First Things First: Key Bike Measurements for Storage
Bikes are large, awkward, and can quickly take over your garage floor. Creating smart storage for your family’s bicycles is the first step to reclaiming that valuable space. However, before you choose a storage method, you need to take a few critical measurements.
First, measure your bike’s tire width. Most floor and wall racks are designed for specific tire sizes, and a mismatch here is a common reason a rack won’t work. You can see a wide variety of bike racks and their tire specifications at retailers like StoreYourBoard.com.
The bike industry doesn’t have a standard vocabulary for tire widths, so terms like “children’s tires” or “fat tires” can be confusing. Always measure the actual tires. Generally, fat tires are over 2.4 inches wide. You can find specific mounts for them in my article 2 Best Wall Mounts for Fat or Fender Bikes.
Next, check for disc brake clearance. Disc brakes make the wheel hub wider, which can prevent it from fitting into certain storage racks, even if the tire itself fits. As noted in this comprehensive buyer’s guide, it’s vital to confirm that your rack will work with disc brakes if your bike has them.
Finally, mind the fenders. A fender adds inches to the tire’s overall diameter and can interfere with many rack designs.
How Do I Choose Bike Storage for Different Ages?
The best bike storage for your family depends on your kids’ ages. A solution that is easy for a teenager might be impossible, or even dangerous, for a younger child to use. Older children can often manage wall and ceiling storage, but the littlest kids need simple, ground-level access.
For young children, kickstands and floor stands are usually the best choice. While they use floor space, they allow kids to park and get their bikes on their own. This simple access is key to encouraging them to put their own things away.
As kids get older and stronger, they can handle more space-saving options. Wall stands and other vertical solutions can give you back a huge amount of your garage floor. The best organizers for your family find a balance between taking back space and keeping things convenient.
Before you commit to a system, ask yourself a few questions. How much garage space are you willing to give to bikes? Can your child safely reach and use the storage rack, both for getting the bike out and putting it away?
What Are the Main Types of Bike Storage?
You can choose multiple solutions for different ages or find a single type of storage that works for everyone.
Ground-level options like kickstands and floor stands are easiest for small children but use the most floor space. They keep the bike upright and ready to go.
Wall-mounted solutions, including racks and hooks, clear the floor by storing bikes vertically or horizontally against a wall. These systems are generally best for older kids and adults who can lift the bike into place.
Ceiling storage, such as hoists and hooks, gives you the most floor space by getting bikes completely up and out of the way. These systems require careful installation and are not safe for children to operate.
Outdoor solutions like bike covers and sheds free up garage space entirely. They protect bikes from the weather and can be a great option if your garage is already full.
The Easiest Option: Kickstands and Floor Stands
Floor storage solutions include classic kickstands and various types of floor stands. These are the most accessible options, especially for the youngest members of your family.
Kickstands are the simplest solution. A child who can ride a bike can use a kickstand, making it the best choice if you want your little ones to put their bikes away themselves. They are also cheap and useful when parking away from home.
A horizontal floor stand is also very convenient. It holds the bike upright when you roll the front tire into its slot. This can take up a bit more room than a kickstand but is an excellent choice for bikes that don’t have one.
Vertical floor stands save a little more floor space by holding the bike with one tire in the air. However, these require more effort to use and are best for bigger kids and adults. Never expect a small child to lift a bicycle into a vertical stand.
While kickstands are universal, floor stands require you to pay attention to tire size and fenders. The stand’s slot must be wide enough for the tire but not so wide that the bike becomes wobbly.
Go Vertical: Free Up Floor Space with Wall Racks
A wall mount or rack is an excellent way to get your bicycles off the floor and take back valuable garage real estate. Depending on the design, the bike can be stored vertically or horizontally.
Wall racks free up floor space but require the user to lift the bike into place, making them a bad choice for small children. The closer the bike sits to the wall, the more floor space you save.
To use a common vertical wall mount, you pivot the bike onto its back tire and lift the front tire into the mount. This is a great space-saver but requires a bit of strength and coordination.
Horizontal racks hold the bike parallel to the floor, often by holding the top tube of the frame. These can look great on the wall and are sometimes easier to use than vertical racks.
You can learn more about finding the right wall mount for your specific needs, including fat tires, fenders, or multiple bikes, in my other articles on the topic.
Wall Hooks: A Simple, Low-Cost Storage Solution
Bike hooks are the simplest type of wall rack. A quality hook is very strong, coated in vinyl to prevent scratches, and has a screw on one end that you drive into a wall stud.
Using two hooks placed parallel to each other allows you to store a bicycle horizontally, flat against the wall. This method saves the most garage space and is typically the easiest to lift the bike from.
A single hook can also store a bike vertically by its wheel. While this is space-efficient, it can be harder to get the bike down. While some cyclists worry about damaging a wheel by hanging it, this is generally not an issue for a well-maintained bike. A bigger risk comes from cheap hooks with poor protective coatings that can scratch your rims.
Unfortunately, many bike hooks on the market are low quality. Look for ones with thick, durable vinyl coatings that won’t peel off after a few uses. Remember that hooks require you to lift the entire weight of the bike, so they are not a good choice for younger kids.
Should You Use Ceiling Hooks to Store Bikes?
Ceiling hooks are the same as wall hooks but are installed vertically into a ceiling joist. They are usually rubber-coated, wide-mouthed hooks designed to hold a bicycle tire, letting the bike hang straight down.
This method is excellent for saving floor space by getting the bike completely out of the way. You can browse different styles at specialty retailers like StoreYourBoard to see what’s available.
However, ceiling hooks can be impractical. If your ceilings are too high, it becomes difficult to reach the hook to hang or retrieve the bike. Even with lower ceilings, lifting and positioning a bike overhead can be awkward and potentially unsafe.
It’s important to state that ceiling hooks are not for kids. While they are a very cheap and space-saving solution for adults, the safety and accessibility challenges make them a poor choice for a family garage.
A Word of Caution on Bicycle Pulley Systems
Important Update: I no longer recommend any bicycle pulley systems. While a ceiling hoist seems like a great idea, my research and reviews show that nearly all bike-specific pulleys on the market are not safe. They are often made with weak ropes, poorly designed hooks, and flimsy tracks that are not suitable for suspending a heavy object over your family and vehicles.
A proper system should have multiple hooks to securely hold the bike’s seat and handlebars, preventing it from swinging. You pull a rope to lift the bike, similar to a window blind. However, the execution of this concept in most available products is dangerously flawed.
The Risks of Motorized Lifts and Elevators
Motorized bike lifts and garage elevators appear to be convenient, high-tech storage solutions. They use a ceiling-mounted winch to raise and lower either a set of hooks or a solid platform. However, these systems come with significant risks.
I do not recommend any bicycle-specific motorized lifts or platform elevators at this time.
Most “bike lifts” are just repurposed winches with the same poor engineering and low-quality parts found in manual pulleys. When you’re suspending a heavy bike over your car or in a space where your family walks, the equipment must be over-engineered for safety. These products rarely are.
Platform-style elevators have their own issues. I have removed previous recommendations due to reports of product failure. You must strap the bike securely to the platform, and as you can see, even a large platform may not be big enough to safely hold a bicycle. Given the risks, it’s much wiser to choose a more reliable and proven storage method.
Outdoor Protection: Are Bicycle Covers a Good Idea?
A bike cover is a fabric shell designed to protect your bicycles from rain, snow, and sun damage. A good cover should be made from sturdy, durable, weatherproof material and be UV-coated to resist breaking down in the sun.
This solution gets your bicycles out of the garage entirely, freeing up that indoor space. Young kids might be able to use a cover system if the bikes are kept upright on kickstands, but it depends on the child’s abilities.
One big downside is security. While many bike covers have openings for security cables, an outdoor bike cover can be a magnet for thieves. A locked cover is simply not as secure as a locked garage.
If you’re considering this option, think about your garage’s security first. If you’re not sure your garage is secure, read my article Do Garage Doors Lock Manually, Automatically, or Not at All?
Bike Sheds: The Ultimate Garage Space-Saver?
I love bike sheds. Any dedicated space for storing specific items appeals to the part of me that loves to be truly organized. A bike shed can be the perfect solution for your family’s collection.
A shed provides secure, weather-protected storage and completely frees up your garage floor. They are a fantastic answer, and even little ones can use them if you choose a design with front-opening doors rather than a top-loading lid.
Imagine storing and retrieving the bikes inside the shed. Will you feel crowded? Will your kids be able to comfortably get their bikes in and out? No one ever says, “Gee, I wish I had gotten a smaller shed.”
Inside a wider shed, you can use kickstands or a floor rack to keep bikes organized. High-end systems, like the gliding racks from Saris, can even be installed to maximize space and access.
Even in a shed, smaller children will likely need a floor stand or kickstand. The kickstand is still a good idea for when they’re parking their bikes away from home.
Sheds are an investment, but their ability to protect your bikes while making them easy to get to is often worth it. For more tips on choosing the right one, see my article 13 Ways to Store Your Lawn Tractor / Mower or Blower.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Storage
Is it OK to store a bike outside?
Storing a bike outside exposes it to the elements. Temperature changes create condensation, which leads to rust. As noted by cycling experts, long-term exposure to moisture is very damaging to your bike’s parts.
If you must store your bike outside, you need to protect it with a high-quality cover or shed. You should also check it often for moisture and wipe it down until it is completely dry to prevent damage.
How do I size a bicycle for my child or me?
Getting the right size bike is key for comfort, safety, and performance. The process involves measuring inseam and height to find the correct frame size and seat height.
The experts at Bike Guider have written an excellent, detailed tutorial on this topic. You should read their guide at bicycle-guider.com before making a purchase.
