Would you leave your bike in the Staircase?

Sagi

I recently moved to a new house in Cork, I live on the Top floor now, but it really sucks to carry the bike up and down as the staircase is very narrow, the bike quite heavy and I nearly have to lift it above my heat to bring it down without hitting the walls and to makie it around the corners. Well as I am lazy I hardly ever do so and that results in much less cycling for me

I could let it in the ground floor outside of someones apartement where I could lock it to the wooden railing, but I'd be very unhappy if it would get stolen....

So, the question is, would you take the risk, as it is at least still inside house and the front door is always closed and locked, or should I rather get a cheapo 2nd hand bike.

I know the obvious solution would be to man up a little and cary it, but it is like playing tetris in this narrow staircase and with the low ceiling it does not get easier, I did it a few times now and it always ends with me cursing and sweating and hating it....

kenmc

Swap apartments with the people downstairs.
Problem solved.

BostonB

Sagi wrote: »

I recently moved to a new house in Cork, I live on the Top floor now,....

What was you plan before you moved in?

snubbleste

When did the other occupants say when told of your idea?

Sagi

well to be honest I did not choose my apartement according to my cycling needs, and figured I would just carry it up and down every day, after having this done for a few times it I came to the conclusuion that it's far from ideal...

Well I have not asked if the other occupants would like my bike in the staircase of course I would do so before just placing it there.

BostonB

Get a light folding bike.

http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/dahon/mu-uno

wanderer 22

BostonB wrote: »

Get a light folding bike.

http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/dahon/mu-uno

Problem #5150 that can be solved by buying a new bike

Sagi

Ok guys, thx for your imput, back to the original question, given that the staircase is not as safe as your apartement and not as unsafe as the streat, would you let your bike there or rather not?

Tonyandthewhale

I'd leave my commuting bike (which cost 200e back in 2004) in a stairwell. I wouldn't leave my race bike in the stairwell though.

It depends on how much traffic there is in the stairwell, how diligent people are about locking the front door and is there something secure you can lock your bike to? Obviously the value of your bike and your ability to replace it also play a role.

If it was me faced with a choice of locking out of sight and hardly using it because it's too much hassle I'd lock it in the stairwell. It's probably a lot safer there than out on the street and I'm sure you lock it up outside at least now and again.

manwithaplan

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

I'd leave my commuting bike... in a stairwell. I wouldn't leave my race bike in the stairwell though.

Me too. It will probably be fine downstairs but it depends on the value/cost of replacement.

Hungrycol

I would also imagine it's a fire hazard.

Carry it up, it will get easier the stronger you become by doing it regularly.

Sagi

well its a commuter bike but not a cheap one, its a Surly Troll with Magura Fork, Race Face Components, Disc Brakes and Alfine, it would be really bad if it would get stolen

Sean02

The people in that house need to get your priorities in order. Your cycling is of vital importance. They ground floor tenants will just have to swop apartment. On the other hand have you considered a folding bike, brilliant for negotiating awkward turns on stairs Happy Christmas

Sagi

The worst thing is, when looking for an apartment I was actually checking out the one on the ground floor but decided that the top floor would be nicer (and cheaper).....


Never will I buy a folding bike

darconio

Lock the frame downstairs and carry wheels + seat to your apartment

BostonB

Sagi wrote: »

The worst thing is, when looking for an apartment I was actually checking out the one on the ground floor but decided that the top floor would be nicer (and cheaper).....


Never will I buy a folding bike

Kinda kicked your own butt so...

I dunno for apartment living and carrying, and security you can either go lighter (to carry it up stairs and hang on wall apartment) and/or folding so it can be put in to a basement locker or under a stairs etc.

http://www.airnimal.eu/joey_elite.php
http://philwigglesworth.net/BlogEngine.NET/post/2007/02/08/The-Airnimal-Joey.aspx
http://www.montaguebikes.com/folding-bike/

Maybe there some other secure parking area for bikes on the ground floor?

reallyunique

As an ex-apartment block manager and tenant I would suggest not leaving a bike in a stairwell/corridor. It's a nice bike and local scumbags will be happy to relieve you of it. Of course you could be lucky, I just wouldn't count on it. You're better off locking it up well to some railings or find somewhere close-by where you can store it securely.
Best of luck.

Lumen

I would not leave that bike outside, particularly locked to a wooden rail.

dave2pvd

The solution is simple.

You need Liquid Ass.

Simply spray your bike with this wonderful product and no one will ever steal it.

Sagi

what about 2 good locks, taking out the frontweel (back is a little more work thanks to alfine) and something like that?
http://www.amazon.de/M-Wave-234000-Bike-Alarm/dp/B00342V73K

Sean02

Darcon thats even worse than my suggestion

RobertFoster

I don't think the other tenants would be too happy with a bike chained to their staircase. Plus, any visitors (either friends or services) coming in would see it too, so even if you trust the other tenants you mightn't be able to keep tabs on everyone else.

You say it's a house - is there any garden at all? No communal shed or bucket of concrete you could use?

Sagi

If only there was something like that, there is a nice spot in the staircais where it would definetly not be in somebodys way, but of course I'm not happy with the solution all in all.

The thing is that I built this bike for commuting back in austria where I had no problems with that and a nice 20km daily commute to work, so I wanted to have a good bike and did go for good components and everything. so getting a cheapo commuter just would not make me happy, and the surly would spend all his days in the flat only been taken on the ocasional weekend ride or one or two longer tours over sumer. That's no life for a bike like this :-(

Well, I'll ask the other tenants if they are ok with it and give it a try protecting it as good as possible, if it's gone i'll post it here so everybody can say: Itold you....

kenmc

if you're just renting why not rent somewhere else?

letape

I don't believe people should leave bikes or other personal belongings in the public areas like stairwells. I am sure even a fellow cyclist I wouldn't want someone else's commuting bike outside their door.

tomasrojo

For minimisation of hassle in apartment living, I'd go for a Brompton. But you've ruled out folding bikes. Why, as a matter of interest?

Sagi

I just moved to this place in the beginning of the month, I like the place and compared to my old apartement it's wonderful if was wasn;t for the dreaded bike carrying it would be perfect. moving house is not my favourite spare time actvity it costs time and money and I' not planing on doing it too soon again.

Hm, I'll definetly ask the other tenants, personally I would not mind 10 bikes in the staircase as long as they dont block the way or cause trouble in any other way. Before it was mentioned I would not have thought about this as a problem, and I asked the landlord before moving in and he was ok with it. Just made me aware that I should use a good lock because his son hab bad experience with bke theft.

I had a folding bike once, just didn't like the ride, the small wheels are not very nice and it always felt like pedaling like crazy without gaining speed, also the geometry was not quite mine, I'd rather want so sit on the bike in a mtb like position.

I would'n really want to buy a new bike, because I'd still be sitting around with a bike I love to ride that would not be used very often.

Well I'd say cork needs some secure bike parking space in the city center I'd just walk there in the morning and park there after work without having to worry but as far as I know there's no such place.

BostonB

Install one of these in the hall

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wall-mounted-bike-locks
http://sell.lulusoso.com/selling-leads/1200523/BIKE-LIFT-TVA1002-.html

Mycroft H

No lift?

tomasrojo

Sagi wrote: »

I had a folding bike once, just didn't like the ride, the small wheels are not very nice and it always felt like pedaling like crazy without gaining speed, also the geometry was not quite mine, I'd rather want so sit on the bike in a mtb like position.

Which make did you have though? I've done about 50km in a day on a Brompton, trailing a guitar in a hard case too. Speed acceptable, I find. The stance probably depends on your height, leg length, etc. though.

Wishbone Ash

I don't think a fire safety inspector would be impressed. Stairwells, especially communal ones, are meant to be clear of all obstructions which may hamper a hasty exit. In darkness or smokey atmosphere your bike may not be visible to others.