Whether you’re trying to figure out how to store your belongings in a small apartment or just want to create more space, there are plenty of creative solutions to the perennial problem of how to store a bike in an apartment.
Biking is a great way to save money on transportation, get some exercise, and protect the environment. While it’s especially convenient to bike if you live in a city, chances are you also have a smaller living space so you may not have an outdoor bike rack or shed to store your bike.
Fortunately, there are plenty of creative ways to store a bike in an apartment — some of them may even add styling to the look of your apartment! Check out 5 of our favorite bike storage solutions.
Hang Your Bike Up
One of the sleekest and most minimal ways to store your bike in an apartment is to hang it from hooks on the wall or ceiling. Hanging your bike up will free up plenty of space and is a relatively inexpensive solution. If you want to keep your bike concealed, you could hang it in a closet or hang up a curtain around it. You might find a way to make your bike part of the decor, for example by hanging it above a mantel or a couch or using decorative hooks to match your style.
There are plenty of inexpensive clips and racks to hang your bike on a wall. The Hornit CLUB Bike Clip can mount onto any surface with no hardware necessary aside from the one-piece clip that attaches to the bike’s wheels. The Feedback Sports Velo Wall Bike Rack is larger but still versatile. It allows you to mount a bike on the wall so the bike is held away from the wall itself, helping to avoid scuff marks and protecting your bike. Both are available on Amazon.
Get a Bike Dock
A bike dock is another way to hang a bike, but it’s a bit more elegant than a basic rack. A bike dock looks sort of like art you might hang on your wall, but opens up to reveal hanging bike storage. Bike docks tend to be more expensive than basic wall-hanging options, but they are more accessible and more high-end looking, so it may be a good investment.
Hang Your Bike Vertically
In addition to basic hangers or bike docks, vertical bike racks are another great way to store a bike off the floor and clear up more space in your apartment. Vertical bike racks or hangers hang your bike from the front wheel, which makes it easier to store in small spaces like behind a door or in a narrow corner. Vertical bike racks also take up less wall space than other bike hanging systems.
Check out the Steadyrack Classic Rack which unfolds from the wall sort of like a Murphy bed or ironing board. Place your bike by simply tipping it onto its back wheel and then pushing it forward to fit vertically into the rack.
Place Your Bike Out of Sight
Perhaps the easiest way to store a bike in your apartment is to simply place it in a closet behind your clothes, in a laundry room or hallway, or behind a large piece of furniture like a couch. This is a good option if you want to avoid creating holes in the wall by installing a clip, rack, or wall mount. It also makes your bike a bit more accessible, which is useful if you use it frequently. However, you’ll save less space this way than with other storage options, and space is especially valuable in a small apartment!
Mount Your Bike on a Rack
A free-standing bike rack is another relatively inexpensive option to store bikes in an apartment that involves little assembly and doesn’t require hanging. Racks can hold one or two bikes, so this is also a great option if you have more than one bike in your apartment. A bike rack will not keep your bike out of sight, but it is a useful way to keep your storage solution visually appealing. You might place a bike rack in a hidden space, in the corner of a room, or in a hallway, but you could also make your bike a part of your interior design scheme, for example by placing it next to your TV or couch, or along the wall in a bedroom.
A bike stand is a similar option that is useful for storing multiple bikes, but some require installation.
On Amazon, check out the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Two-Bike Gravity Stand, an easily-assembled and inexpensive rack that can accommodate a variety of types of bike, from lightweight city bikes to mountain bikes. Bike racks are great for indoor storage, but if you have some outdoor space, like a porch or patio, you could use a bike rack there to save even more space inside.
The best way to store a bike in an apartment depends on how much you want to spend, how many bikes you have, whether you are able to drill holes in a wall or ceiling, and whether you need your bike to be particularly accessible, among other factors. These storage solutions can help make your small apartment or living space feel more spacious without leaving your bike exposed to the elements outside.
Don’t let living in an apartment or small living space keep you from the joy of owning a bike, whether for transportation or fun (or for both!) There are several different options for storing a bike in a small apartment that you can consider. Try out a few of the above options to see which works best for you.
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