Having a bike is so important to a lot of people — it's a great source of transport and exercise, pollution-free and just a fun way to explore a city. However, sometimes it can get a little tricky to figure out where in the heck to store it at home, especially in a smaller space. Luckily we've featured some fun tours with accessible bike storage solutions!
If yours is a household with more than one bike it might be a good option to look to your walls for help. Vertical storage is essential with several bikes because they can be hung above each other to minimize clutter, plus it's another wall you won't have to worry about buying art for!
Of course, you don't have to have two bikes in order to utilize your vertical square footage. There are plenty of homes that hoist bikes up to simply get them out of sight out of mind when not in use. Some people view their bikes as works of art and have extra space to display them. If you are lucky enough to have a nice looking bike, go with it and show off your pride and joy in all its glory!
Here are some great examples of making room for bikes:
• Kevin & Dop's Playful Uptown Loft
• Dana & Steve's Sunny Southern Craftsman
• Jeremy's Endless Energy and Resourcefulness
• Preston Bailey & Theo Live Twice as Well
• Dana's Yellowtrace Sydney Apartment
Images: As linked above.
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We have absolutely no more wall space for our bikes. They live outside : ( and in our friends basement during the very wintery months.
I would ask who would want a bike hanging over their head (or bed)? My bike is well greased and oiled - which means it's pretty dirty most of the time. I ride it just about everyday thru Chicago - there's no way I would bring that in my bedroom or have it hanging over furniture. My bike definitely lives indoors , but it's in the mudroom space of my kitchen.
Does anyone have any good tips for making a DIY lean-to or shelter of some sort? I am so tired of lugging my bike into the basement every night (and have no interest in lugging it UP to my apartment). We have a little space behind the building where I could cobble something together. All I have right now is a sad little tarp.
can you please let me know where u purchased your yellow kitchen chairs? thanks!
I ride a bike which has a curved cross bar as opposed to all these straight ones. I'd like to hang my bike the way Kevin & Dop or Preston & Theo do - that is, horizontally - but my cross is a problem. My bikey: http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Specialized/6684?$Display$ ...Any ideas?
Also - my bike is my baby. It had lived indoors from November through June of the '10-'11 season, then in July I started storing it on my back porch because the weather in Seattle got better. I have noticed a huge difference in the condition - sun bakes the tires and weathers them faster, cracked and fading handlebar casing, and things are just generally dried out. I'm moving it indoors now and won't keep in outside again no matter how dirty it gets. Replacing things ads up - I'd rather wear it out from riding than weather.
@miss.lyndsey what if you used two simple hooks and hung the bike by its wheels. Like these: http://www.homedepot.com/Storage-Organization-Hooks-Racks/h_d1/N-5yc1vZaq7c/R-202367210/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
where did you get that abe lincoln artwork. that is awesome
Lyndsey, I have seen the vertical free-standing racks that have pivoting or adjustable arms to hold different style bikes. Not sure if hanging the wheels on hooks would work -- the bike needs to be far enough away from the wall that the handlebars have clearance, and stable enough that the drivetrain doesn't hit the wall.
This might be more bike rack than you need or want, but maybe something adjustable like this? http://www.amazon.com/Racor-PLB-2R-Two-Bike-Gravity-Freestanding/dp/B000077CPK/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1312992302&sr=1-7
We have, no joke, six bikes in our living space (open living room & dining room).
We use these stands (x3) because they are very sturdy, fit well against the wall, have adjustable arm height & bike hooks along said arms (to hang further/closer to wall). No damage to walls & no worrying that a hook will come loose. My boyfriend is 6'8" so his bikes are much larger than mine and we've had no trouble making them fit.
http://www.amazon.com/SportRack-BSR12-Universal-Bike-Stacker/dp/B000UUEF7E/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1312992528&sr=8-19
I posted an example of two of the bikes on a stand the last time this subject came up:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/listenmissy/4840262155/in/photostream
Forgot to add that I used to have that stand in the second photo--the silver one with the red arms. I do not recommend it. The arms are very unstable and you may not be able to get enough distance between top & bottom bike if at least one of your bikes belongs to a tall person.
I dont have elevator so have a bike would be cumbersome. Im thinking of renting a space for it in the garage.
My bike hangs in my bedroom (I'm in a tiny space in Chicago, but I can't risk it being stolen or seeing the worst of the weather), and I think it looks fabulous!
hey guys- this is kevin from the abe lincoln/blue kitchen place.
@rffriedman re: the yellow chairs - they're from ikea. office chairs, by design, but cheap and fairly comfortable.
@miss.lyndsey: the pulley that i use would actually do just fine regardless of slanted toptube. the hooks go under the seat and under the handlebars at the stem. i got mine on amazon (Racor PBH-1R Ceiling-Mounted Bike Lift)
@Jason1000: thanks! glad you like the lincoln. i painted it but here some instructions on how to do your own. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/closeup/close-up-pixilated-abe-lincoln-094699 of course, if you wanted me to make one for you... :-)
@Jason1000: thanks! glad you like the lincoln. i painted it but here some instructions on how to do your own. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/closeup/close-up-pixilated-abe-lincoln-094699 of course, if you wanted me to make one for you... :-)
(please forgive the re-post, just wanted to make sure you saw it below the fold)
I was just looking at the vertical one from Delta this week! I'm definitely pulling the trigger on buying it today.
Why, oh why, don't we have bike parking in apartment buildings in the U.S.? In Japan, there's often a garage on the first floor of apartment buildings for bikes. Although I suppose finding a place for your car is much trickier.
@KB - you rock! Thanks for sharing - that system will work perfectly for my stairwell - I love it!
@matchbookhymnal - I used to live in a place that had indoor bike parking in the parking garage - it was a beautiful thing!
@kb: just wanted to let you know your house tour is my very favorite ever here on AT! I absolutely heart your style!!
I clicked on this article just b/c I recognize it. (To add something useful to the discussion, I use the gravity rack and it works well for me and looks sleek...)
@matchbookhymnal plenty of apartment buildings here in seattle have bike parking in their underground parking. My little building has a parking space reserved for bikes complete with a couple racks (to hold about 20 bikes per space) on each of the 6-floors of the parking garage.
Thing is, it would be really annoying to use those racks since there's two garage doors to go through to get back in to the garage, and the remote that you only get if you pay $200/mo for a car parking space is much too bulky to carry around with you.
@miss.lyndsey: awesome! happy i could help.
@criv227: wow! HUGE compliment. i sincerely appreciate it. thanks!
-kevin