Nowadays, when sport and a healthy lifestyle come into fashion, more and more people are thinking about buying a bicycle. However, when it comes to a city apartment, there may be inconvenience with its storage. One of the best places for this is a balcony.
Requirements
If it was decided to store the bike on the balcony, care must be taken to ensure the basic requirements for the place. There are not too many of them. The unit must be freely accessible. The temperature in the room should not be lower than +5 degrees. In addition, you need to make sure that the bike could not get direct sunlight, otherwise the coating, plastic and rubber elements will quickly become unusable.
If the balcony is too cold, the structure will break quickly. Besides, it is impossible to allow the location in the immediate vicinity of the heating appliances, as they are also capable of harming. The room should be glazed, and the possibility of leaks during precipitation should be excluded, because humidity becomes the cause of corrosion, and accordingly, the service life will be significantly reduced. Do not store the product on the open balcony.
It should be noted that the storage of vehicles on the balcony has many advantages. The owner can be sure that his property will not be stolen by intruders. Storage time is absolutely unlimited. In addition, the operation becomes very convenient, and if necessary, simple repairs can be made on the spot.
However, there are disadvantages. Among them, a decrease in free space on the balcony, inconvenience in cleaning due to the location of the bike.You will also need to organize a storage space, for example, it must be hidden from direct sunlight.
How to store?
The bike can be stored in different ways, this moment we will consider in more detail.
Folded
The most convenient for storage is a bicycle that has folding elements. You can fold both the frame and the pedals and steering wheel. This allows you to place the product even on small balconies, since it does not take up much space.
When folded, the unit can be hung on the wall, as well as placed in the pantry or in a convenient cabinet. This state changes quite simply, it takes about 10-15 seconds to assemble and disassemble.
Disassembled
This option will not be convenient if the bike is used often, but it is quite suitable for long-term accommodation in the winter. The disadvantage of this method is the need for assembly and disassembly. However, as a result, there is much more free space on the balcony.
Users recommend disassembling the structure as follows. To begin with, the fasteners are loosened, and the steering wheel is removed or turned so that it is parallel to the frame. Seats and pedals are removed. After this, the front wheel and then the rear wheel are unscrewed.
Details can be placed in a case or special container, which is made of synthetic fabric, but at the same time has a rigid structure. It is used for long-term storage.
If you plan to place the bike on the balcony for a short time, it is better to disassemble it not completely, but partially. It will be enough to remove the steering wheel, seat, pedals and front wheel.
Assembled
This method is used when the bike does not fold, but it cannot be disassembled for any reason. In this situation it is very important to secure the structure. The special devices offered in the market can help with this. You can place the product on the floor, on the wall or on the ceiling.
The easiest way to install it on the floor. In this case, the wheel is fixed using a special stand. It is very small and makes it easy to take a bike. Certain types of floor structures are designed to fix and store several bicycles at once. They are especially relevant if the family has not one, but 2 or 3 products for all family members.
Ceiling installation requires longer term storage. In this case, removing the bike simply and quickly does not work, it will take effort. Using cables, the model is fixed under the ceiling. This allows you to free up space on the balcony, but not all owners like it. Even reliable mounts may not support a bike that is too heavy. In addition, sometimes the height of the balcony is insufficient to carry out these manipulations.
Most often try to place a bicycle on the wall. There are several explanations for this. First of all, to realize this idea, simple fasteners are used, which can be inexpensively bought in a store or made independently. The structure is fixed mainly in a horizontal position, which allows not to deform the elements. Removal occurs very quickly, and tire rubber is stored for a long time.
Even if the bike suddenly falls, it is unlikely to be damaged and will not cause significant harm to people on the balcony.
As for the fixtures for fixing, they must be selected, focusing on what the surface of the wall is made of, as well as the weight of the structure and its features. In order not to interfere with the steering wheel, it should be rotated 90 degrees. The bike can be hung on hooks, brackets or a special shelf.
Most often, users choose hooks. They will be required in the amount of 2 pieces, and to fix the product on them is not difficult. Moreover, this mounting system is very reliable, because if one accidentally breaks one, the second will continue to hold the structure.This method is easily implemented independently, the help of professionals is not required.
To protect the frame, hooks should be coated with liquid rubber whenever possible.
Wall brackets can vertically mount even several products. Using anchors, the fixture is fixed to the wall. The bicycle in this case is easily removed and retracted.
Finally, special shelves cannot be ignored. They are not only functional, but also look very attractive. Most often made of wood, but they have a coating that eliminates slipping and surface damage.
Winter preparations
Bicycle owners need to keep in mind that this vehicle is not enough just to put on the balcony for the winter. Storage should be preceded by special preparation, only in this case the purchase will last a long time.
Primarily, transport must be washed. All road dust and dirt is removed, brakes, cables, small structural elements are cleaned. If this is not done, dust mixed with oil will have a devastating effect on the unit.
After this, the spring mechanisms loosen. Gear shifters and brakes are checked. It will be useful to remove the chain and put it in a fabric bag. If it remains in place, it must be installed on the smallest stars. Also in the chambers pressure is significantly reduced.
It should be noted here that it is not necessary to completely empty the air from the wheels.
All elements are coated with grease, it will protect them from rust. Budget compositions can be used, since storage does not have such an effect on the unit as continuous operation. However, simple solidol should not be used. The fact is that modern models of bicycles do not tolerate its impact. All the necessary elements are processed, in addition, they are carefully inspected for damage or defects.
The frame is closed with a piece of material or wrapped in paper. A great option would be a storage case. Performing these simple manipulations will save the bike until the spring in the best possible way.
Possible problems
However, even with all precautionary methods, troubles sometimes occur because storage on the balcony is not the most careful option.
The fact is that a significant decrease in temperature outside often leads to cracking of rubber in the tires. Treatment of all rubber elements with ordinary glycerin will save the situation. When placing the product on the floor, it will be necessary to periodically turn its wheels to change the area of contact with the floor.
In order to prevent damage to the structure due to moisture and dust, it can be covered with a thick blanket. Polyethylene is also suitable. These measures will help protect the surface from ultraviolet radiation, which affects the brightness and saturation of the paint. Silicone sprays can be used.
See how to prepare your bike for storage in the next video.
