One of the most important things to learn when you become a bicycle owner is how to store bikes. After all, you must ensure that your bike doesn’t suffer any damage where you choose to store it and that it can be safe from thieves and pests alike.
Ideally, you want to avoid storing your bicycle outside, leaning up against a wall or right along the fence. This is unless it’s for a short period of time.
That’s because your goal is to protect your bike from the elements and prolong its lifespan and that of its components.
For the best results, you should store your bike indoors, either in your gear shed, garage, or apartment. You can use a convenient wall mount or a kickstand to make sure that it’s comfortable and safely stored.
Top Ways to Store Bikes
There are many different ways to store bicycles. It could be mounted on the wall, on the ceiling, or just placed on the floor using a sturdy rack.
Either way, the goal with each of these storage methods is to ensure that it’s kept away from anything that might cause it harm. This includes dirt, dust, and debris.
You also want to store your bike in a manner that allows it to remain stable so that it doesn’t get knocked over in your sleep.
Here’s how to store bikes using different methods:
1. Gravity Stands
Gravity stands are incredibly innovative in that they actually use the weight of the bike to keep it balanced and they have a carrying capacity of two bikes.
2. Kickstands
A kickstand is one of the most convenient ways to store bikes because it helps to keep them upright for easy access the next time you want to use it.
Kickstands come highly recommended for tour bikes because you can just mount it on even if it’s loaded with stuff.
3. Freestanding Racks
Freestanding racks are another innovative way to store your bicycle in a small space such as a garage or an apartment.
This type of bike storage is also portable and easy to maintain and you can use it to store two bicycles at the same time.
4. Floor Stands
As the name implies, floor stands are very similar to kickstands in their design, with the main difference being that they can only be utilized to store a single bicycle at any one time.
5. Ceiling Mounts
Ceiling mounts come highly recommended for people with multiple bikes because not only are they easy to install but they’re also very space-savvy.
They are a great way to optimize your garage or shed space if you have a lot of bikes and you can use them to keep the entire family collection in there.
However, ceiling mount accessibility depends on how high your ceiling is. In some cases, you may need a ladder and deal with the heaviness of the bike while hoisting it up there.
6. Wall Mounts
There are different types of wall mount designs and sizes available out there, from horizontal models, to hook and tray, hinges, and hook wall mounts.
Again, this is another great bike storage solution for anyone working with a small space.
7. Hoist Storage
Another ideal off-season bike storage solution is the hoist which allows you to hang your bicycle in an elevated position thus saving space for more items on the ground.
The great thing about hoists is that you can determine their height depending on how you install them and they’re easy to assemble.
What to Keep in Mind When Storing Your Bicycle
As part of learning how to store bikes you should consider the following factors which will affect the effectiveness of the whole process:
Weight
You should keep the weight of your bicycle in mind as you search for its storage.
That’s because it will affect the type of storage that you choose because not all mounts can handle large, heavy bikes or a mini bicycle.
For best results, we recommend all apartment-dwelling bike owners to speak with their landlord before installing any kind of bike mounts, just to be on the safe side.
Space
The amount of space that you have available to store your bike will also contribute to the type of bike storage that you choose.
The smaller your space, the more you’ll want to opt for a convenient type of storage that won’t take up a lot of space.
The good news is that there are a lot of economical bike storage solutions that allow you to store your bike vertically either from the ceiling or against the wall.
This type of storage is usually advised for people with very little space to work with because it will help to keep it safe while preventing it from getting dings and scratches.
This type of storage will also make your life easier because you won’t be bumping up onto your bicycle because of it.
Wheel Size
This one is something that a lot of people take for granted, yet the size of your bike wheels can affect your ability to store it in different positions.
The most important thing is to ensure that your bike rack is built to handle the size of your bike wheels.
Wall Protection
Before you learn how to store bicycles you should make sure that your walls are treated to protect against dirt and grime that may come off the bicycles as they’re in storage.
You won’t always be able to wash and clean your bike before you store it.
The good news is that a lot of the bike racks available come with a complimentary plastic housing to protect your walls and your bike from dirt.
Security
It’s advisable to ensure that you’ve stored your bike safely so that not just anybody can come and take it out.
This is where bike locks come in. They will protect your bike from thieves while keeping it securely stored.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it! If you’ve made it this far then you officially know how to store bikes and are equipped with the knowledge to choose the best type of storage for your bike.