Types of Bike Storage

Having a space to store your bike is essential to keep your bike in tip-top condition. Not having an allocated place for your bike will result in damage over the long term but this can be avoided with innovative bicycle storage solutions. Bikes look as though they should take up very little space, but the reality is that once you have taken in to account the handlebars and pedals that actually have quite a large footprint. Storing your bike in a high traffic area ultimately results in people getting caught on the handlebars and shins getting banged and it’s more than likely that your bike will end up lying on the floor.

No matter what your space situation is though there will be a storage solution for you, even if you own a whole host of bikes you will find a solution that can store them in a space efficient manner. Methods of storing your bike can be categorized in to four main areas:

• Dedicated bike storage shed
• Wall mounts
• Ceiling Mounts
• Floor racks

Let’s take a look at these in turn:

If you’ve run out of internal storage space in your garage or main she and have a large back garden, or even front garden then a bicycle shed may be for you. This outdoor bike storage solution comes in a variety of materials such as wood, metal and plastic and have a footprint of 3’ by 7’ – they’re like mini shed the height is usually 4 – 5’. If you do have the space for one of these I would highly recommend it, not only can you get 2 or maybe 3 bikes in at a push, you can also keep all of your cycling kit with it such as tools, shoes and helmets etc. The convenience of having all your cycling gear in one place shouldn’t be underestimated – you’ll spend less time looking for your drinks bottle and more time out on the road!

Mounted your bike on the wall is an excellent use of space, and a good way of keeping your bike free from damage. Bike mounts for the wall come mainly in two different formats, the first and most popular type is two prongs that come out from the wall and go through the frame. This means that your bike is supported horizontally. The other type is a hook that goes through front wheel so that you hang your bike vertically. Personally I don’t like this storage method, it’s difficult to get your bike on it and it leaves your bike swinging. They are a good use of space thought if your have multiple bikes to store.

If you decide to go for the horizontal storage type there are two positions in which people mount them, some people put their bike so that the wheels are about a foot of the floor, I think it is a better use of space if you mount the bike on the wall so that when it is on the wall the handlebars are above head height. This means that people can walk by your bike with out getting caught on the handlebars. It also means that you can use the space beneath the bike for whatever you choose, for example if you have a single garage you can still park your car in there and get in and out of it.

Really the same applies here as to what I mentioned about putting your bike high up on the wall. Obviously for some people lifting there bike up above head height may be difficult. If you are one of these people then I would recommend a ceiling storage system over a wall mount for one reason; there are multiple bike ceiling storage solutions that work like a hoist. You fasten your bike to the appropriate parts and hoist it up the ceiling, and that’s it your done.

There really is myriad of bike storage racks and stands that literality just stand on the floor and prevent your bike from toppling over. If you have a large family then getting a bike storage rack that stores multiple bikes is your answer. You will need quite a large floor space but this type of rack is very convenient and requires no lifting or hoisting and so is suitable for most family members.

How ever and where ever you decide to store your bike make sure that you store it in a convenient location. If you sometimes battle with motivation to go out on your bike, there’s no better excuse not to go out than having to battle to get your bike out in the first place.