From hanging and ceiling bike racks to bike wall storage racks, maximize your garage space with the bike rack that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
Store Your Bikes Properly with a Bike Rack in the Garage
A family riding their bikes together on a country road.
Are you an avid cyclist? Or, maybe your kids love to ride their bikes to school, their friends’houses, and more. No matter the reason that you have bikes in your garage, you need a place to keep them that prevents damage to the bikes and gives you the space you need. A bike rack is a perfect solution.
In this article, we’ll look at what you need to do to get your garage ready for storing bikes safely and efficiently. We will also cover the best ways to store the bikes properly.
All garages are different; fortunately, there is a bike storage system to fit anyone’s needs. But before diving into how you will store your bikes, you have to prepare your space as well as have a plan.
#1: Clean and Organize the Garage
Before you can shop for bike racks or bike storage systems, you need to clean and organize your garage. Otherwise, you won’t have an accurate idea of how much space you have to work with.
You should get rid of old items that you are no longer using or don’t need. They can be given away, recycled, sold, or thrown away.
Cleaning and organizing the garage can also maximize the amount of space you have for bike storage. You may have much more room than you realize!
Items that don’t need to be kept on the garage floor should be moved to shelving or other storage options. Consider installing shelves, cabinets, or other storage options. You want to have as much floor space as possible for the bikes. You might also need to have room for your vehicle if you keep it in the garage.
#2: Consider All Garage Bike Storage Options
Once the garage is organized and you have gotten rid of anything you do not need to store in it, it’s time to look at bike storage ideas, since you now know how much space you have with which to work.
There is a wealth of options for bike storage, including:
- Bicycle lifts that keep the bikes off the ground
- Bike wall storage racks (horizontal or vertical)
- Hanging racks
- Floor bike racks
- Ceiling racks
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Bicycle Lifts
If you want to store your bikes off the ground, then a bicycle lift might be right for you. There are several different types of bike lifts that can hold one, two, or more bikes at a time.
Freestanding racks typically have several tiers of rack space for bikes and are a popular option. To get a better idea, take a look at the image below from TwoWheelingTots.com.
Delta Cycle freestanding bike rack in a home office, holding two bikes
Bike Wall Storage
Many people, especially those with smaller garages, prefer bike wall storage. This is because it doesn’t take up any of your floor space. There are many options for wall storage, especially hooks and clips.
Hooks and clips come in lots of unique shapes and sizes, so you can store a range of different types of bikes, including mountain bikes, road bikes, kids’bikes, and more.
Wall clips are often minimalistic in appearance and don’t take up very much space when the bikes aren’t attached. The smallest of these is made by CLUG, as you can see in the image below. They offer a range of models of their unique product.
CLUG, the World’s Smallest Bike Rack.
Hanging Racks
Hanging bike racks are also a very popular bike storage solution. Once again, there are multiple options within this category. One popular choice is a floor-to-ceiling tension rack.
Another option--which is simple to use but admittedly more complicated to install--is a hoist system that can pull the bike off the ground and suspend it from the ceiling. You may want to hire someone to install this for you, but once you have it, you will love it.
Even Rubbermaid has gotten in on the bike storage game with their own bike hanging rack, seen in the photo below.
Rubbermaid hanging bike rack for the garage.
Floor Bike Racks
Freestanding floor bike racks are a great choice for those who aren’t able to drill into the wall or ceiling of their garage. If you have concrete floors or walls or rent your home, then this is the solution for you.
Floor bike racks are great because you can easily move them around anytime. You can find a range of styles and sizes of floor bike racks, and learn more about some of them from RackMaven.com.
A floor bike rack fits easily in the garage. This one is the Racor PBS-2R Tow-Bike Floor Bike Stand.
Ceiling Racks
Woman loading a bike onto Saris Cycle Glide ceiling bike rack. Image from TwoWheelingTots.com
If you don’t have a lot of floor space in your garage, then ceiling racks are a fantastic option. With ceiling racks, bikes are stored completely off the ground and out of the way, leaving room for vehicles and other items.
There are some drawbacks, though. You will need to be careful about where they are placed, and make sure to leave enough space for your garage door to open. In addition, you need to make sure that the ceiling is high enough so that when the bikes are on the rack, your cars can still get in the garage. Ceiling installation tends to be more difficult as well, and kids will need help to access their bikes.
Which Bike Storage Option is Best for You?
As you can see, there are a plethora of options, and there is something suitable for every garage. Think about how you need to use your space in your garage, and keep in mind the number of bikes you have. Next, make a plan.
#3: Make a Bicycle Storage Plan
Now that you’ve prepared your garage and are well versed in all your different options, you need to make a plan for storing your bikes. You should consider several things, including:
- The amount of space you have and how much you’re willing to devote to bike storage
- The number of bikes that need to be stored, now and potentially in the future
- How you can make the best use of the space available for bike storage
After you answer these questions, you can choose the type of bike rack that works best for you and your family. Select, purchase it, and then decide whether to install it yourself or hire someone to do it properly.
Keep in mind that you may want to choose a model that can hold more bikes than you currently own. If you have friends who visit and bring their bikes or plan to buy more bikes in the future, this is a smart idea. You don’t want to have to get an entirely new storage system because your current one is too small.
In addition, remember to always keep your garage door closed and locked. You might even want to lock up your bikes while they are in the garage for additional security. This could help prevent theft in case someone gets inside your home.
Does Your Garage Need Some Work?
If your garage door isn’t in great condition, you may want to consider replacing it at the same time as you install your bike rack. Remember, your garage door protects your bikes--and everything else in your garage--from weather and the elements, thieves, and everything else.
You might also enjoy the convenience of a pedestrian door in your garage. With a pedestrian door, you don’t have to open and close the main garage door just to access your bikes.
Additionally, if you have an older door especially, you need photo-cell safety beams. These are an important safety feature, especially for families that go in and out of the garage on foot. The unit consists of two parts that are installed about four inches from the floor on each side of the door. One of the units emits an infrared beam to the other unit, which is a reflector. If something breaks the beam, it will cause the door to reverse direction and open, which can prevent serious injury.
If you have a shed or small garage detached from your home where you keep your bikes and other gear, you may need to reconsider the type of door on that structure. A sectional garage door might be a better solution since it is a practical option that makes it easier to get items such as bikes in and out.
Do you like contemporary looks? This garage door has a pedestrian door. It is a Moderno 2 Beads design, 9' x 8', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony
Your garage door also needs to be insulated to protect everything stored inside it from weather and other elements. R-Value is the measurement of thermal resistance. The larger the R number, the better the thermal insulation on the door. Weatherstripping and insulation can also help to protect from condensation.
Best of all, a new garage door looks great and can add value to your home. If your door has seen better days, it’s time to get a new one.
Choosing a new garage door is a much more involved process than choosing a bike rack! Be sure to take your time; you want a garage door that looks great and is functional for your needs at the same time.
Do you love timeless beauty? These garage doors are Shaker-Flat XL design, 9' x 8', Ice White Color, 8 lite Orion windows
Is It Time for a New Garage Door?
Contact your local garage door dealer now if you need a new garage door. Experts will make sure that you get the best door that meets your needs and your budget.
Mortland Door Systems can provide you with a quotation via email. If you aren’t sure what style will work for you, check out our 3 styles.
Call us at 781-826-2212.
We are standing by and are ready to help you with all your garage door needs.
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