Bike Storage Ideas and Solutions
Innovative Bike Storage for Indoors and Outdoors
Looking for a good place to store your bike? Don’t let the location where you store your bicycle keep you from enjoying your bike as much as you’d like.
Convenience, safety, security, protection from weather elements…these are some of the most important factors to consider when searching for the best storage solution for a bicycle. Your space may offer you the option of storing bikes either indoors or outdoors, or you may be limited to one or the other. Even if your space is limited, there are many options to fit all types of bikes and storage places.
To help you, we’ve put together a list of ideas and solutions for bicycle storage. We have an overview of the best storage locations and storage methods for common types of bicycles along with the benefits and other tips for you to consider. We’ve divided the page into sections for Home/Residential Bike Storage and Public/Commercial Bike Storage. We also have a Quick List of All Bike Storage Types that summarizes many available storage options.
Send us your ideas and solutions! We’d love to add your ideas to improve this resource. Email us with your suggestions: write to contactus@netCityShops.com
HOME/RESIDENTIAL BIKE STORAGE
What’s the best method for storing your bike in your personal home residence? We’ve listed below some factors to consider along with some location suggestions.
Home Bike Storage – Factors to consider
Convenience – Is the storage product easy to set up and use? Will you tend to use your bike less if it’s stored in a location that’s hard to use?
Safety – How easy is it to get your bike into/out of its stored location? Does your physical health condition allow you to lift a bike by yourself?
Security – Does your storage place protect your bike from being stolen or damaged (e.g. indoor garage)? If not, will you have a way to lock the bike?
Protection for the bikes – Is there a chance that the bike will be damaged by the storage solution? Are you forced to store your bike outdoors? Is the area covered? How can you protect your bike from rust or wear-and-tear from the weather?
How many bikes do you need to store at once? – Storage racks come in multiple sizes to fit your needs.
Length of storage period – Are you storing your bikes for winter or is this an everyday storage place?
Home Bike Storage – Storage Locations
For home bike storage, you may be storing the bicycles in an apartment, single-family home, townhome or condominium. Here are some locations to consider:
Garage – The most popular place to store bikes is in the garage. Do you have a high ceiling? Using un-utilized ceiling space with a ceiling lift or hoist is a great option. Wall hooks, wall hangers, vertical wall racks, gravity wall racks, bike tree racks, and other freestanding bike racks are all great options for the garage.
Hallway – Especially in apartment rentals, a freestanding bike rack is a great way to store multiple bikes without damaging walls or ceilings.
Room – A typical room of a home may allow for a ceiling, wall or floor bike rack.
Balcony – A floor bike stand is a great option for a balcony.
Basement – A basement offers many of the same options as a garage, although it may not be as accessible in some situations.
Bike Shed – Also like a garage, a bike shed offers protection from the elements.
PUBLIC/COMMERCIAL BIKE STORAGE
What’s the best method for providing bicycle storage in a public space? We’ve listed below some factors to consider along with some location suggestions.
Public/Commercial Bike Storage – Factors to consider
Size of Location – A common mistake made with public bike racks is to not plan a large enough space. Many times bike racks are placed too close together which keeps them from being utilized fully.
Number of Users – Plan to have enough spaces to accommodate all bikers. Commercial parking racks may hold up to 16 bikes and can be connected together with adapters to hold as many bikes as needed.
Security – Does the bike rack provide a way for users to lock their bicycles? Is the bike rack permanently mounted to keep it (plus the bikes) from being stolen? Both earth and concrete anchors may be installed to hold the parking racks in place. Styles are available for both fresh concrete and existing concrete.
Protection for the bicycles – Does your area have a cover to keep the bikes dry?
Public/Commercial Bike Storage - Storage Locations
Public storage space – Typical public spaces offer bike parking racks on a large, flat surface (often concrete) near the front of the buildings. Commercial bike parking racks come in many styles and sizes to meet your needs. If you’re looking for storage at a business, school, church or some other public location you’ll want to make sure the location is easy to find and use.
On Street - If you have a post (such as a parking meter post), you can install a meter ring to hold 2 bikes.
QUICK LIST OF ALL BIKE STORAGE TYPES
Floor Bike Stands – Super portable, great for a bicycle without a kickstand. A floor bike stand can go in your car trunk and be used on the road as well.
Wall Hooks & Hangers – Great for hanging your bike on a wall.
Wall-Mount Racks – Hold up to 2 bikes mounted against a flat wall surface, may have space for a helmet or other accessories. Some styles fold down when not in use.
Vertical Bike Racks – Hang your bikes vertically against a wall, may hold up to 5 bikes.
Bike Hoists and Bike Lifts – Mounted on the ceiling, also can be used for other items such as ladders. If someone breaks into your garage they may have a more difficult time stealing a bike that’s stored on a lift.
Freestanding Bike Racks - Securely holds up to 4 bikes either against a wall or in an open space. Some styles have optional screws for additional stability. Also known as Gravity Bike Racks or Tree Racks. Some styles available in oak wood.
Ceiling Mount Bike Rack with Shelving System – Store your bike along with sturdy shelves for other items.
Floor to Ceiling Bike Racks – Tension-mounted systems store multiple bikes with no screws.
Bike Parking Racks – Store a large number of bikes both indoors and outdoors in a sturdy floor rack.
FOR ADDED PROTECTION WHEN STORING YOUR BIKES:
Locks – If your storage location is accessible to the public, be sure to also purchase secure locks to protect your bike.
Bike Bags – If you’re carrying a bike for a longer period behind a camper or RV, you could protect the bike(s) with a bike bag. Bike bags completely enclose the bicycles offering great protection from the weather elements.
AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST…
Do you or your kids have a scooter? Are your scooters laying all over the floor of your garage? We have an excellent storage solution for you! The RazrRak Scooter Stand will store one scooter in either an upright position resting on the floor or mounted to a wall. Never step on or trip over a scooter again!
