Bike storage/workshop. Your thoughts, experiences

[Mike Muz]

Hi folks,

Long story short, I'll be moving to a new area later in the year, and as I have ahem, several bikes, it's become apparent that I will have have to find somewhere other than the house to store my um, several bikes. So for both security and practicality, I'm thinking of renting out a shipping container at a local storage facility. Locked up and I hope with CCTV, I could both store and work on bikes there.
What are your thoughts on this idea?

TIA

Muz

 

[longun]

They're great as long as you keep ok with payments, visit frequently and make sure no damage gets in etc. Thought about it loads myself but realistically selling 75% of mine would be a better idea haha

 

[Twozaskars]

Hi folks,

Long story short, I'll be moving to a new area later in the year, and as I have ahem, several bikes, it's become apparent that I will have have to find somewhere other than the house to store my um, several bikes. So for both security and practicality, I'm thinking of renting out a shipping container at a local storage facility. Locked up and I hope with CCTV, I could both store and work on bikes there.
What are your thoughts on this idea?

TIA

Muz

We have one for ‘work’ in a big yard with CCTV and someone almost always there, 24hr security (XPO West Hallam if anyone is interested, £1600 inc vat p/a) to store all our equipment in but it’s also handy for my growing collection of incomplete bikes and assorted junk.
Two things to bear in mind;
If you put stuff in wet, it stays wet.
If you fill it up like I once did and then for some reason lose it, you’ve suddenly got to find space for 1280 square feet of stuff.

 

[bikeworkshop]

I rented a space by the shop to store all that kit, Filled it right up, locked the door.
2 years later the shop and basement were as full as before, but I'd paid 5000 in rent and rates

There's some rule about stuff filling the available space. It's true.

Really if you want to own a significant volume of bikes, you ought to look at buying somewhere to keep it - if you just rent the space.. at £1500 a year... its cheaper to build an extension!

 

[Bike Hoarder]

I rented a lock up garage near my partner's old flat, oh yeah I could get some stuff in there alright, but I was paying £75 a month for the pleasure of owning stuff I could hardly get to.

Afterwards I made it imperative that any house we rented/bought had a garage and room for a few ponies!

 

[bikeworkshop]

The most expensive thing about a retro bike... is the space to keep it safe, warm and dry

 

[doctor-bond]

The most expensive thing about a retro bike... is the space to keep it safe, warm and dry

This. It focuses attention: beyond smart stacking, if you have more bikes than space, then too many bikes. (The alternative - ditching a spouse or child or two to repurpose space has its own problems ….)

 

[jim haseltine]

My other half manages a storage company with 6 sites (1 internal facility and 5 externals using converted shipping containers). Internal units would probably be a bit iffy about working on the bikes in them as they usually have rules about things like oil and other chemicals. I'd go for somewhere that has treated shipping containers (sprayed internally with a product like Grafo Therm which reduces condensation) with ply flooring. Some sites have 24hour access, others are more restrictive so you need to be certain what you've got before you rock up on a Sunday or Bank Holidays only to discover you can't get in. Internal lighting and/or power can usually be supplied (at additional cost of course).
Containers get unbelievably cold inside during winter and can reach oven-level temperatures during even quite short periods of sunny weather.
Whatever you do, don't store anything damp as it'll wreck everything else inside - you'd be amazed what a little moisture can do. One customer complained that his container had leaked and damaged his collection of vinyl records - on inspection it was discovered that he'd also placed some used wooden garden furniture in it.

 

[pigman]

If the garden allows it, I got a sectional concrete garage erected in the back garden ,but with a passenger door instead of a conventional garage door. I did all the base work myself.

 

[garios76]

Hi Muz,

I've used a storage container from Kinnovis, and it worked out well. The security was solid—CCTV and access control. It gave me enough space not only to store but also work on my bikes. Just ensure the facility is well-maintained and has good ventilation if you’ll be spending time there.

Good luck!