convenient, practical, reliable

How to store a bike in the garage or basement in winter

If you have a clean and dry garage or basement, they can be safely used to store your bike throughout the winter. But dryness and cleanliness are prerequisites, since the absence of such qualities will lead to the elements becoming covered with rust. But there will be no problems if the basement premises are the property of the owner.

But if we are talking about public places, in which, to whom, communication networks are located, then a problem may arise here. You need to look for the keys to the basement, contact housing department employees, be afraid of pipe breaks, and so on. And the safety of the bicycle can be questioned. You can, of course, contact a management company that can offer a suitable location for these purposes.

The best way out of this situation is for several people to get together and rent a dry and not very cold garage. The rental cost is divided between all tenants, which minimizes storage costs. And the conditions will be acceptable, the safety will be reliable. Special small garages-booths for bicycles are also made, but it is better to place them on private property.

Proper washing before winter

Fans who think about how storing a bicycle in winter will affect its technical condition in the new season often simply lubricate the chain with oil and send it to the balcony. This is not recommended, as the lubricant will “cement” the dirt, which will cause a lot of trouble during operation.

The first step is to thoroughly wash your bike. But at the same time, it is not recommended to go to a car wash, since water under high pressure penetrates the bushings and carriage, literally pushing grains of sand there. Although thick factory lubrication of these components will protect against rust, every grain of sand will serve as an abrasive. Therefore, it is best to wash the bike by hand, in the bathroom or around the house.

Use regular kitchen detergent to remove old grease. The washing sequence is as follows:

• use a gentle stream of water to remove the top layer of dirt;
• Stagnant lumps in hard-to-reach places are soaked;
• The initial wash is carried out with a brush;
• use a sponge with detergent to remove a layer of fat;
• The bike is rinsed with a stream of water.

When washing, it is necessary to periodically rinse the sponge so that the sand does not scratch the paintwork. You should not apply lubricant immediately after washing; the bike should dry within a couple of hours. This rule does not apply in the summer, since moisture will be forced out during operation.

Is it possible to leave a bicycle in the entrance?

Many residents of high-rise apartments choose this particular storage space. The bicycle is constantly under supervision and does not take up free living space. But this joy can be overshadowed by constant indignation on the part of neighbors or other residents of the house. He will constantly interfere with their walking on stairs or in the vestibule.

Moreover, the law stipulates that residents of apartment buildings should not litter common areas and not infringe on the rights of other residents. Of course, it’s quite difficult to classify bicycles as trash, but the neighbors don’t care and you should expect constant complaints from them and commission checks from the Housing Office. It could also lead to litigation.

Storing a bicycle in the entrance is not the best option

The main argument that makes bicycle owners think about the possibility of storing them in the entrance is fire safety. The main thing in this matter is that the escape routes are completely clear. Otherwise, you can run into heavy fines. Moreover, it is in the entrances that bicycles that are left unguarded are most often stolen. The locks that are hung on them can be quickly opened by intruders, especially repeat offenders. But you are not able to constantly guard your belongings.

You can choose the entrance if the neighbors do not object to your bicycle, and the concierge can act as a security guard. And then, you should make sure that the bicycle does not stand, but is hung on a hook or on special mounts.

How to build a bicycle garage with your own hands

You can even make a mini-room for a bicycle from an ordinary old closet, but let’s consider building a new bicycle garage from scratch. Here's what you'll need to create a simple metal structure:

• thin pipes (1.5 - 2 m in length);
• metal sheets;
• concrete solution;
• door hinges;
• lock;
• welding machine.

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The future dimensions of the garage are carefully measured. A small recess is made around the entire perimeter, pipes are driven into the corners - the skeleton of the garage. It would be better to install 6 pipes - it will be easier to install sheets on them, and the structure will be stronger. Then the floor is carefully filled with concrete mortar.

The next stage is attaching the metal sheets to the pipes using welding. They should fit as tightly as possible to the floor and to each other. From the inside, the joints between the walls and the floor can be made with concrete or cement. A large sheet is placed on top of the walls - the roof. You can go another way: weld several transverse metal poles, and weld sheets on them. The first option, however, is lighter and more reliable.

The last stage is installing the door. Hinges are welded to the opening and the door itself

Here it is important to maintain the distance between the loops so that it can be hung. If everything went well, install the lock. The bike house is ready, all that remains is to decorate it from the inside

You can, for example, line the walls with wood and insulation

The bike house is ready, all that remains is to decorate it from the inside. You can, for example, line the walls with wood and insulation.

Building a bicycle box with your own hands is not difficult, but the best option would be to buy a ready-made safe. Is it useful to have a bike garage? In most cases, yes. Storing a bicycle for a long time is much more convenient; it will not get in the way or deteriorate on the street. If the bike is folding, using a garage does not make much sense.

How to store a bike on the balcony in winter

Many people use the balcony as a place to store all sorts of things, including bicycles. But not every balcony is suitable for these purposes. If the space is open to winds and precipitation, as well as sudden changes in temperature, then it is in no way suitable for storing large vehicles in the winter season. This is fraught with failure of hydraulics and damage to the integrity of plastic and metal. Even if you use lubricant or plastic covers, you still won’t get a good winter. You can safely say goodbye to your pet.

Another thing is the glazed version. In such conditions the iron horse will be comfortable. Both vertical and horizontal brackets can be used. This will make it possible to save free space. But it must be remembered that direct sunlight is contraindicated for a bicycle, so choose a secluded place. Bright light can also be blocked using a curtain.

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.

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.

Is it possible to store a bicycle outside in winter?

Simply putting a bicycle out in the open for the winter is the same as throwing it away. By spring, it will turn into a rusty misunderstanding that can no longer be used for its intended purpose. But if you build a small house for a bicycle, this can radically change the situation. It’s the same as a glazed balcony, so the storage rules are identical: cleaning, lubrication, and so on. Moreover, the structure can be made of such a size that the whole family’s bicycles, including children’s, can fit there.

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Accommodation options

Storing a bicycle in an apartment in winter can require a lot of effort. The most convenient option is a hook in the wall or a special rod. A bicycle stored in is least susceptible to wear and tear. It also protects tires and prevents wheel deformation. All that remains is to find a free wall.

If there is a lot of space under the bed and it has high legs, then it is possible that the bike will fit there. It is most convenient if the bicycle is disassembled: the frame can be hidden behind a cabinet, the wheels can be placed on the mezzanine, etc. The most important thing is not to forget what is where. Regardless of the storage option, you need to cover the bicycle or its parts with a rag. Then in the spring you won’t have to spend a long time cleaning it from dust and dirt.

Features of storage of various types of devices

After purchasing such a necessary household item as a vacuum cleaner, you need to think through all the options for maintaining it. To begin with, it is better to evaluate the dimensions of the product.

If your choice is a robot vacuum cleaner, then you don’t have to worry about where to store it. All models of this type are compact, lightweight and do not require much space.

There are also small mini-vacuum cleaners that also do not take up a huge amount of space in the room. Modern models often have the function of securing the hose around the vacuum cleaner and various clamps for convenient placement of nozzles, which greatly helps save space. Vacuum cleaners can be presented in a horizontal or vertical position. Vertical models in the form of a finished brush or mop deserve special attention.

You should also carefully evaluate the space in the apartment that you are willing to allocate for storing equipment in summer and winter.