What can I do with my bicycle and bike rack for the car? My apartment building does not have any basement storage, so they have to live somewhere in the apartment. Any creative ideas?
-LeslieM, April 6, The Spring Cure Discussion Board
This is a common problem for many people who don't have the luxury of having a garage, or a basement, or even any outdoor space. My husband has a bike (I currently don't), and we've simply incorporated it into our decor. It props up on its side right by the window in our living room, and I've actually come to love the look. It's best not to fight it, and to work around it instead. If you need the space, the best option is to hang it on the wall. (We're partial to the Cycloc bike rack, but there are plenty of other options.) But even just propping it or setting it up in a designated spot can work. Here are a few photos to get your juices flowing:
Check out these posts for more bicycle storage ideas:
• How To Build a Vertical Bike Rack Using Spare Parts
• Bicycle Storage Solutions
• Survey: Where Do You Keep Your Bike? on Re-Nest and and Where Do You Store Your Bike on AT:Chicago
• How To Make a Bike Rack
Readers, tell us your suggestions for indoor bike storage! And share pictures/links if you have them.
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i just let my bike chillax in my entry way. i happen to think bicycles are neat enough to look at on their own, so i'd never keep it in a garage or basement. it's a part of my home.
the bike rack for the car is the issue. they're not so decorative, are they? if you have a closet, i'd try stuffing it in there, moving the things that can sit out in a creative storage solution to make room for it.
Cake:
Get a couple of heavy-duty padded hooks and mount them to the wall studs, then hang the bike rack on the hooks, and hang the bike on the rack.
Your options are basically:
-under something (bed, sofa, other large furniture)
-in something (closet, cupboard)
-behind something (curtains, wardrobe)
-above something (hang it, put it on top of cupboards)
Or, learn to love the sight of it.
I am looking for a bicycle storage solution right now too! My bf and I started the cure over the weekend and are moving along swimmingly, but were started to talk about our entryway and the two bikes we just don't want to leave outside. We have a porch, but no garage and it rains a lot where we live, but we are not sure how to secure them (clearly more brainstorming required).
I was also thinking that if our bike friends do live inside, that I could paint them to match the interior space where they will reside, ensuring that they wont stand out like soar thumbs.
I really like the white Cycloc, but the bf and I are a little concerned that it (and our bikes) will not mix with the interior of our 100 year old bungalow. Sigh, we'll get there. No sense in denying who we are. Good luck with your own bicycle storage problem :)
There is another option that gets the handlebars skiiny and makes the bike less obtrusive, easier to store in narrow spots and also easier to load on bike racks etc. check out www.flipphandle.com.. it lets you turn your handlebars 90 degrees with the press of a button..