sygyzy

What is your opinion on storing bikes indoor in easily visible living spaces (living room not garage)? I know we are cyclists here and would get excited visiting a house and seeing a nice road bike up on a rack, but let's assume for a moment that not all of us have a universal machine in the living room and a yoga pad in the corner. In other words, what if your living room was actually normal looking. Or better yet, was actually furnished? Would it be tacky to store bikes there?

What do you think of when you walk into an adult's house (not an apt or dorm) and next to the piano are two bikes leaned against the wall?

BCgoFHS

They ride their bikes often, and care for them enough not to leave them outside or in a garage? Better question why should you care? If it's your house do whatever the hell you feel like, if you are visiting it's not your house so why care?

Aloyzius

My bike is the nicest thing I own, by far. If it doesn't go in the living room, then I'm taking it to bed with me. My girlfriend, however disagrees and is constantly wheeling it into the spare room.

sygyzy

I guess what that sort of argument any thread on BF requesting an opinion would be moot. "What color should I paint my frame?" Who cares! "Would a Brooks fit me?" Who cares!

Thanks for your feedback.

sygyzy

Why doesn't your girlfriend like it in the living room?

Blue Order

I've got 7 bikes in my living room. The only problem I see is I don't have a big enough living room.

TRaffic Jammer

Mine goes right into the house, inside the front door. With the boots and shoes.... it's part of the house.

Aloyzius

I don't know. She's a girl. And she thinks the bike in the living room makes it look like some idiotic frat boy lives here instead of the suave, sophisticated, and charming gentleman I am........belch.

Pedal Wench

That's hysterical. I've got a gorgeous house, and the front room has always been referred to as 'The Piano Room', even though, currently, there's no piano. I've been saving up for my dream baby grand. However, yesterday, it was decorated with a Colnago and a Bianchi, even though my house is on the market.

Edit to add: There is no way I would leave my bikes in the garage. They have their own room, but sometimes, I leave them in other rooms in the house - they're much nicer than my furniture.

folder fanatic

I would think that it really none of my business to comment on someone else's choices, no matter what the age(s) of the people involved. As for my own choices, my bikes are "house bikes" and always stay in the house (with the guard dogs). I live in a high crime area and even sitting out on the porch invites trouble.

ttopaz

Bike in living room saying "I have no life".

TRaffic Jammer

My sister in law had her bike ripped our front porch while we were eating dinner. No way am I leaving one of my bikes outside.

DataJunkie

Tacky!
You need a bike in every room.

My racing bike will be relocated to our basement living room when I stop riding it regularly due to the weather.

chevy42083

I have two road bikes... the one being ridden most often stays in the living room leaned against the fireplace. The other stays in the garage. I often switch them around depending on whether I feel like riding fixed or geared. It's easier to open the patio door and wheel it inside, than go inside, open the garage, go around, wheel bike in garage, and then close garage door... besides, I have precious little room in the garage... or that's my excuse

One of the model homes I looked at a year ago had a mountain bike mounted to the wall above one of the beds (not the master bedroom). It was obviously mounted... not being stored. It was wall-art.... which looked really weird to me... nothing special, probably a walmart/target full suspension mountain bike. Struck me as odd.

kjmillig

The first thing I'd do is probably stop, look, and say, "Cool bikes! How often do you ride?", or something to that effect. Not tacky in the least unless maybe the whole house is trashy and the bikes are pieces of crap.

eofelis 

<looking around> There are 6 bikes in the living room. And there are 4 more in the bedroom, plus 2 Bob trailers. In the hall is the bike stand folded against the wall and 2 floor pumps. Also in the living room is the big tool box of bike tools, in case a bike needs a repair right now.

We have old second hand cats-claw-on furniture, but a very nice collection of bikes.

peabodypride

How about a bike in a small 12x15 dorm? I need to keep it inside because there are no bike closets. I am thinking of lifting my bed maybe a foot or seeing if it will fit in the closet.

Cyclaholic

A house with no bikes is like a mind with no imagination. Just contemplating it saddens me.

atomship47

that's never happened to me. if it did, i'd make a bee-line for it to check it out.

mine stays in the living room. haven't had it during a winter yet. i'll probably find a place to hang it in the basement then.

BarracksSi

My two bikes are parked right next to my tubas and ironing board in my main room.

Siu Blue Wind

*ahem* Three in the Living room and three in the bedroom. Five in the garage and two in the shed. One on the side of the house, in the dog house.

divergence

Yeah, but what do the other dogs think when they see it there?

sygyzy

Looks like the consensus here is clear! I personally can see both sides to it. I can definitely see people not wanting bikes in their living room. My roommate from a few years ago (a good friend of mine), requested specifically that I didn't store bikes inside. He said I could decorate anyway I'd like but no bikes. It wasn't a big deal to me. I said fine. I have been to places that look like dumps with bikes and they don't really stand out. I mean anytime you see a bike you associate it OUTDOORS, the road, gravel, dust, dirt. I think it's natural to at least think it's a bit odd to see it next to, as someone suggested, a piano.

On the other hand, when I see it in folks' home it doesn't "bother" me either. And yes, I think it's cool and ask if they ride. I just think it's kind of out of place.

wethepeople

My prized BMX bike sleeps where I sleep.




And the rest are in the basement, current count is 6 behind me. The "100 year old restoration bike" (as dubbed by my friends) is sitting in a crate in the garage, with about 400lbs ontop of it.

cyclezealot

Sort of bizarre if you have enough space elsewhere. But, ok. Maybe they want it quickly accessible for an early AM ride. Tacky. I have bike photos on many of our walls. Sort of goes with the decor. Maybe, Depends upon how hot the bike is?