Bike outdoor protection/storage

[Edgey]

Hey, I will soon be getting a bike and was going to just leave it in my back garden with a cover over it as it won't fit in my shed, but I recently discovered these and wondered if anyone has any experience with them and if they actually do a good job:

http://www.protech-shelters.co.uk/bikehuts.asp

Basically I am looking for a bit more protection from weather than just a throw over cover but I am not willing to splash out for a new brick bike garage or something like that, because I'm a student and therefore nowhere near rich.

Thanks for any comments.

[Guest]

if you have space for that, you should look at this..

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/store ... nd+Leisure

 

i have one i bring out in winter, takes a bandit 600 or GSX750w, at an angle, and I can get inside to do any tinkering, unlike a throwover cover...

[Edgey]

Thats a tent... why would I get a tent? with massive ropes sticking out to peg it into the grass when I could get something like I posted which can be bolted into concrete more securely without wasting all that space?

So Ill assume no one has any experience with one of these?

[Guest]

Mate he was only helping... dont be so aggressive.

[Pete]

Tent's not a bad idea actually. If it were in the front garden then maybe you'd want something more secure, but for a back garden a tent would actually work well! What a nifty idea...and if I wasn't fortunate enough to have a 25 foot by 15 foot heated brick built garage with 3 cars parked infront every night and a locked door and windows I may even consider it myself!

And yes, be nice!

[Guest]

yes its a tent, but the thing you show is also canvas, so a tent, mine sits in my back yard,has pegs for the floor, (not used) and guy ropes, which can be as long or as short, its better than a rain cover and cheap, hence my post to your post,

if you have concrete standing you could drill into it and fit hooks/rings to locate the peg holes.. and guy ropes can be tethered to the sides of buildings/fences, not just the floor..

if money is no object have a search for "Bike Barn", and metal sheds.

its called options and opinions, feel free to disregard what is unsuitable..

[Guest]

POT V KETTLE

POT

KETTLE

[MtotheJ]

* Provide Non-Contact Cover!

* Provide Additional Dry Storage

* Provide Additional Work Space

* Are ventilated (park wet or hot bikes without a problem)

* Keep prying eyes off your machine.

* Cheaper than a shed or garage.

* Supplied with ground fixings to secure from wind and deter theft

* They're quick easy to build.

* Durable and hard wearing.

* Have convenient Roll-up doors for access.

* Ideal for both temporary or longer-term use

* Supplied by a proven, established supplier.

 

Sounds like a tent to me...

Both arent going to stop someone nicking your bike, all theyre doing is covering it up so people cant see it. Id go with Frankies cheaper option to be honest.

[Sheep_onna_Bandit]

Get yourself some 2x2 and a decent sized groundsheet and build your own!

Cheaper than ever and infinitely customisable to suit your needs!

Did it once, don't need one now, but it was good (and fun creating it too)

[Edgey]

Ok thanks for the posts

(didnt mean to sound angry, on re reading it may seem like i was really, sorry, I was just pointing out the differences between our options and asking for reasoning, feel free to dislike me for that, I tend to write aggressively but mean no harm, I blame it on where I live, constantly surrounded by societys scum). I didn't think of putting guy ropes into walls and bolting them to the floor, which is rather silly, as its kinda obvious. However I dont have a massive garden so I probably wouldnt fit one in, plus its not my house so other residents would dislike the whole back garden being filled up with covering for my bike.

Also its just to protect it a bit more, not saying its going to stop it getting robbed.

Wish I had the skills to DIY one up but if i tried getting some sheet metal and putting it together or something it would certainly produce some kind of failhut.

On reflecting on your comments I would probably just get a standard throw over cover for it, just a good cover. Unless I find a cheap one of these little hut things. I dont exactly know anyone who would help me make my own so, hey ho.

I do like the look of metal motorbike sheds, wish I had the money for one though.

[Guest]

mine fits in the yard of a two bed terrace, hence the reason for getting it instead of a shed, i like my yard in summer..

you thought about building a lean-to or bike port..

mine is made from two 6x6' trellis pannels and perspex sheeting, with hinges, so it can be lowered in summer.. but i bolt the supports in place for winter, my tent also fits under it. all in a yard..

[Guest]

However I dont have a massive garden so I probably wouldnt fit one in, plus its not my house so other residents would dislike the whole back garden being filled up with covering for my bike.

the tent doesn't cover that much square footage, probably same as what you posted, but at £30 intead of £100+ that site doesn't show prices, but i know of BikeBarn, and they're not cheap.. (299.00)

and your other housemates probably wont be too bothered, especially in winter/wet weather.. for £30 i'd give it a go, you can always sell it on if its a no-go..

[Edgey]

Hmm, I may play with the idea, look about at a few tents and do some measurements etc.

I also like the idea of the bike port, as in just a roof and maybe another wall to cover it, as it's a bit less intrusive into the rest of the garden than a tent would be as it would be coming off the side of the house like a mini extension thingy, plus this *could* be possible for me to DIY with some internet help. (I don't know how much materials cost though yet).

[Guest]

Hmm, I may play with the idea, look about at a few tents and do some measurements etc.

I also like the idea of the bike port, as in just a roof and maybe another wall to cover it, as it's a bit less intrusive into the rest of the garden than a tent would be as it would be coming off the side of the house like a mini extension thingy, plus this *could* be possible for me to DIY with some internet help. (I don't know how much materials cost though yet).

which ever you do, if you can, fit a ground anchor, to the floor or a wall, to secure the bike to.. i got a reinforced cable and bracket from hardware shop, ideal.. its a deterent..

my port cost about £50 all in.. 2 trellis pannels, 4 posts, 4 hinges, and some sheets of plastic.. you could loose a treills panel for another post, i needed to increase the height of the wall slightly.. make sure you can walk under it easily and consider that you'll be wearing a lid, you dont want to keep banging your head when taking/putting the bike out/in

[Colin the Bear]

You got planning permission for that Frankie? The council might make you take it down, if a light wind doesn't beat them to it. I'd invest in a cheap spirit level.

[Edgey]

Yeah I really like the idea of a port/lean-to. I'll definately be looking into it, much cheaper and better option.

I'll also definately be getting some foom of ground anchor, ideally one of these Y-Anchor things as then the anchor itself cannot be attacked. Im told they only cost £60 ish but ill need someone with the ability to fit it, with drilling capabilities, so might just settle for a standard anchor with ring and bolt it into the floor/house.

oh and do you actually 'need' planning permission for something like that in your own back garden? Using the term need very loosely.

[Guest]

Yeah I really like the idea of a port/lean-to. I'll definately be looking into it, much cheaper and better option.

I'll also definately be getting some foom of ground anchor, ideally one of these Y-Anchor things as then the anchor itself cannot be attacked. Im told they only cost £60 ish but ill need someone with the ability to fit it, with drilling capabilities, so might just settle for a standard anchor with ring and bolt it into the floor/house.

oh and do you actually 'need' planning permission for something like that in your own back garden? Using the term need very loosely.

 

as long as its under 7' high and no larger than a common shed, no..

[Edgey]

odd british legislation.

[Guest]

i'm not sure on specifics, but mine is no higher than a shed, so thats what i used as a guide..

google

Garages & car ports

A garage is considered to be an extension if the garage is located within 5m of the original building, so the same rules for planning permission apply. Where the garage is positioned more than 5m from the existing house, a garage is considered to be as a shed (see sheds).

If a garage adjoins the house, Building Regulations approval is required.

A detached garage is exempt from Building Regulations provided:

The floor area is less than 30 sq metres.

It is more than 1m from a boundary, or it is a single storey and constructed of wholly non-combustible material.

It contains no sleeping accommodation.

Building Regulations do not apply to a carport provided the carport is open on at least two sides AND the floor area does not exceed 30 square metres. .

Sheds and Greenhouses

Neither Planning Permission or Building Regulation approval is required provided that:

Sheds and greenhouses do not cover more than half of the area of the garden; not including the area occupied by the house.

It contains no sleeping accommodation and the floor area does not exceed 15 square metres.

No point is less than one metre from a boundary.

It is not more than 3m high for a flat roof, or 4m with a ridged roof.

No part projects beyond any wall of the house that faces a road.

The outbuilding is for use only by those who occupy the house.

Building Regulations do state that structures built of combustible material (i.e. a wooden shed) must be at least 2 metres from the main house.

taken from here..

http://diydata.com/planning/planregperm ... _rules.php

[Guest]

I'll also definately be getting some foom of ground anchor, ideally one of these Y-Anchor things as then the anchor itself cannot be attacked. Im told they only cost £60 ish but ill need someone with the ability to fit it, with drilling capabilities, so might just settle for a standard anchor with ring and bolt it into the floor/house.

 

this is what i have.. even if the anchor is smashed off the wall, the lock still secures the cable, which is threaded through the bike..

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?a ... earch=true

[Ash]

Ive got the large protech shelter mate, it fits my bike nicely with room to walk around the bike, or if a mate is stopping the night their bike fits in aswell. I have mine bolted into the concrete with a ground anchor inside. The material and design is excellent and has never let in any weather, no matter how severe and you never get any condensation inside. One you have your first one you can replace the cover cheaply with the company if you wish to do so. I would definetly reccomend one and its very different from a tent, i know which i would rather keep mine in.

Ash