Help! Show me your storage sheds/bike shelters

[chris667]

Hello folks

I'm taking the plunge and building a dedicated shed for my new Whoosh converted MTB.

It will be in the form of a tunnel made of cladding with a metal gate at the end for weather protection but also ventilation. I have a small, dead fridge which I'm going to use as a thoroughly waterproof insulated box for storing the battery when the weather's really cold.

There isn't a design per se as yet, I'm still planning. I have another property with an Asgard shed and it's OK but they're not as good as people think they are. This is for my home rather than a tenant so I want to build something with materials I have here - I've much higher standards for tenants than my own house!

Could any of you show me your bike sheds?

 

[matthewslack]

Hello folks

I'm taking the plunge and building a dedicated shed for my new Whoosh converted MTB.

It will be in the form of a tunnel made of cladding with a metal gate at the end for weather protection but also ventilation. I have a small, dead fridge which I'm going to use as a thoroughly waterproof insulated box for storing the battery when the weather's really cold.

There isn't a design per se as yet, I'm still planning. I have another property with an Asgard shed and it's OK but they're not as good as people think they are. This is for my home rather than a tenant so I want to build something with materials I have here - I've much higher standards for tenants than my own house!

Could any of you show me your bike sheds?

 

[chris667]

Very nice @matthewslack - I see that like where I live theft is not much of an issue.

Is it enough to keep the bikes dry?

 

[matthewslack]

Very nice @matthewslack - I see that like where I live theft is not much of an issue.

Is it enough to keep the bikes dry?

That was a bit tongue in cheek, being my bike storage at work.

There is usually a spot where at least the saddle will stay dry, but it is not unusual for 75% of the floor to be wet from rain!

 

[Benjahmin]

If the cladding on your proposed tunnel is metal it will sweat and therefore drip.
I realise it will be well ventilated but my experience with a well ventilated metal woodshed tells me that it will still sweat and drip. Never managed to work out the physics behind this as temperature inside and outside is equal. I believe that insulated metal panels are meant to aleviate this, but they're expensive.
How about a layer of thin OSB on the inside with a breathable membrane in between?
The fridge is an interesting idea, howevr, when left off and closed, fridges do tend to grow mould and smell - be interesting to see how this works.
Sorry can't send a picture as my bikes are mostly kept in a spare downstairs room with occaisional trips to the wood shed when we have guests.

 

[guerney]

The fridge is an interesting idea, howevr, when left off and closed, fridges do tend to grow mould and smell - be interesting to see how this works.

Perhaps stuff the fridge with small cloth sacks of rice to absorb moisture? Chuck rice away when it gets mouldy? Or use silica indicator beads? Silica dessicant is likely a better bet TBH. For a small damp volume, you might not need much?

Pardon our interruption...

my bikes are mostly kept in a spare downstairs room with occaisional trips to the wood shed when we have guests.

Whew! I was starting to think I was the only one who kept bikes indoors. I own a rope ladder...

 

[Az.]

Do you really plan to store a battery in a fridge?

 

[chris667]

Do you really plan to store a battery in a fridge?

Why not? It would cost me to dispose of the fridge, and it would also cost me to build an insulated box to protect the battery from extreme cold. A fridge is quite a good insulated box. Seems like a no-brainer!

That was a bit tongue in cheek, being my bike storage at work.

Many thanks. That's hilarious when you explain the joke.

Silica dessicant is likely a better bet TBH. For a small damp volume, you might not need much?

I buy sodium chloride to keep a lot of my business archive documents dry. I could easily have a containerful to keep such a small space dry, I use about 1KG a year for an entire shipping container. I will try some of that in a tupperware box with a cloth lid.

 

[Nealh]

The use of an old fridge is a good idea for outside use.

 

[Az.]

A fridge is quite a good insulated box.

It is indeed. And yet there is a good chance you might be first person it the world with such device in the garden. Mainly due to aesthetic reasons. May I ask why do you want to keep battery outside? Safety concerns?

 

[guerney]

aesthetic reasons

 

[Az.]

First can work as a garden gnome. Second as Easter egg

 

[guerney]

Astroturfed, a fridge could pose as topiary

 

[guerney]

Less flammable encased in clay

 

[chris667]

May I ask why do you want to keep battery outside? Safety concerns?

Exactly! It will be at the end of my bike storage unit so aesthetically no worse than a bike shelter. If there was a fire, it would be in its own building and I'd just lose a bike, a shed and an old fridge. Also, the charger and battery would be inside an insulated box for winter.

 

[Az.]

My own bike storage arrangements are far from ideal. I just flat pack bikes in the shed and one is kept in my bedroom waiting for weather to get wormer so I can build something more appropriate. Getting five bikes ready for entire family and then putting them back to shed is super exhausting. I suggest you plan something with easy access. It would make your life much easier.
Also before you start building please think about bike safety. Arranging something solid what you can chain bike to is a good start.

As for battery stored outside I remain skeptical despite all the effort Guerney put into promoting garden fridges. Low temperatures and moisture have negative effect on battery performance. One can only think how this kind of storage would affect battery lifespan. Battery is very expensive and I prefer to keep it inside house.
I have some concerns regarding safety too. I was thinking about arranging an outside charging station. Heard many horror stories about fires caused by batteries, but none of them was properly documented as for real cause of fire. For now I place battery on solid oak floor far away from flammable materials and charge it like that also while trying not to leave it unattended.

 

[guerney]

As for battery stored outside I remain skeptical despite all the effort Guerney put into promoting garden fridges. Low temperatures and moisture have negative effect on battery performance. One can only think how this kind of storage would affect battery lifespan. Battery is very expensive and I prefer to keep it inside house.

Woosh has said:

Safe storage is from -20 degrees C.

I can understand polite folk being hulking-fridge-in-the-garden averse for aesthetic reasons, but keeping ebike batteries outside in an airtight metal box has advantages, if it can be made secure and waterproof. My own personal preference would be a welded iron box (or safe) situated somewhere in the garden far away from anything flammable, with sides and base embedded into concrete, lined with waterproof material, and the whole thing wrapped with two or three motorbike chain locks with gigantic links, plus moisture absorbing products (mentioned in earlier posts above), motion and smoke alarms inside the box. It could be made to look more decorative, if a cast iron garden table was welded over it/incorporated?

For now I place battery on solid oak floor far away from flammable materials

I'd use a flagstone - oak burns at high temperatures. At present, I keep my battery in a metal wheelbarrow I have indoors temporarily, awaiting haulage by bike trailer to my somewhat distant vegetable garden, when the weather's warmer (wheelbarrow, not the battery).

 

[Az.]

My own personal preference would be a welded iron box (or safe) situated somewhere in the garden far away from anything flammable, with sides and base embedded into concrete, lined with waterproof material, and the whole thing wrapped with two or three motorbike chain locks with gigantic links, plus moisture absorbing products (mentioned in earlier posts above), motion and smoke alarms inside the box. It could be made to look more decorative, if a cast iron garden table was welded over it/incorporated?

I am looking forward to see pictures of this project if you choose to proceed with it.

I'd use a flagstone - oak burns at high temperatures.

Yes, of course, but fire goes up, not down. I hope I will have enough time to react in worst case scenario .

At present, I keep my battery in a metal wheelbarrow I have indoors temporarily

I am guessing you live on your own or have a very patient partner. I already push boundries by keeping ebike in my bedroom. One more step in wrong direction and I might start to worry not about battery but about how and where I should sleep.

I would love to see some guidelines on how to safely store and charge batteries. I am guessing it is a process of charging which is most dangerous.

 

[guerney]

I am looking forward to see pictures of this project if you choose to proceed with it.

I'm moving next year, and welders are everywhere - another option is welding a lockable door to an unassuming looking old, bricked in and over cast iron pizza oven.

I am guessing you live on your own or have a very patient partner. I already push boundries by keeping ebike in my bedroom. One more step in wrong direction and I might start to worry not about battery but about how and where I should sleep.

We have a lot of rooms - downsize scheduled.

 

[Az.]

I have watched few videos on battery fires. I might need to reconsider my position on storing batteries outside...

One can buy fireproof battery bag and it might protect from fire, but don't think there is a way to protect from fire and from smoke.

Edit:
Some good tips