Cycling is a favorite pastime of many. However, weather conditions do not always allow this, for example, in the winter season. And your favorite vehicle must be postponed or set aside for some time. Will it be usable next season? It all depends on the selected storage method.
If the area of the apartment allows, you can simply put the bike somewhere in the corner. Or you can disassemble it and put it in parts on the mezzanine or in the closet, if it fits. It is good to use a special bike mount, such as a wall mount. You can take the bike to the garage, but you need it to be dry and the garage to be heated. This will protect the elastic parts (shock absorber, saddle, handles from the steering wheel) and rubber from drying out and keep them in working condition. You can also leave your bike for the winter on the open balcony. At the same time, all elastic parts are removed and left at home, while metal parts are smeared with oil and wrapped in oiled paper. This is the worst bike storage option. It doesn’t matter if it is stored on a glazed balcony. It is quite similar in characteristics to a dry heated garage.
The bike mount on the wall is the best way to store it. Thanks to this fairly common bicycle accessory, the bike does not need to be disassembled, it is always in sight and does not take up much space. At the same time, there are a number of wall mounts that allow you to store the bike by hanging it by the steering wheel, by the wheel, by the upper tube of the frame, by the pedal. In this case, it is best to buy a ready-made mount for a bicycle than to craft it yourself. Although, possessing engineering thinking and skilled hands, you can independently cope with this task, spending, of course, a lot of time for shopping in search of the necessary details.
It is best to keep the bike horizontal. Suspension by the wheel will inevitably lead to rim deformation. Also, storing it in the attic, summer cottage, balcony or garage with constant temperature fluctuations can damage the filling of the shock absorber, and all steel components will be covered with rust. A good solution in this situation is a relatively inexpensive wall mount for a bicycle. It consists of two hooks that are attached to the wall. A bicycle is hung on them by the upper tube of the frame. In this way, it is perfectly stored and does not need to be disassembled and assembled. Such a holder can also be used as the main parking during the cycling season. So he will not fall to his feet or otherwise interfere with the rest of the family.
Using such a bike mount, one may encounter difficulty if the cabling in the bike runs to the side of or under the top pipe, and thus the cables are pinched when suspended. So that they do not deform, you need to put a piece of dense material between the frame and cables.
If you decide to make such a bike mount yourself, just buy a couple of large hooks at a hardware store and then cover them with rubber insulating tape or liquid rubber. This will help not damage the bike. But there is no guarantee that such a mount will not break.