The size and layout of your apartment will determine where and how much space you’ll have to store a bike. Bike storage can be difficult to find if your rental home has limited space.
Owning more than one bicycle can be problematic for renters without some kind of innovative storage solution. With that being said, we’ve compiled a list to help you uncover bike storage opportunities in your apartment, as well as the best types of bike racks needed to maximize your space.
Bike Storage Rooms in Your Apartment
Coat Closet
Storage space is sacred to renters, which is why you may be wondering how a coat closet can be a room of recommendation for bike storage.
Well, a coat closet makes an excellent place to store a bike because of the easy accessibility to it. Coat closets are generally the closest rooms to the front door, making it easy for renters to grab and put away their bike.
To maximize the space inside, consider moving your heavy winter coats to your bedroom closet and replacing them with light sweaters and blouses in the coat closet. Coats tend to be long and can make it more difficult to get your bike when you need it. Since sweaters and blouses are shorter in length, it’ll make accessing your bike so much simpler.
Porch or Balcony
Does your apartment home have a porch or balcony? You could store your bike there.
You may want to consider placing a lock on it so no one takes it, especially if you’re living in a garden level apartment or single-family home. Protect your bike from weather damage by covering it with a towel or purchasing a bike cover.
If you do store your bike on the porch or balcony, make sure it’s not blocking the door. It’s a fire hazard and a big no-no in your lease agreement. Check your lease to see if there are any regulations against storing your bike on the porch or balcony beforehand.
Laundry Room
If you have enough wall space, you could easily store your bike in the laundry room. Floors are generally made of hard-surface materials like tile or wood, which make cleaning up scuff marks and dirt from your bike a lot easier than on carpet.
Garage
A no-brainer for sure, but let’s go ahead and mention it. If you’re one of the fortunate ones to have a garage, then storing your bike there is the most ideal place. It’s completely out of your apartment, and you won’t really have to worry much about tracking in dirt.
Bike Racks for Apartment Dwellers
Bike Stand
A bike stand is an excellent bike storing solution for an apartment dweller. It leans against the wall so it doesn’t need drilling. The stand can hold up to four bikes, so it’s perfect for roommates who bike to school or work, or a family that bikes together on weekends.
Where you set up the bike stand matters; it needs quite a bit of wall space because of the width of the bikes. Pick a bare wall close to the front door to place your stand on. Double stacking bikes can clear out a bunch of space, giving you more room for other things that are important to you.
Wall Bicycle Rack
Just like a bike stand, a wall bike rack can really open up space in your home. The bike is placed on the rack by the wheels. A wall nearest to the entry door is ideal, but it’s completely up to you.
To hang this rack, you will need to drill into a wall stud. Check with your landlord and review your lease agreement about this kind of addition to the rental.
Wall Hanger
Wall-mounted bike hangers provide renters with the additional floor space they need. Wall hangers typically levitate the bike by the top tube, rather than by the wheels like the bike rack does.
The hanger arms are adjustable to accommodate for the bike’s size and to provide enough space between the bike and the wall. Drilling is required to put up a wall hanger – check your apartment contract so you’re not in violation of your lease.
Bike Column
A tension-mounted bike column can help free up your wall space. You’ll fit one end of the column to the ceiling and the other end to the floor. There’s no need for screws or drilling; you simply adjust the tension to secure the column in place.
A bike column can fit two bikes and is easily moveable. The support arms can be adjusted to fit different bike frames with ease.
Innovative solutions do exist for bike storage in the renting world – you just have to know where to look. Biking is great exercise and sometimes even more convenient for travel than cars or public transit.
When you bike, be aware of the weather conditions. Riding your bike in nasty weather can track in mud and dirt into your home. If you do get dirt on the floors or walls, here are some cleaning tips to get the grime out!