I moved into a new apartment and after spending hours of thinking of clever ideas on where to store it i cant really find a suitable place. I plan on storing the bike on the balcony, I live in Toronto Canada on the 30th floor. What can I do to the bike to protect it from the harsh cold, is there some kind of plastic I can wrap around the bike to protect it from the elements, i dont plan on riding at all this winter.

dude you have a perfect spot for it right next to the tv. just put up a rubberized hook on the dividing wall next to the fridge and hang the bike vertically in the space between that and the TV

beat me to it. Hang it vertically either to the left or the right of the TV

I agree. I would even say leave it where you have it rather than keep it outside.

if the balcony is covered, it should be fine outside. if its a steel frame, spray framesaver (or similar) inside the tubes. take the saddle and wheels off (keep them in a closet somewhere and leave it out, it it'll be fine.

don't put ur bike outside.
+1 to hook on space btwn fridge and tv.

What's wrong with putting the bike outside? It's not like it's going to start shivering and knock on the door to come in.

The OP can get all sorts of weather-proofed coverings that will protect it just fine. As another poster said, taking the saddle and perhaps the wheels off should be more than sufficient.

It certainly worked fine for my Upstate NY Winters that are much colder and snowier than in Toronto.

also, it would be a bit overkill, but a nice touch to put a coat of quality automotive wax on the frame, and would make any moisture bead right off.

Are you going to ride it at all or are you just storing it? If you were just storing it and all you're concerned about is moisture, it seems sufficient to find a camping tarp or something and wrap the bike up.

This is a potentially dumb question, but will the grease around the bearings freeze?

The grease will deteriorate over a cold winter, especially if there are dramatic weather changes. A good repack next spring should be done for every one, even if you ride every day through the winter.

just keep it right there or break it down and slide it under your bed or couch if you really want it out of sight

nuthing i guess.. if u do it right. It's kinda like if you would have a dog inside or outside, kinda a personal preference.
I just don't like it coz i prefer my bike to be in a more controlled environment. (by control i mean me. It will experience rain and snow when i let it and then i'll wipe everything down after)

Guys, believe it or not some people don't consider their bikes proper "home decor". Especially girlfriends/wives.

I'd consider disassembling the bike and placing it in a soft case like this.

It takes up less room than the fully assembled bike and it's easy to move from room to room or garage.

EDIT: I would NOT store the bike outside.

Also, if space is really, really limited: If you put the bike in such a bag/case you may be able to convince a friend/co-worker/parent to let you store it in their garage till the spring.

if you are going to be riding through the winter, with having the balcony i actually RECOMMEND keeping it outside. throw a tarp over it for sure, but it's best to not have all your parts coming in and out of extreme temperatures. if something is tightened properly in your 75* apt, it could loosen up significantly in below freezing temperatures. i'm not saying it's a guaranteed failure or anything, it's not like your bike is going to fall apart, but your headset can come loose, BB (non sealed), etc and wear the parts quicker.

30th floor balcony?
just leave it outside if you're not going to ride it.
I'd throw a tarp over it, to keep the rain and moisture away.

You only have to worry about salt and harsh outside conditions if it's ground level.

sheesh, just use some common sense.
salt doesn't climb to the 30th floor in toronto, you know.

What's the difference between unheated garage, shed or warehouse and sitting under a tarp outside atop the 30th floor? nothing.

When I grew up in Hong Kong, I used to live on the 32nd floor and I loved looking out the window from above, t'was fun.


I agree with AEO though, no need to worry about salt coming up the the balcony.

I'm not a fan of tarps/covers/etc. It's pretty much impossible to get a good seal and the tarp might end up holding all the water in. That's what always happens to our boat that we leave outside all winter. If you want to keep it outside, just keep it where it won't get rained or snowed on. It'll be fine.

But if you're not going to ride it during the winter, just find a place for it inside. It might not make a difference, but I bet you'll feel better knowing it's always dry and safe.

I would go with Carleton's solution of getting a case and storing it somewhere, especially if you expect to be doing this on a yearly basis.

BTW- do bar spins off the balcony

BTW2- sick Ikea bro!

and moms took a while to convince her that it was ok to keep it indoors..
but hey like everyone else has pointed out that spot to the right of your TV is perfect for a vertical hanger!

Looks pretty darn nice right where it is. A bike is a thing of beauty.

I'm with surgeonstone. I guess if you have a significant other, the choice may not be 100 percent yours. But if you're single, hang that thing. Dude, it matches your black couch, black curtains, black TV, black tables and black ottomans!

Also, nice looking place. Congrats on the new digs.

Don't store bikes outside...

In addition, any coverings outdoors will make it worse.... as they tend to retain moisture and rust and corrosion just loves those conditions.

the bike is fine where it is under the tv, except for the obvious problem that it's faced non-drive side out. Flip that bit<h around so you can admire it better while a commercial is running

Buy some rollers, ride it while watching tv.

Best solution evar.

That's how I spent last night.