If you're like most present-day Americans, you keep a lot of stuff in your garage, and we mean a lot: vehicles, seasonal equipment, tools, gardening supplies, and bins upon bins of items that have no place in your home. The way you choose to organize your storage is important if you want to keep your belongings out of the way and protected from the elements that can cause rust, grime, and irreparable damage.
Your garage bike storage is no different. Whether you're storing a single Specialized Roubaix Elite with a carbon frame (a.k.a. your prized possession) or a whole collection of bikes for weekend rides with the family, this article will give you space-saving bike storage ideas that also protect your equipment.
The Best Way to Store Bikes in the Garage
Why build up to a big reveal? We know what you're here for. The best way to store bikes in the garage is to keep them suspended above the ground. You pretty much have two options: the wall or the ceiling.
How you choose to hang your bikes on the wall or from the ceiling should depend on how much space you're working with and how many bikes you need to store.
How to Hang a Bike on a Wall
Perhaps the best way to store bikes in the garage is to hang them on the wall from a hook or rack. Not only is wall storage simple and affordable, but it's also a great way to keep your bike out of the way without complicating access when you're ready to use it.
There are a few different ways you can hang a bike on a wall.
Vertical Bike Hooks
First, there's the ultra-simple vertical bike hook. This small hook is great if you're limited on space and looking for small garage bike storage ideas. Simply install the hook, hang your bike from the front or back tire, and you're done.
Pro tip: Any quality bike hook will be coated in rubber. Any bike hook without rubber could damage or scratch the bike.
If you're hanging multiple bikes, you can save space by hanging the racks at least 16 inches apart and inverting the position of every other bike. For example, hang the first bike from the front tire, the second bike from the back tire, and so on.
If you're hanging multiple bikes, you can save space by hanging the racks at least 16 inches apart and inverting the position of every other bike. For examples, hang the first bike from the front tire, the second bike from the back tire, and so on.
If you are looking for a perfect bike storage solution, it doesn't get much better than this
Bike Rack Hook
Another variation of garage bike storage is the brilliant bike rack hook. This nifty invention doubles as a place to hang your bike and a shelf for your helmet and other gear. The bike rack hook (like this one just for kids) is perfect for family bike storage because it keeps everyone's gear organized. No more missing elbow pads or misplaced helmets!
Complete Sports Storage System
The most elaborate form of garage bike storage is a deluxe sports storage system. Is your family the active, sporty, outdoors type? A sports storage system can be used to organize and store all of your equipment, from bikes to wakeboards, and everything in between. These are perfect for keeping all of your outdoor gear, helmets, and pads in one place.
Best Way to Hang Bikes from Your Garage Ceiling
For easy access, we suggest you store your bikes on the garage wall. However, if you have limited space, you can also hang them from the ceiling. This can be accomplished with a simple ceiling mount.
However, ceiling mounts can make bike retrieval difficult. If your bike is quite heavy or your ceilings are quite high, retrieving the bike may require a ladder and/or some extra muscle. Take this into consideration before choosing ceiling storage, or you risk wasting your money on something you can't use, or even injuring yourself next time you try to get your bike down.
Alternative Bike Storage Places
If you don't have a garage or you're short on garage space, there are a number of ways that you can safely store your bike elsewhere.
If you've got a shed on your property, clear some space for your bike, but make sure that it will be protected from leaks or flooding.
If you live in an apartment, a condo, or another variant of a smaller living space, you may need to get creative. If your place has a small balcony, consider keeping your bike there. If you're on the ground floor, invest in a strong lock to prevent would-be thieves from cruising away on your ride (more on that later).
If none of those options are available to you, it's not uncommon to keep a bike inside the home. You can even mount a small hook on the wall that will keep your bike secure and out of the way.
Whatever you do, don't leave your bike outdoors during harsh weather conditions for long periods of time. Not only does this expose your bike to the possibility of theft, but rain and snow can easily destroy the metal frame of your bike with corrosive rust. However you choose to store your bike, make sure you protect it from extreme temperatures, high humidity, snow, and rain.
How to Keep Bikes Safe in Your Garage
According to Bicycling.com an estimated 2 million bike thefts occur every single ear. Why the rise?
- Over the last decade or so, bikes have become increasingly popular for athletes, families, and eco-conscious individuals who are seeking a mode of transportation that is far less harmful to the environment than fuel emissions.
- Due to the influx of demand, the price and availability of a quality bike have risen high enough to become a point of interest for burglars and amateur thieves.
- Bikes (and bike theft) rose even more in popularity during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
What makes bike theft so common is the ease of access. Bike owners often store their bikes in their backyards, unlocked sheds, a garage that has more than one point of entry. This lax storage makes bicycles an easy target and a profitable item to steal.
If you really want to protect your bike, we suggest you lock it up even when you're storing it in your garage. Opt for a garage storage option that you can easily lock your bike when not in use. In fact, you may even be able to find garage bike storage with a locking system built into it for added protection.
The possibilities are endless with a dynamic, versatile, storage system
Garage Bike Storage from Flow Wall
Whether you're working with a small garage or multiple bikes, we have the perfect garage bike storage options for you. Outfit your garage with quality hooks, mounts, and more from Flow Wall.
