One of the nuisances of living in a small apartment in London is that two bikes in the hallway take up a lot of space. Nobody really likes getting knocked in the ribs by a pair of bicycle handlebars as they try to carry a plate of food to the lounge. Therefore, when I came across this video, I thought it would be interesting one to share especially as the tweaks aren’t too hard to replicate.
Rotating bicycle handlebars
The first tweak is to use a Speedlifter Twist. This allows you to rotate your handlebars without using any tools. Thus a typical bike will take up far less space. The downside is that the Speedlifter Twist costs nearly £100. An alternative may be the Flipphandle which performs a similar function. However, from searching around this idea seems to have gone quiet after the designer failed to reach their crowd funding target.
Folding pedals
The second tweak is to use folding pedals. The MKS folding pedals cost around £40. They can be instantly snapped it to a folded position to take up less space.
Whilst it’s a clever idea, there are two downsides. The first is that the space saving is minimal. The second is that you’ll need to replace your current pedals which you may be better suited to.
Get a Cycloc!
The two above ideas are a good example of how designers are looking to tackle the challenges cyclists face, such as bicycle storage in a small space. The other solution is of course to get a device such as the Cycloc which will store your bike off the ground.
See also: Bicycle storage in a small London flat.
I’ve read a couple of positive reviews of n’lock stems (www.nlock.ch). Might be worth a look.
Thanks for heads up on the n’lock – not heard of them before.
I’ve been using an n’lock for the last month or so. It’s an excellent piece of kit and has transformed our hallway as can bee seen in my write up:
http://www.bikelightsreview.com/miscellaneous/folding-handlebars/
I use an allen key to rotate my handlebars everytime I get home (and have to leave my bike in the shared hallway).The obvious solution….
Stu—-alternatively you might slip the front-wheel out, and then turn the bars inward?
Just curious…
P.R.
Don’t forget removeable pedals – you can use toe clips with these, which isn’t normally the case with folding pedals.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mks-espirit-ezy-superior-removable-pedals/
Looks like with no cables for brakes, it can only be ridden in freewheel or track mode. And unless the rear brake is a coaster brake, which this bike is not, how do you stop?
I hang my bikes off plastic covered ladder hooks set high on the wall
I liked the idea of floating pedals !