How to keep a bicycle in the apartment wisely?

By drzwioknarzeszow21/12/2022556 Views

September 18, 2021, 6:00 p.m. 12:00 (86 reviews) by Adam Majewski

Bike hanger and cycling gadgets Manufacturer's materials, www.topeak.com

Everywhere is good, but home is best. This adage will work for many cyclists, owners of their own or rented "M". We present a few lifehacks on how to live with a two-wheeler (and not argue with other household members).

Rarely do we have bikes as expensive as professional cyclists. So it shouldn't be necessary to "park" them in the apartment, but in practice we often have no choice.

Look for a rack like spokes in a haystack

Where do you keep your bike in your apartment?

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Where do you keep your bike in your apartment?

on the wall19%in the hall25%on the balcony17%I don't have space for a bicycle39%Cast total votes: 422I don't think anyone needs convincing, that housing cooperatives and development companies are not keeping up with the changes in our preferences related to mobility. Officials usually use the "copy and paste" method - if they don't see a solution somewhere, they won't come up with it themselves. For this reason, finding a bicycle rack in front of a cooperative or communal block is a miracle (it is easier to find an old-fashioned beater), while those placed in front of "apartment buildings" more often resemble an architectural detail than a bicycle parking lot for residents. In the urban space, the matter of leaving your two-wheeler was facilitated by the stands, which are a useful remnant of the Mevo system. If only no one thought of disassembling them. Bicycles parked at the Gdynia Stocznia SKM station, ul. Janek Wiśniewski (photo from 2019) photo: Maciej Czarniak/Trojmiasto.plFor now, it doesn't look like much will change in this matter, and even more so in the near future. These creators of space lag at least a few steps behind the changes that have been taking place in the ways of moving around the city for several years. New housing estates, also located in the central strip of the Tri-City conurbation (boastfully referred to as a metropolis), are not very friendly to cyclists. I am convinced of this every time I have something to do in new quarters - if the access there is appropriate, there are usually no racks. When there are some racks, the comfort of cycling is spoiled by intense car traffic, high curbs, pavement imitation of cobblestones or densely placed bollards, making it difficult for thoughtless drivers to park their cars anywhere - to name a long time. Housing communities have their worries, which is why allocating money for bicycle parking (which the developer did not foresee) is not that easy.

Parking for 500 bicycles at PKP Wrzeszcz. We got to know the details of the investment

Due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (and the emergence of a kind of mistrust towards fellow passengers in public transport), the transformation in the field of mobility has only accelerated. Shared scooters are just in time - there is no problem with their availability, and renting is relatively inexpensive on a short route. Record sales of new bicycles in the country only confirm this - such results have never been recorded before. One of the bicycle wholesalers issued shares on the stock exchange, while a well-known Polish manufacturer of bicycles is increasingly active on the housing market. Due to the lack of sealing wax, the bicycle can be attached to a fence, lamppost or railing. However, this is partisanship, which cannot be praised. The fence is definitely someone's property, and the remaining patents can make life difficult for others. After all, a bicycle left in such a way can be blown or disassembled - most often bicycle looters pull out the seatpost with the saddle and unscrew the front wheel.

First - cleanliness

If you are not such a ... partisan, you will definitely decide to invade the bike To the flat. And here the stairs begin. What's next? What to do if sand is falling off the bike and mud is dripping? Do you clean the bike thoroughly every time? Take care of a pad under the equipment - any one, as long as it does not let water through. Then go to the specifics - use only good lubricants, not some towot after your grandfather. Bad grease, if it leaks, the floor is already done. Its cleaning will take a lot of valuable time, it is also a pity for the nerves of the household. Then it will be enough just to wipe the frame, wheel rims and brush out the drive - getting rid of more serious dirt.

Scrub and lubricate. How and with what to clean the bike?

For most of the year (in our climatic conditions), Teflon lubricants will work perfectly. Their main advantage is the physicochemical properties that cause less dust and sand to settle on the chain, cassette, derailleurs or sprockets. Plus, they don't smudge like traditional lubricants - they're even easier to wipe off with your hands.

Better spend on a good lubricant than a cleaning company

Most bicycle drives around the world (or their critical parts) come from just one manufacturer, i.e. the famous Shimano corporation from the Japanese island of Honshu. It can only be compared to Intel, whose processors are equipped with almost all computers and servers in the world - also those under the sign of a bitten apple. Therefore, the use of Shimano grease (e.g. Teflon PTFE for mostly dry conditions - a 100 ml applicator for about PLN 25) can only be considered as a confirmation of this relationship - we usually buy products of brands with which we have already dealt, and in this case, the drives in my bikes and grease have the same logo. There are more similar lubricants on the market - among the more expensive ones, STS Lube Your Chain (75 ml for less than PLN 50) deserves attention, mainly due to the unusual applicator. These two measures can be easily purchased in most bicycle shops in the Tri-City. Teflon lubricants are also available in the Decathlon chain (own brand product with the designation 03). This type of lubricant - once it drips with mud from a wet bike - is easily removed from stoneware, and even wood or most carpets. This is important if the bike needs to be moved through the whole apartment to the balcony. It will also be useful if you need to service your children's bicycle fleet at your place and not get too dirty.

Home gallery of bicycle works of art

Road, gravel, cross or highlander are sometimes works of (engineering) art, so it's worth display them in the right way. Holders are popular, or rather calling them - systems for suspending the bike on the wall or ceiling. They work moderately well in the apartment (you have to be careful not to get the tires dirty on the walls or ceiling), while they make it easier to store equipment in the basement or garage. There, at the end, we repaint the walls less often. The wheel supports effectively separate the tires from the walls - so it all depends on our skill and ability to aim the front wheel between the spokes into the hook. In order to immobilize the handlebars, the bicycle is always hung by the front wheel, and the said supports prevent it from slipping. The bottom support usually has a small flange to prevent the bike from changing its proper position. In less common systems on the market, it may resemble a bicycle fender - turned inside up. You can also find systems in which the bike is suspended by the handlebar - they may prove impractical in passages, corridors, where it will be easy to rub against the tires and get dirty. All members of the household can admire the bicycleProducer's materials, www.topeak.comThe advantage of such systems is the possibility of effective use of space. But the way they are applied (if you don't have an expensive, several-kilogram carbon sports bike) can be problematic with any city or trekking bike (they are massive, which is why they weigh over 20 kg). When looking for such a system, pay attention to the hook - despite everything works better with a hook without a hinge, because when hanging the bike it does not turn left and right. Stability is not everything. The most common mistake when mounting such systems on the wall is screwing the upper catch too close to the ceiling. In order to take the bike off or put it on the hitch, you first need to lift it up a bit. If the system is mounted too high, it will simply be inconvenient. In bicycle shops you can find many unusual solutions, often with sophisticated designs. Personally, I am not a fan of what looks good, but does not work in everyday use. Some wall mounts - for hanging the bike on the frame - may not match the thickness of the top tube. In addition, they are usually designed for frames with the upper part parallel to the ground, although more and more often bicycle constructors lower it significantly under the seatpost in order to increase riding comfort - the angles in bicycle frames are becoming more and more sharp.

For a hardware store or bicycle shop ?

A fairly wide range of wall systems for hanging bicycles can be found in Gdańsk's Wyspa - according to catalog prices, they cost from PLN 160 to PLN 350. There you can also find many foldable, floor bicycle racks intended mainly for mechanics or athletes. They are more expensive, but you can successfully hang one, sometimes two bikes on something like this. They are used to place the bike at a convenient height for servicing.Nevertheless, they can be perfect for seasonal storage of a bicycle in an apartment (for example, a road), before it goes to the basement for the winter. Similar wall systems can be found in other Tri-City stores - for example at BikeSalon.pl. There, I came across the same hangers from the renowned manufacturer Topeak as in Wyspa, as well as one from the French brand Look, famous for various types of components and accessories for skiers and cyclists. In turn, I found a floor stand for the rear wheel at a very affordable price at Rowerisci.com. The range of wall hangers includes both well-known brands (Accent, Ibera, Topeak, Mottez) and those rarely associated by cyclists, although equally good. Thanks to the wide offer, you can always find something for your own needs or in accordance with your taste.

If not under the ceiling, then on the floor

These are convenient solutions, but not everyone may want to exercise while removing the bike from the wall. For example, every morning before driving to work unlocks all the muscles and turns on the brain. And every evening, after work, when all thoughts focus on the contents of the dinner plate. There are also racks that allow you to hold the bike in the "starting" position - without leaning it against walls or furniture. They were invented not so as not to destroy the walls - but for the sake of human comfort and safety of bicycles, the mechanisms of which simply disregulate successive flips. It may be a bit of a fuss with one bike, but a floor stand will be a great solution if you have two or three bikes (for example, for a variety of uses - commuting, mountain training, cross-country training, competition). Or you can share the rack with other household members.

Get the bull by the horns in the hall

The downside of such racks is that they take up a lot of space together with the bike (a bike can be run over in the dark, like an enraged bull). However, they are perfect for spacious halls, garages or larger storage rooms, and even balconies. (I "park" one of the bikes for convenience on an old, unused trainer). In the basement, you can additionally use an anti-theft lock if the equipment is not taken out all winter. Pulling out two bicycles with a rack through the shed door will be troublesome. It doesn't hurt to secure the bike in the basement Manufacturer's materials, www.mottez.com A floor stand for a bicycle is always properly weighted and sometimes needs to be glued to prevent it from scrubbing the floor. Careless loading of the bicycle may cause scratches if the stand is painted/varnished. Regardless of these few disadvantages, it's basically the best way to store a bike in an apartment.

Moisture will destroy your bike

Keeping a bike in the basement - as long as you have convenient access to your storage room - is not always the best idea. It must be dry and airy in order to be suitable for storing a two-wheeler. Corrosion can destroy both hardware and mechanism, and at a slower rate, the frame. Keeping a bicycle for months in a damp basement - even used from time to time, even on weekends - can significantly reduce its technical condition.

Plague of thefts in basements in Przymorze

What about storing a bicycle on the balcony? There, moisture, precipitation and negative temperatures will contribute to corrosion and rusting of bicycle parts, although they are not the only ones that are dangerous for a two-wheeler. The sun can also "bake" electronics and all elements that have a plastic coating - even links to change gears or activate the brakes. Some elements can be discolored, including steel, if they are colored and the manufacturer has not applied varnish to them - these include, as I once found out for myself, the seat post clamp and the seat post. Fortunately, equipment manufacturers are more and more boldly embracing needs of us, cyclists, amateur and professional collages. And an important note at the end - it is better to buy a bicycle hanger or stand in a reputable, proven bicycle store than its much cheaper equivalent at online auctions, and of unknown manufacture. The lifespan of the latter tends to be shorter than that of cycling socks after MTB training in the Oliwa Forest. Got a topic for us? Do you want to share your observations? Or maybe you have experienced an interesting adventure, discovered a new route? Write to us: bikes@trojmiasto.pl.

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2021-09-18 17:00

best storage for the whole family's bikes(5)

Clip to the railing in the stairwell. You can several , bikes of the whole family, eg in front of the mailboxes. So that others have to squeeze into the box, do gymnastics. Dry and at hand. And it doesn't take up space in the house.

4 months

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2021-09-18 20:43

Bikes attached to the cage railing.

Buddy, we're thinking of everyone in the cage. Bicycles on the cage during smoke and fire is a tragedy for people escaping from the cage. You have a bike, it's not on the cage. Wind in the back for cyclists.

4 months

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2021-09-19 00:34

You have a manager to d.

since he allows you to park bicycles on the evacuation route until you ask for a ticket. The same goes for villagers leaving shoes and garbage on the cage.

4 months

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2021-09-19 08:59

My neighbors tried that too. 60-grit sandpaper successfully solved the problem of scrap piles.(1)

4 months

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2021-09-18 15:10

Wisely???(2)

I understand that it is wise only as proposed by the author of the article. Nowadays, influencers and all advisers need to write about such simple solutions. I'm sorry.

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2021-09-19 07:56

The article is written in such a way that it is average to read

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