Considering the snow is here to stay (and has been here a while now), I’m sure many of you are looking to park your bikes for the winter. Granted, there are some of you out there still riding in this weather (kudos!) and others have put your bikes on trainers and are putting in miles while Netflixing so good on you!
But for the rest, what options do you have for quick and easy bike storage that keeps your bikes in good condition and ready for spring when it comes?
What Not To Do
Bikes are resilient, but there are definitely a few options to avoid.
1. Don’t leave them outside
I get it, space is limited. But leaving your bike outside will shorten it’s lifespan considerably. Many bikes do not have sealed hubs. Bolts, chains and cables will all rust and the rubber of the tires will be compromised. If you must leave your bike outside, try keeping it in a shed out of the rain/snow/sun.
2. Don’t hang them upside down
Especially if you have hydraulic brakes. If there is any air at all (which there shouldn’t be), it will be at the top of your reservoir normally and won’t be causing issues. Hanging the bike upside down will cause any air bubbles (as small as they may be) to travel to the calipers where your braking power will then be compromised.
In addition, if you have a suspension fork, oil will tend to leak if your seals are at all worn.
3. Don’t lean things against them
This is just a tip to avoid scratches, bent derailleurs, etc. Leaning items against your bike can lead to those items also sliding around, scratching your bike. Scratches are cool if they have a story. But not so cool if they’re from storage…
What to Do
There are many options for bike storage that you can find, but essentially if you can hang your bike in some fashion you will be the happiest with it in the spring! There are a few options that I will outline here, but there are many options.
1. Wall Display – Clug
If you have a spot on a wall where you can use a Clug, you will likely be happy with it’s minimalist look and the way it will display your bike without getting in the way. A Clug is a small plastic square that mounts to the wall and you simply push your tire into it. It’s quick, easy and requires no lifting of the bike. Best of all, it won’t cause any scratches or damage to your frame or wheels, and you can get three different sizes (click here to see the options). Check out our display at the store to see how they work! The one downside is that you take up both wall and floor space with an option like this.
2. Wall Hang – Horizontally
Here is an option that will still display your bike proudly, and without too much of the hanger itself showing. It requires a quick lift of the bike, and setting the top tube down on arms. It clears up floor space and allows you to hang it as high as you want. The cons of this is you may be limited by your ability to lift the bike high enough and there is always a slight possibility of scratches or marks where the hanger and frame intersect.
3. Wall Hang – Vertically
This is a very common option you will see in many garages and basements for bike storage. These hooks will hold the bike vertically by a wheel (front or rear wheel usually work). They do tend to be more challenging to get the wheel on and off (depending on tire size), and you will be again limited by how easy it is for your to lift your bike. However, the benefits is you can usually hang a few of these closer together to not only save floor space, but make more efficient use of your wall space as well.
4. Floor Stand
Finally, there are options such as this floor stand. It’s likely the easiest to use, and is also the most versatile as you can move it around wherever you need. And it requires no drilling of any kind. However, it is inefficient in floor space usage as you cannot get the bikes up and out of the way. This is a great option for when you are using the bike often, as it is easy to use and doesn’t require lifting of the bike itself.
I hope this has been helpful for some of you looking to figure out where to put that bike this season! As always, be sure to come on down to the store to discuss these options and see them in use or to try them out. Have a great winter, and we’ll see you out on the highway and/or trails again very soon!