Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

So, as a few of you may remember I've just moved to a new flat. My bike has been parked outside for 4 nights over the course of a week.

Today I've come home from work and discovered some **** has stolen the cover off the bike. Can't see any attempt to remove either the disc lock or the chain lock but its put the wind right up me. Don't think I'll sleep very well with it parked outside.

Now, if they had genuine intentions of stealing the bike I'm fairly certain they wouldn't have taken the cover, because its a pretty obvious red flag but who knows whether they'll go home, thinking about it and realise that if they bring Paddy's work van they'll be able to pick it up and take it away.

So if anyone has a bike shaped spot in their garage they'd be willing to exchange for a few beer tokens, even only for a week or two while I figure out what to do, I'd be massively grateful.

Edit: In London is optional, I'll settle for somewhere I can get back to London from reasonable easily.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

A friend from work has just gotten back to me and said I can put it in his garage for the next day or two. Now to decide what to do with the bike in the longer term.

Going to try applying to the council for a garage but I imagine they are like hen's teeth around here. Failing that there are some push bike stores around the back of the block but I'm not 100% sure the bike would fit in those and I'd still need to figure out how to get the keys for them.

Part of me wonders whether I should just sell the bloody thing and be done with it.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Put a note through a few neighbours letter boxes who have garages, see if any can rent you some space, or even park on a drive, better than on street.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Garages in this part of London are pretty thin on the ground. I believe the ones at the back of the block here are council owned. I would have the second level of priority for them (being not a council tenant, but living in the block) but I can't imagine people give them up that often. Will see if I spot any neighbours with garages though.

It isn't actually on the street. More of a residential parking area...

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I dont know what your drive/parking is like so this may be totatlly useless if its on road but what about making your own deterrent, in a concrete block anchor to chain the bike to? Think i saw it in here, one the the massive builders buckets with a u shaped bit of metal in to lock up to..may work if u have off road parking but im guessing not

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I dont know what your drive/parking is like so this may be totatlly useless if its on road but what about making your own deterrent, in a concrete block anchor to chain the bike to? Think i saw it in here, one the the massive builders buckets with a u shaped bit of metal in to lock up to..may work if u have off road parking but im guessing not

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Yeah, I've thought of that Stu, but I don't know how you make it heavy enough that it isn't just a minor inconvenience for someone who's come prepared to pick up all 180kg of bike and toss it in a van. If you do, it becomes quite an immovable object.

I'll speak to the council tomorrow about the bike sheds / garages and figure out if they are likely to ever be available. If not I'm going to spend some cash on a ground anchor, an almax chain and a couple of paving slabs.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

as a temporary measure you might want to find a drain at the curb, loop a decent chain through it, not only is it bloody heavy it's already fixed in.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I'd contact Richmond council when I was looking for somewhere to put my bike they had garages in Kew, okay yes they will break balls over the cost (kinda expenseive there) however its the best part of town around there and close. Not sure about where u r, as in whats okay ect never lived there.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Cheers MetalMonkey, I've just moved to Ealing so not too far from Kew. Not sure if they'll rent to someone from a different council though? Doesn't hurt to find out I guess.

Oh, and that is a good tip rictus. Will keep that in mind.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Could squeeze another bike in my garage temporarily if necessary mate. Drop off / pick up from Basingstoke. It would be a pain in the **** though, so not a long term solution. Best solution is to move out of that crime ridden cattle market hell hole you live in. ;)

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Thanks for the offer Si, I'll keep it in mind. Would probably save me money the number of times I've ended up at Loomies with you lot :)

Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Hi mate, may be worth having a google for car park space rental.

Not sure how well London will be covered due to the general lack of parking but down my way there are a few sites where people rent out their drive ways and garages for workers so you may get lucky and find someone who rents for non work times.

Hope you can sort something as it would be pants to lose a biker just because of parking!

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Just contact Ealing council they will have garages, thats all I did with Richmond I'm sure they will sort you out.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Well that phone call has done nothing to improve my opinion of Public Sector employees.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I don't have a garage, but if you want to leave it next to mine in Sutton there is enough space and it's quite safe

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

^^
You know this makes sense. :smt003

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Oh how I'd love to. I don't really do mornings though, and having to commute for over an hour would kill me!

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

i got room in the garage if you need to store a bike for abit, although im in Caterham which is the opposite side of london to you, you can get a train straight into victoria or london bridge

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Thanks for the offers guys. It's still in my friends garage nearby but I think I'll have to get it out of there in a few days.

I'm trying to find a permanent indoor area for it. There are some bike sheds out the back which I think the motorbike would squeeze in (possibly with the help of one of those rolling dollies). I've been trying to figure out who owns them, my land-lady doesn't seem sure, thinks they are the councils, but they are individually numbered matching the flats and the council haven't said anything with enough conviction for me to believe them (one said he didn't know anything about them and another said the council won't rent them but that they should be on the deeds).

I even bought a copy of the deeds to the flat but they aren't particularly helpful. The only thing which gives me some hope is the phrase "Note: Only the first floor flat and stores are included in the title." There is a store just outside the door but I'm not sure why that would be in plural if it didn't include another one. If anyone happens to know about this stuff then I'd be really glad to hear any advice!

I've put myself on the waiting list for Ealing and Richmond councils garages. Richmond were quite helpful but the chav at Ealing council didn't even make it sound like he'd bothered taking my details.

Considering posting some kind of note on LondonBikers. I can't pay £120 a month to rent a garage privately but would be willing to half that with another biker. Don't mind if I have to travel a mile or two to get it out as its mostly used on weekends.

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I know somewhere that is secure. It's behind a wired fence with cameras and the only way in and out is manned 24 hours by somebody armed with live ammunition......
Mind you, you might find it a bit awkward getting in and out though.
Oh, and its in Ruislip.....

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Cheers Tony, although having to get a 1 hour tube and then learn to "Metal Gear Solid" past the guard every time I want to pick it up would probably put me off a little!

Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

If you have to Snake it past the guard I don't think you'll be getting out any time soon! Haha

Re: Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

I knew I should have bought the SV in the Lockheed F117 colour-scheme!

Urgent - Safe parking place in London
 

Only if its a pointy!

Otherwise olive drab would be better and stick some rotors on your head, they might think its a chopper lol