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Is/was your bicycle part of your interior decor?

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Is/was your bicycle part of your interior decor?

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Old 01-18-19 | 11:50 PM
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Is/was your bicycle part of your interior decor?

Did you, back in the day, keep your bicycle inside your house or apartment? As I was a poor college student, and my bicycle represented one of the most expensive objects I owned (right up their with my stereo, books, calculator, and microwave), I did what I could to protect it from getting pilfered. I didn't have anything else to decorate my apartment with, so my bike had a trusty spot of it's own, where anyone who might drop by would be sure to see it. I now have way too many bicycles, and couches, books, tables, and such to have a specific spot for my ride (my trusty daily ride takes up space in the garage). I wanted my bicycle inside, because I was proud of it, and how it represented a special part of who I was. In fact, almost everyone I knew in college, who road, kept their bicycle in their apartment. So, did you, back in the day, bring your steed inside? Do you now?

(The genesis of this post was a young coworker who's bicycle was stolen from his balcony of his apartment (it was locked up, but stolen anyways). He never thought about bringing it inside.) PS, this was long before Seinfeld, and his green Klein (which, as far as we knew, was never ridden).
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Old 01-18-19 | 11:52 PM
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My first serious girlfriend dumped me because she thought it was weird I slept with the bike in the bedroom.

I still sometimes miss that ride.
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Old 01-19-19 | 12:02 AM
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Currently a college student. I have my 1987 Free Spirit Pinnacle prominently on display in my dorm room. It'll soon be joined with a (not C/V) 2016 Giant Sedona that I purchased last fall.

I had a poll asking whether or not I should keep it inside. Understandably, majority of the responses were yes. Besides looking awesome, I know its protected from the elements and, at night, secure. Which helps since bicycle thefts are not completely uncommon here. (Although, thankfully, bike thefts aren't too bad.)

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Old 01-19-19 | 12:06 AM
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I have 4 of my oldest bikes on a floor-ceiling stand, two each side, acting as a "screen" separating my finished basement into 2 sections.

So yes, but also no, my wife would never let them be upstairs
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Old 01-19-19 | 12:44 AM
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As I am but a single fellow, my bikes are of course stored inside my apartment unit. As such, they are by default part of the interior decor. I don't have a bunch of bookcases or an ottoman or a TV on a stand/furniture piece or a large three-place couch...or a dining room table. As a result, all that absent "normal people" furniture is taken up by very lovely bicycles that I have worked hard to obtain, build up, ride, and maintain. To the left of my computer, here at this desk, five feet away, are a handful of bikes. The nearest one, situated so that the drive side faces me, is my 2015 Cannondale CAAD10 Black Inc. Disc--truly a second coming of the original Black Lightning--and it is a beauty to behold. I can't stop looking at it!
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Old 01-19-19 | 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Ex Pres
I have 4 of my oldest bikes on a floor-ceiling stand, two each side, acting as a "screen" separating my finished basement into 2 sections.

So yes, but also no, my wife would never let them be upstairs

Sounds about right. At least they are in the house.

I’ve been trying to convince my wife to let me hang my Raleigh Professional in the house ever since I picked it up a few months ago. I’m losing that battle I’m afraid . But, at least I have a shed for my bikes to live. Things could be worse.
.
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Old 01-19-19 | 12:56 AM
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From: Salt Lake City, UT (Formerly Los Angeles, CA)

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My "first after-college" apartment didn't have protected bike storage, so yes, the bike lived at the back of my living room. This had the benefit of making it mandatory that the bike be cleaned up regularly.
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Old 01-19-19 | 01:01 AM
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Yes, i stored my '85 Miyata 912 in the apartment. And yes, my new wife of two years thought it was weird and did not approve.. but it is the only way to keep a ride in near perfect shape. For 5 years my bikes have been in the dusty, damp barn. Saw some rust on a cassette ystdy. And the dust that accumulates and the deterioration of tires is surprising..
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Old 01-19-19 | 01:14 AM
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I have a very understanding wife who loves me so much she allows me to display 2 of my oldest (and most interesting) bikes inside the house.
The 1974 Singer sits in the dining room and the 1937 Hobbs, in the TV room.

Mind you, I am 61 years old. My wife is extroardinary...
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Old 01-19-19 | 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by northbend
I have a very understanding wife who loves me so much she allows me to display 2 of my oldest (and most interesting) bikes inside the house.
The 1974 Singer sits in the dining room and the 1937 Hobbs, in the TV room.

Mind you, I am 61 years old. My wife is extroardinary...
The dining room! Wow! Your wife must be incredible! I’m single and I keep two bikes in the dining room, but people look at me a little sideways when they see this. I fully expect to lose this privilege if I ever get married.
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Old 01-19-19 | 06:25 AM
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I don't have enough space in my garage, so some of my bikes live indoors out of necessity. From the desk where I'm typing this I have but to turn my head a few degrees and I can see 6 bikes and 3 frames leaned up against the wall.
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Old 01-19-19 | 07:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Raleigh74



I’ve been trying to convince my wife to let me hang my Raleigh Professional in the house ever since I picked it up a few months ago. I’m losing that battle I’m afraid . But, at least I have a shed for my bikes to live. Things could be worse.
.
My bike lived in my living room while I was in college. After that, I didn't ride for 30 years. When I returned to riding, I was fortunate to find a Raleigh Team Pro for sale locally. I thought it would probably reside on the porch, but my wife got a new Salsa at the same time. And she decided that needed to be in the house, so my Raleigh came inside as well.
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Old 01-19-19 | 07:22 AM
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ANYONE who ever said a bicycle didn't belong in the house was evicted, quickly.


Last edited by nomadmax; 01-19-19 at 07:33 AM.
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Old 01-19-19 | 07:24 AM
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Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese

College days, some of the best, had to keep Peugeot U0-8 in my bedroom of the tiny house three of us rented, took up way too much room but got me to classes and work. Today I have a hanger and my bikes still take up way too much room.
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Old 01-19-19 | 07:44 AM
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Ever since I bought my first new Bianchi in '87 I've done my best to keep them inside, unfortunately sometimes that meant just a storage locker somewhere.


My bedroom, for a time, when I lived in PA


First edition of my multi rack.


A later rendition of my rack. Sadly a lot of those are gone now.


The dining room here in Ft Wayne
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Old 01-19-19 | 07:48 AM
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Yup. Centerpiece of my office...

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Old 01-19-19 | 08:02 AM
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I guess so in some way. The bike cave is right by my front door so it's the first thing anyone sees when they come in the house.




I've got a LeMond sign hanging over the entrance.



And the unique LeMond has now been hung on the wall for all to see.
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Old 01-19-19 | 08:14 AM
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After looking at these posts and the bicycles they contain, I can say with some confidence; I am indigent
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Old 01-19-19 | 08:17 AM
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I used have this hanging right in the living room of my old apartment when I lived alone. For now it's hidden in a back room until I buy a house.
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Old 01-19-19 | 08:17 AM
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One of the good things about empty nesting, youngest daughter's bedroom now a bike room


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Old 01-19-19 | 09:11 AM
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The Colnago pic is the dining room of our first house from about 2004. The De Rosa is right now in our current house hanging in an inexplicably large first floor half bathroom. Yes I know it’s not quite level! I had to measure from the floor since my level was still MIA packed away in a box somewhere at the time.

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Old 01-19-19 | 09:18 AM
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What??? Only 2 wheels?
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Yes. My commuter generally lives in the living room but sometimes migrates to the kitchen or pantry to clear space for some activity. Sometimes two bikes if another has been brought up from the basement for some reason. On rare occasions they are all in the basement.
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Old 01-19-19 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
Do parts count?
Maybe even more. (My kernel of a hunch has been planted, and it now blooms. As one other person had commented already, I'm planted among my field of fellow nuts, as many of you brought your bicycles into your home/living quarters (and still do).)
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Old 01-19-19 | 11:41 AM
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Im 62 and get to do whatever i want now! I have cool vintage stereo stuff that is nowadays cheap compared to when it was new. Vintage bikes likewise. Any and all of it is in the living area at any givin time. My gf rides too so she gets it. She is an artist and very often her artwork/supplies are wherever i look. We live like we live and i love it.
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Old 01-19-19 | 11:53 AM
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Granted it’s a studio apartment, but I’m wall to wall in bike sh*t!
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