If you’re a proud bicycle owner who lives in a tiny apartment in the big city, you’re probably thinking about storing bike on balcony. Many people might tell you that it would be impossible to store a mountain bike in a 6-meter balcony safely. However, with a little bit of careful planning and creativity, you can keep your prized possession away from your kids or pets while maximizing your limited space.
Tips for Storing Your Bike on Your Balcony
Bike storage can be such a pain in the neck if you live somewhere that doesn’t provide you with the right space to store it. Thankfully, you won’t have to leave it out in the streets if you have a balcony. You might be surprised to find out that you can manage to solve your bike storage issues in a jiffy with these smart storage ideas.
Get all the stuff out of your balcony.
Do you have a balcony that’s full of all kinds of stuff? If you’ve decided to use it as your bike storage area, you’ll need to clear it up first. Don’t worry; you’ll still be able to relax and unwind in it because your bike won’t have to take up as much space as you initially thought it would.
Choose the right mount type.
In case you’re not aware, you have three options for your bike mount – floor, wall, or ceiling.
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Floor
Mounting your bike on the floor is ideal if you need to store up to two bikes because it offers more convenience than other alternatives. You won’t have to break a sweat each time you pull your bicycle off the rack.
Another option that you might want to consider is the bike stand. Although its function is a lot similar to a bike rack, what makes a bike stand different is the fact that you can move it anywhere you wish.
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Wall
If you want to use the balcony’s floor for other purposes, your best choice would be the wall-mounted bike rack. What makes this bike storage solution a convenient option for those who own more than one bike is storing them in “floors” or “levels.” This means that you can store the bikes that you usually use at the bottom, and the ones that you seldom use can be placed above them.
You’ll get to save more space if you mount your bike racks higher. However, sure that you won’t have any trouble reaching your bicycle each time you’ll need it. Just make sure that you get yourself a high-quality bike rack to make sure that your bicycle gets mounted safely on the wall.
While you’re at it, check if your prospective bike rack has all the right fastening elements that you could possibly need. Before you hang the rack on the wall, don’t forget to make a thorough inspection of the surface.
Other bike owners also use these wall-mounted bike racks to hang large parts such as tires, rims, and forks. If you want to, you can also use this bike rack to hang smaller items, including your keys, gloves, etc.
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Ceiling
If you want to go for the ultimate space-saver, choose a ceiling bike storage idea. This option works well for those who don’t have enough space on the floor. However, unless you’re okay with banging your head on your bike tires, make sure that your ceiling height is above the average.
This is also a great way to store your bike over the winter season. You can find two types of ceiling bike storage – one that comes with a pulley system that makes it possible for you to raise and lower your bicycle without using a step ladder.
Moreover, the other type of ceiling bike storage involves using a simple mount that comes with hooks under the ceiling. However, if your bicycle weighs more than 22 kg, experts recommend that you choose another option.
Factors to Consider When You Storing Your Bike Outside?
It’s much better to store your beloved bicycle indoors to make sure that it stays under climate-controlled storage conditions. However, if this isn’t possible, you don’t have to beat yourself up. You just need to keep a few considerations in mind.
Your Bike’s Age and Quality
First, you have to consider the bike’s age and quality. If you own a high-end bike that’s under ten years old, you can expect its parts to block out corrosion much better than how the parts of an older bike would. For instance, higher-end chains don’t rust as quickly as lower-end ones because there are more stainless-steel parts in them.
Your Location
If you live in an area where the weather is mostly rainy and humid, storing your bike outside will only make it more vulnerable to corrosion. It’s fine to leave your bike out in the rain for about 4 to 5 days. However, if you leave it that way for about a week, don’t be surprised to see the chain starting to rust, and other visible signs of damage.
On the other hand, too much heat and humidity will cause your parts to degrade quickly. For instance, rubber and plastic parts will begin to break down much sooner than expected, and the colors will fade.
How to Reduce Your Bike’s Risk of the Growing Rust
Corrosion or rusting refers to the chemical process involved in the breakdown of metal upon exposure to oxygen and other corrosive elements found in rainwater or the salt on the roads. To help stop small rust from eating away at your bike’s metal components, you’ll need to follow these steps:
Use a piece of sandpaper or a steel wool pad to rub affected areas.
Once rust starts to develop, it won’t stop growing. If you notice it early while it’s still small, you’ll be able to protect your bicycle from growing corrosion.
Apply fingernail polish or touch-up paint to affected areas
Be sure to apply a few coats of fingernail polish or touch-up paint to the areas where the paint has chipped away. Doing so helps it steer clear of oxidation via air exposure.
Apply WD-40 or protected grease to exposed metal parts
The brake cables, chains, and gears are more prone to rusting because of constant air exposure. The application of WD40 or protected grease helps block out corrosion and control oxidation.
Final Thoughts
You can finally tick off “Storing bike on balcony” your to-do list if you follow these bike storage tips to the T.