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I've decided my commuter may as well live outside in the back garden for early morning convenience, while it creates an increased theft risk, it is a cheap bike and I'd rather they nicked the easily accessed sub £200 bike and didn't bother investigating the Garage for fancier toys so it could act as a bit of a decoy...
I've got a couple of potential spots where I could possibly fix some wall hooks, maybe an anchor for a lock, and I have a loose idea of putting up a small cantilevered roof / shelter to keep the rain off it a bit, or getting a cover of some sort.
Currently it spends half the week sat leaned up against the fence with plastic bags over the bars and seat to keep the weather off, I just want something a bit more compact and convenient than a mini shed or store...
I'm open to suggestions and inspirational pictures... So what have you got?
Don't forget to give it a regular wipe over with an oily rag to keep the worst of the rust away.
I've just invested in a bike parka for my pride and joy
ive got a nice fold-down hook that holds the top tube, leaving the bike horizontal.
[url= http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_522909_langId_-1_categoryId_242557 ]halfords link[/url]
will be used under a small lean to/porch type roof with tarp curtain
This is the bike:
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Not much to look at but she does the job admirably.
In fact the wall just beside the missus veg' plot, behind the grass, in the background of the picture is probably the prime location for storing it...
Thinking about it further;
I think I'd prefer to suspend it horizontally rather than vertically from the front wheel, so it flatter against the wall and makes it slightly easier to get down/oil the chain and pump up the tyres, its got full length guards at the minute which means it can't be hauled up on its back wheel without crunching the rear guard into the ground anyway so horizontal is better.
It's got a pump mounted under the top tube now, so I think I'll have to use 2 separate hooks, spaced to go through the top of the rear triangle, while the other is towards the front of the TT so it clears the pump.
I'm thinking I want it with the wheels just a couple inches off the ground.
The bike Parka might be a good call, especially for winter, but I'm not sure it'll allow me to hang it the way I want, so something that just stretches over the seat and the bars might be a reasonable compromise, having dry contact points in the morning is the key thing, the rest can get wet, the chain gets a regular coating of oil anyway so leaving it open to the elements doesn't worry me too much TBH...
Cheers for the input all
Having commuted by motorbike for a while, the hassle involved in removing locks and covers every morning and then recovering and locking every evening is far greater than just getting the bike out the garage.
Not to mention safer and less rust.
You haven't seen my Garage...
Like I say currently the bike already spends the night in the back garden before bars and seat covered in plastic bags the commute, and is conveniently easy to grab (whip off the bags) and go in the morning, I'm just looking to tidy up that arrangement rather than debate the finer points of my daily commuting routine...
what exactlys wrong with leaving it against the fence ? just lock it up there ?
what exactlys wrong with leaving it against the fence ? just lock it up there ?
Get a bit of nice timber and create a half pitched roof and bolt it to the wall in the garden. Then stick a anchor point on the ground for cable loop.
This should keep the top half of the bike dry.
Buy a motorbike cover. They are thick strong and somewhat breathable. Works well to keep the weather off.
Kids and having a generally busy garden where space is at a bit of a premium is sort of the issue, its in the way generally where I leave it at present, I just know it'll get knocked over eventually and bollox the bar tape (again)...
Where I want to put it is a nice, tidy out of the way spot, having it neatly suspended prevents it tumbling, TBH locking it is an optional thing, it's left unlocked most of the time right now...
I'm just after neat outdoor storage solutions, I think I know what I'm going to do now though... Cheers.