Bike storage ideas?

andy

I'm thinking of getting a bike to go to work on.<div><br></div><div>The question is, where to put it? I don't particularly want to keep it in the hall (though I might be able to suspend it from the ceiling, or hook it up high). I could lock it in the front garden, but that feels like a recipe for getting stolen. I could get a bike locker to go out the front, but they are expensive and huge. </div><div><br></div><div>What does everyone else do? Any top tips, or creative answers?</div>

Mirandola

The PlantLock is good.  <br>

yagamuffin

<font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">There are a few options. You can get gravity stands that lean against the wall with no fixings, hooks for wall or ceiling or their is a nice wooden stand that fits between floor and ceiling. I'll try and find some links later.</font>

yagamuffin

<div><div>I have a gravity stand which works well. The Oak Rack is good if you want to show off your bike(s).</div><div><br></div>Gravity stands<div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0055ZQXBA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01">http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0055ZQXBA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garage-Storage-Stand-Floor-Mount/dp/B006AV36N6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_9/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=retrobike-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garage-Storage-Stand-Floor-Mount/dp/B006AV36N6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_9/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=retrobike-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738</a></div><div><br></div><div>Oak Rack</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gear-Up-Oakrak-Floor-To-Ceiling-4-Bike/dp/B000TM96MM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=retrobike-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gear-Up-Oakrak-Floor-To-Ceiling-4-Bike/dp/B000TM96MM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=retrobike-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738</a></div><div>with good review here</div><div><a href="http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=208043&highlight=oak+bike+stand">http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=208043&highlight=oak+bike+stand</a></div><div><br></div><div>Oak alternative</div><div><a href="http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/xtreme-multiflex-stand-storage-bd-340/aid:297627">http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/xtreme-multiflex-stand-storage-bd-340/aid:297627</a></div><div><br></div><div>Ikea hack</div><div><a href="http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/12/three-bikes-on-stolmen.html">http://www.ikeahackers.net/2011/12/three-bikes-on-stolmen.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Cycloc</div><div><a href="http://www.cycloc.com/">http://www.cycloc.com/</a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div>

andy

Absolutely fantastic advice, thanks. The Oakrak really looks the part. Does anyone keep their bikes in their front garden?

yagamuffin

I had friends who used to live in Walthamstow, they kept their bikes in a bike locker in the front garden. I guess if it's safe there, then...

Colette

I can highly recommend the Cycloc - works brilliantly in a narrow hallway.

Colette

I can highly recommend the Cycloc - works brilliantly in a narrow hallway.

nick_m

I installed a bike box outside our flat on FPR and it was broken into within days. They are useless. I've noticed that most others have been broken into. I have now installed 2x sturdy metal loops (<a href="http://www.bikecare.co.uk/product_info.php?acc=Steel-Lock-Loop&id=472">http://www.bikecare.co.uk/product_info.php?acc=Steel-Lock-Loop&id=472</a> on the front wall and lock the bike with 2 locks, front and back, and put a halfords rain cover on it. All in all the cost was about £50 and it's been there ever since (over 6 months now).

bilbo

<P>I know a couple kept their bikes in front garden - yea big metal loops attached to brickwork that the gas meters were on with decent locks - survived for years without incident. Too studenty having them in your hallway - love the idea of hanging it on the wall, especially when you've been out in the rain ....</P> <P>What about a ruinously expensive Brompton folding jobby?</P>

applehead

I have my bike locked to a a metal loop on the brick wall in our front garden for about 2 years now and have had no problem but then again it is not a very pretty bike .........no definitely not pretty....<br>

ShaunG

I faced this problem recently - permanently blocked hallway becoming a drag. Since we had two bikes to put somewhere, none of the internal options would work so it had to be front garden. I was very tempted by the Trimetals shed http://www.trimetals.co.uk/bicycle-storage.php?m=4&g=9 because it is small and simple and I like the up-and-over opening. But I did hear quite a few reports of them being broken into (and even their own website is a little wary on that point). So I ended up getting an Asgard metal shed http://www.asgardsss.co.uk/detail.php?pro_code=Add2. Beautiful it isn't, but the hedge mostly hides it from the road, and it's easy to operate. I would have done a simpler DIY approach, but the truth is that anything that involves a degree of faff (multiple padlocking, putting a cover over) would end up with me sticking it in the hall, especially if late/ knackered/ raining. It's expensive, but in the end I decided I had to have something that catered for my laziness, or the whole thing would be a waste of time. It's worked perfectly on that front. (ps is there updated advice on how to include links etc in posts? I did get the hang of it but the site's changed since then).

Fin

I've got the same issue and have been looking at the Bike Vault as a possibility.<br><br>http://www.bike-vault.co.uk/<br><br>Not cheap and quite small but perhaps more stylish than some of the external alternatives.<br><br>I'm also considering the lock and cover approach, seems to work ok for plenty of others in my street.<br>

Idoru

I chain mine to a rabid alsatian.<br><br>Not really. I don't have a bike. Or an alsatian, rabid or otherwise. <br>

boxrunner

We installed the trimetals box in our front garden about 18 months ago and it works lovely.  It was a bit of a faff to put up and you do need to screw it into a concrete base for security (so far we've not had any break-ins, am keeping fingers firmly crossed on that one).<br><br>I would recommend it, though am concerned to read about others having been broken into.<br><br>

Fin

I found these guys online which looks pretty ideal<br><br>www.bristolbikesheds.co.uk<br><br>I've also confirmed they operate in London, more details via the email reply I received below:<br><br><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">We certainly do service London and would be happy to come and have a look at the space and discuss your requirements with you. During that visit we take measurements and then create a basic 3D CAD drawing so you can see how the bike shed would look in the garden and send this with a quote to you via email. If you decide to proceed, we then build the shed in the workshop and arrange for a convenient date to come and install and complete any groundwork if necessary. From the date of order to installation is approximately five weeks.</span><br><br>I'm arranging for their representative to visit my proeprty next week so if you're interested let me know and I'll forward you details.

Fin

If anyone's interested in a quote Dan from Bristol Bike sheds will be in Stroud Green on Thursday evening.<br>

N4Matt

I had a lower ground floor flat and had two bikes chained to the wall, out of sight and a good 8m from the street. They were safe for about two years, then when I returned from an overseas trip I noticed that the wheels had been robbed, two days later I heard noises outside my window late at night, I went out, chased off the thieves and then they came back tooled up! On reflection, if they had nicked the bikes properly I would have been grateful.<br>

nick_m

If you put in 2 loops, as above, on the wall and d-lock both wheels to the bike frame and the loops, that pretty much covers it. They would then need an angle grinder to steal the bike, which would definitely wake you up. If they were also tooled up (I assume that means they had knives?), admittedly you're in trouble. If there are bike thieves wandering around at night with angle grinders and knives, we're all in trouble.