Folding Bikes - Furniture that stores (hides) a folding bike (i.e. Brompton) - innovative and not

Im pretty sure I can't be the only person who has a folding bike (in my case a brompton) which I like to leave just inside my house but looks ugly. I actually live in a cottage so no hallway or cupboard to hide it in !

It has to live in my living room!

I am sure other people (perhaps in a shared flat where the bike has to live in a room) suffer/suffered from the same.

SO I am interested in what solutions people found... I found a cabinet (ikea where else) which fits it

That was ok but I was kind of more looking for a like a big chest/box that matches the dimensions! 70/80 by 70/80 by 40 I guess (internally). This would double up as a coffee table ish...

This way I can walk in -lift up the lid, plonk in the brompton (wet and all) and its out of sight...! And it will double up as a nice coffee table (albeit a bit high).

Im just going to have to build my own (and make do with the IKEA cabinet in the meantime) but what other solutions did people find?

I saw a end table / dog crate at my local Costco and it's online (:http://www.costco.com/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=11218993&search=dog&Mo=50&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=dog&Ntt=dog&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1). And the first thing I thought was that I could fit my brompton in the space. And looking at the interior dimension for the large unit, 28.5” H x 20.5” W x 32” L, it think it would easily fit in there.

How about just using a Brompton B-Bag? Hides the bike, doesn't take up much room, keeps the dirt away from the surroundings.

Not a bad option and better than now but still not ideal as its just a bag in the middle of the room. It does have teh benefit of being a cover on trains etc.


I like the furniture that hides the bike more as it doubles up as a table etc!

I have my Brompton as part of the furniture on my living room, right next to the TV. It is almost a perfect match, too bad I don't have a fireplace.

@Juninho: Sometimes I keep my folding bike in my pantry -- essentially, in a closet. Since you don't have a closet (I gather), you might consider something like a wardrobe (say one with 2 doors, rod for coats, perhaps with shelves), which would function like a closet. That way you would have a good place to store your bike and other things, such as clothes and linens. Just a thought.

No Brompton...yet. But I have two bike here in my motel room with me, a Twenty and my huge R530 currently they are doing duty as a clothes drying rack. When they are done with that chore the Twenty and I are are headed for the grocery store.:lol:

Aaron:)

If the bike is dry, I would use a large plastic storage totes, boxes, or bins sold at Target, Kmart, and the like stores: http://www.target.com/b/ref=pd_sim_cat_1_2?ie=UTF8&node=236323011 I have seen all sorts of sizes and shapes of these boxes there plus they all have lids so you can use it as a table of sorts. I would not put a wet bike in one though. I would prefer to dry the bike off and air dry it completely before I put it away in an enclosed area or storing it even in a soft cloth bag.

Good point re: drying it before stashing it. I find if I let it dry before shoving it away my chain stays greasy so much longer... strange how that works ...

Maybe drape a interesting afghan or table cloth over it and call it art?:D

Aaron:)

If I had to hide it when I got home, I'd probably leave it under a desk (like I do at work) or behind a couch. Either one would let it dry out well and keep it out of sight, yet remain convenient.

Furniture to store a bike is a pretty cool idea. Mine technically fits in my closet, but I never seem to put it in there. I have a cabinet by the front door where I drop keys and stuff, and I could definitely see getting a larger one in which to store the bike.

I agree with the DIY plan... it's a bit to specifically sized and shaped. Finding one with the perfect dimensions (big enough but not too big) would be a real stroke of luck!

Post pictures if you build something!

:)

I like all the responses - personally I don't mind it too much on show but it does look a little messy specially when its a little dirty.

So yeah I think its a definate niche market (i.e. furniture for fold up bikes!).

It'll have to be spring I think as I've just been told that top of my DIY list are:
new shelves
fixing the old cupboard doors
and clearing out the shed...

before I am allowed to consider any proper projects so might be a while...

You could put the folded bike in the shower cubicle or if there is one, in the bath. Wet bike, wot me worry?

Get some furniture from the movie Soylent Green. Who needs a bike with furniture you can ride?

Maybe drape a interesting afghan or table cloth over it and call it art?:D

Aaron:)

I like the idea of using fabric of an interesting afghan. Perhaps I should make a box shape cover made out of an interesting cloth fabric. . . . Just put on the cover, no lifting the bike or the Brompton coffee table lid. :)

Good thread , "Juninho" .

Thats good thinking! Especially if the box shape is sturdy enough to put a cup of coffee/tea on top afterwards.

I like it!

I still think this is a great niche market for someone - after all how much of a premium do people pay for a brompton c / s bag etc !

I had buy a folding bike at the furniture store. They only have limited stocks because they are not really selling bikes. I'm lucky to have one. You can find folding bikes around the internet.

I like the wardrobe idea--very practical. If you drape a piece of fabric over your bicycle, make sure it's a material that you can wash easily, as it will get dirty. Letting your bike dry before storing it is a good idea. I keep a rag where I store my bike so I can wipe it down when it's been out during wet conditions.

Ugly, ugly, ugly? How dare you say a Brompton is "ugly! A Brompton is a true work of art!

I use a Brompton Cover when transporting mine on the train or in the car. While at home it lives in the front room normally next to the TV (without the cover) so I can look at it :thumb:

I'm sure you could find something suitable at Ikea.

I like to look at my DAHON ..its part of the family and is the highlight of the room design .....
it sits right in the middle of the living room for everybody to enjoy .....

I can understand that other bikes need to be covered and hidden away .....











sorry guys I resisted a LONG time ......
:-)
thor

when we were in France our Brommie's had a special task, beside being perfect and beautiful bikes . . .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/plooifiets/4065972110/

A Wardrobe is a piece of furniture that replaces having a closet..
stone walled buildings , like castles, need them.

I've seen a cabinet made to park a regular bike inside , attached to the side of a building..

it had a lift up lid and double doors.

a smaller one would certainly be easily fabricated.. same deal, lid lifts up , one side of the cabinet opens up
so you dont have to lift it, the folded bike, to set it inside,

if its made with say a fabric stretched over a frame . or the sides of structure made to be ventilated
the wet bike should dry fine , inside it..

Maybe make it around a steel drip pan, for parking the car over, Auto Accessory,
so the water and dirt will drain into it, and keep the floor clean..

maybe a padded lid to sit on while you take off your shoes..

guess it could be lower and wider, your coffee table scheme..
then you size it around laying the folded bike over, on its side.

Wow, we have very different views of our respective bikes.

Like Brakemeister, I love looking at my bikes when not riding them. I have a display area in front of the family room fireplace where I rotate my bikes for display.

Of course, I'm very open to the possibility that I'm not normal when it comes to folding bikes. :(

Wow, we have very different views of our respective bikes.

Like Brakemeister, I love looking at my bikes when not riding them. I have a display area in front of the family room fireplace where I rotate my bikes for display.

Of course, I'm very open to the possibility that I'm not normal when it comes to folding bikes. :(

Normal? Of course your not normal,the rest of us put ours next to the TV.:innocent:

Normal? Of course your not normal,the rest of us put ours next to the TV.:innocent:

Doh! So that's what I'm doing wrong?!!

you guys got tv's ?
i am just happy to look at my bikes

I have to keep my bikes, ( 3x R20s, 4x road bikes, 5x MTBs, 2x tandems, 1x Raleigh Prima 451 girls bike...numerous frames, wheels and soon to be acquired Moulton :love:), in my 40'x15' shed!!

I want to keep them inside the house too

I have mine right next to the cubbyholes for shoes.

Mine live in the garage (OK that's not furniture), spilling over into the rumpus room. I have to be really careful not to leave black paw prints on the snooker table cloth cover.

I like to look at my DAHON ..its part of the family and is the highlight of the room design .....
it sits right in the middle of the living room for everybody to enjoy .....

I can understand that other bikes need to be covered and hidden away .....

sorry guys I resisted a LONG time ......
:-)
thor

My own bicycles are part of the family's important possessions. So they do have a special place of honor. Just not where they could prove to be a nuisance or even a danger when not in use-elderly person lives here too. I bought a small rectangular piece of carpet yesterday for the wheels of my Twenty to rest on as we have nothing but hard wood floors here. The rest are usually bagged to protect from dust (I hate to dust bikes off if it could be prevented) and stored away indoors in an enclosed non foot traffic area as to prevent people from tripping over them all the time and the animals from possibly destroying the bikes (the cats like to sit on the saddle & the dogs like to play with the little bikes). Now you can see why I dropped down to just 2 folding bikes.


Mine live in the garage (OK that's not furniture), spilling over into the rumpus room. I have to be really careful not to leave black paw prints on the snooker table cloth cover.


I have to keep my bikes, ( 3x R20s, 4x road bikes, 5x MTBs, 2x tandems, 1x Raleigh Prima 451 girls bike...numerous frames, wheels and soon to be acquired Moulton :love:), in my 40'x15' shed!!

I want to keep them inside the house too

Unless you have a protected from the elements controlled environment in your shed or garage, the best place is inside the house. And that is not including the theft problem.


I have mine right next to the cubbyholes for shoes.

That is the best and safest place to store your bikes.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dahon-Folding-Bikes/116510850692#!/photo.php?pid=11614654&id=116510850692&ref=fbx_album

here is an idea
thor

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dahon-Folding-Bikes/116510850692#!/photo.php?pid=11614654&id=116510850692&ref=fbx_album

here is an idea
thor

Just beautiful! Unfortunately, the cats & the dogs will work together like they always do here-i.e. cats knock down food on a high shelf for the dogs and the dogs eat it up-& figure out a way to open doors or drawers. :bang:

Unless you have a protected from the elements controlled environment in your shed or garage, the best place is inside the house. And that is not including the theft problem.

Where I live in Oz the climate is dry and warm for most of the year, our winters very rarely see snow, so I call that a controlled environment, to a certain extent. I do cover my good road bike that I race on, I should get some old bed covers from the Op shop for the rest because of the dust.

My wife would KILL me if I brought my bikes inside to stay...... I can see it now, Stevegor :banned: from the house and sleeping in the shed on a camp bed!!

I'm pretty sure I can't be the only person who has a folding bike (in my case a brompton) which I like to leave just inside my house but looks ugly.

=1 PDR!

I find a lot of bikes are engineering marvels and even sometimes works of art. The Brompton in folded or unfolded mode is unusual and not something I feel the need to cover up. It's such a neat package folded anyway.

Wow - I can't believe I started this thread almost 2 years ago -> and I still have not found a solution until very recently.

Firstly I would like to apologise. I do not think a folded brompton looks ugly BUT a folded brompton in a tatty cardboard box in our living room does look a little tatty!!

We live in a tiny 2 bed cottage so the entrance is right to the living room - hence the brompton gets plonked just inside the front door next to our couch and the missus has been trying to get me to find a better solution for, well 2 years now!

BUT I have finally found a great solution.

After years of pretending I would get round to building something myself I found someone who is going to do it for me (a cabinet maker). A really nice guy and super enthusiastic and has thought of things I would not even think of (like ventilation/drainage holes in the bottom to let it breath when a little wet).

Its not going to be the cheapest solution but watch this space as will post up pics when done.

I also did a bit more googling and found this:
http://www.goinggoingbike.com/blog/storage-design-for-a-brompton-bicycle/

Again not the cheapest but looks very smart!!

Edit: haha I didnt click on your link!

I quite like this:

http://thebromptonshelf.com/
http://thebromptonshelf.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/thebromptonshelf3.jpg
http://thebromptonshelf.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/thebromptonshelf22.jpg


Can't be hard to make?

Juan

It can't be hard but after 2 years and not having made it I have gone for the 'lets ask someone else to build it'.

Had the above been available when I was looking 2 years ago that would've solved it. The IKEA cabinet option I looked at was awful - would look like bathroom furniture in the living room.

But yes I do like the shelf as it shows off the Brompton! Lets see what my hinged box looks like when its done! Should be ready in a week or two!

Let us know how it goes! and if it turns out badly you could do what I do (I also live in a small house)

Hang it in the wall, you will be surprised how useful it is! :thumb:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/28685_393895104798_506689798_3835578_4936318_n.jpg

Juan

Any finish carpenter with a Table Saw, can make a box out of Plywood,
to stow the bike into.
there is a veneer tape to glue on and cover the edges ,
so it wont look like raw Plywood, if it matters, ..
they can add doors and what ever you wish.

Let us know how it goes! and if it turns out badly you could do what I do (I also live in a small house)

Hang it in the wall, you will be surprised how useful it is! :thumb:


Exactely. Great for many things. I try to only buy stuff that can be used for more than just one purpose. I find the folders to be great "eyecandy" and really like to have one or two in the livingroom (plus one upstairs and one in the hall).

Apart from that the Bonde cabinets from IKEA (no longer sold) is a great size but also the Pax and the Faktum kitchen cabinets.

These days, my BF lives behind the couch. I can fit the other folder there as well (although the Dahon lives in the garage now).

http://i.imgur.com/rAKOj.jpg

Hanging on the wall was an option ruled out by the other half! Our cottage is really tiny - our living room (which the front door opens onto) is only 9 foot wide so a Brompton hanging on any of the walls would really stick out!

That all said my box will be ready tomorrow - so I'll make sure I post up some pics in case anyone else has the same problem I had and wants a nice looking solution.

Its not been that much of a problem really (hence its taken me two years to find a solution!) as I have been stashing it in a large open cardboard box behind the door but the other half has agreed the new box can live in front of the door (and double up as a coffee table when the lid is down).

Very excited for tomorrow evening (sad I know!).

You can have boxes and cabinets made , it really is not a secretly held skill.
people that have no college degrees can make things.. :rolleyes:
in fact usually they learned how , because college costs too much
and they had to learn that stuff , to buy their big pickup truck.

yes thanks for that fietsbob

I think I was more just enthusastic about getting something finally done (after 2 years of kidding myself I would get round to build it myself)

BUT apologies my posting is a complete waste of your time and telling you something you know!

im sure this forum has an ignore function and as you have 12k (Im sure all very useful and insightful) posts to your name I am sure you're savy enough to use it so I suggest you add my name to that ignore list and I won;t be wasting your time anymore!




You can have boxes and cabinets made , it really is not a secretly held skill.
people that have no college degrees can make things.. :rolleyes:
in fact usually they learned how , because college costs too much
and they had to learn that stuff , to buy their big pickup truck.

newbs ... lighten up ....

he didnt write it with any more sarcasm than you were writing yours .... usually these posts dont go anywhere in a hurry ....
just as you suggest to him to use the ignore..... you could have done the same .... or ???
No reason to escalate a missunderstanding ....

we have a very nice atmosphere around here you will see, its a great place to hang out... just give it a little time ...:-)
thor

Just saying :innocent:
Any town's builders would really like the work.. New, single family, housing starts
are rather slow these days..

Aplogies jumping at the bit... I read that as a 'duhhh are you saying you can have boxes built - how exciting'.

I know this is a friendly place and I have been lurking around on this forum for the better part of 2 years - I just don't post much (except on this thread as I am interested in peoples ideas).

Looking back through the posts it was actually fietsbob that presented the idea of lieing it on its side - I actually thought about this as it would be better in some ways but the footprint would be bigger.

236555236554236553

Finally got the box (pics above - not the best pics as taken with my phone using unnatural light) - when specifying the dimensions I asked the person to make it a little larger than the bike dimensions so it also has space for umbrellas, the bag and also a helmet.

As a result its quite large - and therefore a little imposing but looks so much better than the cardbox we had there before and the other half is very very pleased with it!

The cats less than happy though as she used to like scratching and jumping into the cardboard box when the bike wasn't there!