Storing bikes doesn’t have to take up a lot of room or feel like a hassle. Whether you have one cruiser, two mountain bikes for terrain mountain trails, or bicycles for your entire family, it’s easy to find and set up your perfect bike storage solutions. All you have to do is explore the top bicycle storage products and then envision how they’ll work best in your home. Ready to get started? Here’s what you need to know about storage solutions for bikes.
The Minimum Amount of Space for Bike Storage
The average adult bicycle needs a storage area that’s 72 inches long, 48 inches high, and 30 inches wide. Children’s bikes need about half of that. DIY bike accessories, like baskets, fenders, and trailers, can all increase the amount of floor space you’ll need.
If you have multiple bikes, you can maximize your storage space by staggering them. However, this can make moving the bikes cumbersome, so it’s usually best to set up your bike storage in a large, indoor area instead. Barring that, you can get an outdoor storage shed for your bikes.
Most Popular Types of Bike Storage Solutions
Bikes must remain upright and well-supported while in storage, or damage to their parts could occur. Heavy-duty bike storage solutions can get the job done, ensuring your bicycles stand in good shape throughout the off-season and beyond. Here’s a look at the most popular types of bike stands and racks on the market today.
Ceiling Rack
If you have tall ceilings, a ceiling rack can keep your bikes well out of the way until you need them again. This solution typically uses large hooks suspended on a sliding rail. You just have to lift up your bike and place it on the rail to secure it in place. Need help getting your bike into position? Choose a lift pulley ceiling rack system instead.
Amazon Product: Saris Bike Storage Ceiling Rack
Wall Storage
Wall storage allows you to minimize the floor space taken up by your bikes. This vertical bike rack system securely hooks bicycles to the wall by their wheels, allowing them to defy gravity while staying out of your way. If you’d like to store more than bikes on the rack, choose a wall-mounted track system designed to hold all your gear and tools as well.
Amazon Product: Wallmaster Bike Rack Garage Wall Mount
Floor Stand
If you have plenty of space, a floor stand is a convenient way to store all your bikes. You just have to glide the front tire between the bars or clip it into place to keep your bike upright. You can get a single bike rack for one bicycle or a full rack for multiple bikes. There are even freestanding floor stands that hold two bikes, with one right above the other.
Amazon Product: RAD Cycle Foldable Floor Bike Rack
Bike Shed
When you simply don’t have enough room inside for your bikes, invest in a outdoor bike shed or bike tent instead of keeping them outside in the elements. A bike shed is a fully enclosed structure designed to hold one or more of your size bikes. All the leading shed manufacturers make bike boxes, including Rubbermaid, allowing you to find the perfect model for your needs.
Amazon Product: iCool Outdoor Bike Tent
Self Storage Unit
If you live in an apartment, or a smaller home where none of the at home storage solutions will work, a small storage unit would be a great solution. A 5×5 storage unit can fit a couple of bicycles and still have room to store helmets and other cycling gear.
There’s no one right bike storage solution. So, explore all the available options and choose the one that will work in your household best.
Tips for Preparing Your Bike and Cycling Gear for Storage
You must prep your items before putting your bike and cycling gear in storage. Otherwise, you could return to see that everything needs a major tune-up, if not outright replacement.
Fortunately, you can easily prep your bike and gear for storage by:
- Thoroughly clean your bikes and all your other gear
- Inspect the bike frames, handlebars, and pedals
- Properly lubricate each bike chain and cables
- Inflate the tires and check for leaks
After that, simply put your bicycle and cycling gear on the selected racks to wait until the next riding season arrives.
Before you go riding at the beginning of the next season, take your bikes into the shop for service. Listen to any feedback you get from the service tech to assess the success of your bike storage solutions. That way, it’ll be easy to change things up well before the next off-season arrives.
