Outdoor Storage?
 

My wife and I live in a small apartment without a garage. We simply do not have room to store our new bikes indoors. However, we have an elevated balcony off the back of the apartment.

I purchased this: http://www.yardstash.com. I set it up and got the bikes inside and chained up. After about a week of use I will admit that the inside of the tent is bone dry (even after several hard rainstorms).

My question is pretty simple. How should I feel about storing my bikes in something like this? Even though the Yardstash keeps the bikes completely dry I am sure that it does not prevent the humid air from getting to the bike. The zippers and seems are airtight but it is mesh.

I guess I am mainly worried about the humidity and extreme temperatures from the bikes being outside.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jake

I think you have it covered. (Pun intended) :) No, seriously what you are doing is fine. Put some car wax on the painted surfaces of the bikes and oil the chain, that along with routine maintenance, the bikes should last you for many years.

I use damprid's in places that I do not want humid air to mess with my possessions. I am sure putting one in this would help pull some moisture out of the enclosure.

Ventillation is important. I'm thinking that your bikes will rust less with the mesh windows than they would if they were completely enclosed.

I understand your concern, but...a bike is a piece of outdoor equipment. It's going to get wet, dirty, muddy, whatever. You probably wouldn't worry if you had it in a garage, yet the humidity and temperature in an un-air conditioned garage are the same as the air on the other side of the wall.
FWIW, my bikes have hung under my patio cover in the open air, protected from rain and snow but nothing else, for 30 years, in temps from -15 to 108 F. No problems anywhere.
I'm sure the Yardstash works, but it looks like a $100 solution to a problem you could solve with a $20 plastic tarp.

Humidity happens. Keep the bikes clean and properly lubed. If you take a bike from a conditioned area into a hot or cold out of doors you will get instant moisture build up. I live in the Deep South and have had several bikes that have spent their entire lives out of doors under open shelters. I have one that didn't even have a shelter :( and has survived for over 35 years.

Aaron :)

It looks like a great solution for your storage problem. I would just go out and check everything at least once a month to make sure noting is showing signs of rust. You mentioned that you had them chained on a elevated balcony, just wondering if the yardstash is locked to anything. If the thieves can see they may try to get it.

My question is, what does your lease say about things on the balcony? Here most leases would allow storing the bikes on the balcony but would not allow the yardstash.

NB: the sun will deteriorate the nylon fabric to be torn in the wind
with less of a breeze as time passes..

(a silver tarp thrown over your shed may help.. but make sure it still ventilates so moisture wont stay in there.)

Nylon deteriorates quickly in the sun. Dacron (polyester) and acrylic is much more UV resistant. Outside awnings etc. are mostly all acrylic.

I've never seen an apartment that's too small to keep two bikes in...except maybe in Japan. I used to keep two bikes hanging off the wall in my 12' square office at work.

looks great! by time the bikes rot in there you'll be ready for new ones!

+1

We keep our bikes (both motorized and non) in a 16x25 garage. It's not insulated and over winter I always have to clean up mild surface rust on places like chrome handlebars, seat posts, etc. I wonder if it's because it stays closed up most of the winter like you just said?