If you are one of those who constantly find ways to mod or improve their bikes, often spending hundreds of dollars splurging on the hobby, you’ll want that bad boy to be free of harm without sacrificing some much-needed work or living space.
If you’ve ever wondered what the most efficient way to store bicycles is, or you simply want to find a better way of hanging bikes in garage, then say no more because we’ve got you covered.
Bike Safety and Security: Where Should You Store Your Bike and Why?
The safest and most secure way to store your bike is by leaving it inside the comfort of your own home.
It would be more protected from the elements that could rust your chains or rot your saddles; it would also decrease the chance of your bike being stolen.
J Allard, the founder of the bike-registry company Project 529, estimated the total number of reported and unreported bike thefts to be around two million per year in the United States alone, most of which are bikes left in the streets or open backyards.
Hang Your Bikes, but with What?
Hanging your bike is the best and most efficient way to save space in your house or apartment since you can do it in your garage or man cave, and, with proper touches, you can even use it as a wall decoration. But how should you hang your bike?
- Wall-Mounted Vertical Bike Rack. Using wall-mounted vertical bike racks is what we mean when using your bike as a wall decoration, making you hit two birds with one stone.
This way of bike storage lets you attach your bike through a wall-screwed bike mount to give you that retro cafe vibe.
- Ceiling Screw-In Hook. Arguably the cheapest on this list, this system lets you screw a hook to your ceiling and hang your bike upside down, and don’t worry, it does not damage the wheels.
You just have to make sure that the hook you will use is suited for taking on the weight of your bicycle and coated with vinyl or rubber to protect your bike’s rims from scratches.
- Wall Bike Rack. This option is similar to the wall-mounted vertical bike rack, except this one shows more of its material and is oriented horizontally. Some models may even utilize the rack as a shelf for helmet storage.
- Floor Parking Rack. If you don’t like to hang your bike but still want to store it well, this is your way to go.
This movable bike storage may or may not be screwed into the ground as it does not require any installation, arguably making this the easiest option to do on this list.
- Ceiling Hoist Rack. The best floor or space-saving wall option is hanging your bike from the ceiling using mounted plates.
This pulley system makes it easier for you to store and retrieve your bike, just ensure that the rope is strong enough to handle your bike’s weight.
- Mounted Ceiling Bike Rack. If you are tall enough to hang and retrieve your bike upside down from the ceiling, this may be your choice.
This option suits those with multiple bikes better, similar to the ceiling hoist rack but without the pulley system and the ceiling screw-in hook with stronger racks.
- Pole Rack. If you are looking for a way to store your bike without drilling holes in your apartment or house’s walls, this is perhaps one of the best ways to go.
This system lets you hang your bikes in one pole whose rubber ends are tightly clamped to your floor and ceiling.
Conclusion
Choosing a way to store your bike indoors may be a daunting task at first with all those methods and complexities of installation.
Keep in mind, however, that the ultimate choice comes down as a matter of your preference, but it is also important to look at the storage option’s practicality as much as its security so that you’ll still be able to easily access your bike when you want to.
Should you also choose to store your bikes indoors; you should ensure that you keep them clean, well-oiled, away from moisture and extreme temperatures, and properly inflated.
You should also check the wall mounts, screws, and paint protections of the racks from time to time to avoid accidents.
You may also want to lock your bikes in their racks, at least when you won’t use them for some time. You’ve already gone as far as to make a nice “home” for your bike; why not add additional security?
That said, bikes are useful means of transportation and exercise, with some being more dependent on them than others.
It is only fitting that we find ways to keep our bikes safe and well-maintained even with limited space.
