How To Store Cycling Equipment
Posted on: 18 July 2017
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Cycling is both a great form of cardio exercise and a convenient method of transportation. However, bicycles and their equipment can take up a great deal of space within your home. If you're no longer biking regularly or just want to create some free space in your house, you may want to consider renting a self-storage unit to hold onto your gear for a while. However, before you move your equipment into a storage unit, you need to make sure that you properly prepare it so that it does not become damaged during an extended period of disuse.
Maintenance
The first thing that you should do before you put your bike and all your gear into storage is a general maintenance checkup. This means that you'll want to inflate the tires, clean dirt off of the wheels and frame, add oil to the chain, and so on. General cleaning only requires soap and warm water, while removing old lubricant and adding new stuff to the chain will require a degreaser, available at most hardware stores. You'll also want to clean off your helmet, pads, and gloves to remove sweat and dirt which may have become stuck on.
Proper Storage Techniques
In order to maximize the amount of space that you can use in your storage unit, you may want to break your bike down. Removing the wheels and chain from the frame and storing them in their own boxes can help make it easier to organize your storage unit: you can use any cardboard box, but make sure that you wrap individual pieces in packing material to prevent damage.
In addition, you should ensure that you keep your helmet in a cool and dry area, as this will prevent mold growth from occurring inside of it. You should also leave it out of direct sunlight, which can degrade the padding inside the helmet; put it in its own box if possible.
Climate Control
Finally, when putting a bike into long term storage, it is a near necessity to look into climate controlled units. This is because the soft parts of your bike and biking equipment, like the leather of the seat and handlebars or the inside of the helmet, are susceptible to warping, cracking, and the development of mildew due to temperature fluctuations and high levels of humidity. While climate control is an added expense on your storage unit fees each month, it is worth the price to keep your bike and all associated equipment in good working order.
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