How To Store A Bike Indoors

You have just spent a ton of money on your new bike and you want to make sure that your pride and joy is stored properly and securely, so that it doesn’t get stolen, damaged, or take up too much living space.

This can be a really big problem for those of us who are planning to store their bikes indoors. Especially when there seems to be an endless amount of bike storage solutions in the market, so finding the right one suitable for your needs can be challenging. To make things even more complicated, there isn’t one solution that works for everyone.

So, how do you store your bikes indoors? The first thing you must consider is the exact location where you want your bikes stored and make sure there’s enough storage space for all your bikes. Luckily, there are plenty of bike storage solutions out there for just about every possible indoor storage space. Once you have a designated bike storage space, you will need to figure out whether you want a permanently or non-permanently mounted bike rack, the orientation (vertical or horizontal) you want to hold the bikes, and the ease of accessibility.

Ahead, we’ll discuss more about selecting a location to store your bikes, the different types of bike storage solutions available, and even some security tips to protect your bikes from thieves. If you’re new to bicycling and you just bought yourself a new bike, then this is the article for you, so make sure you keep reading!

Selecting An Indoor Location For Storing A Bicycle

The first step is to select a location to store your bike. Start by identifying where you are going to store your bike indoors and then make sure that there’s enough room for your bikes.

If possible, it’s best to find a location that is high and large enough for you to easily move your bike in and out of the space. For most people, a garage or basement are common storage locations but any room with some extra space should work just fine!

There are a few different options to choose from depending on the property type you live in. Take a look around your property and see what works best for your needs! Some popular choices include the garage, basement, storage room, living room, and shed.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing where to store bikes indoors:

• Is there enough room?
• Can I store more than one bike?
• Will I be able to access the bike easily?
• Will it be easy for thieves to access my storage spot?
• Will I have to make alterations in order for the storage location to be functional?

Now that you have decided on where to store your bikes, it is time to choose the best method to store your bikes so that it takes up less living space and create a tidier environment to fit your needs.

Best Bike Storage Solutions For Storing Your Bike Indoors

There are many different bike storage solutions in the market in which you can store your bikes inside. There are those that permanently mount to walls and ceilings, but if you are renting then you may want to opt for a non-permanent solution.

With that in mind, we’ve divided our guide into two sections to help our readers: Permanent and Non-Permanent Bike Storage Solutions. Both of these methods have their pros and cons, so let’s take a look at them!

Permanent Storage Solutions For Bikes

A popular storage solution is to permanently secure bike racks or hooks on the wall. Permanent type racks are a cost-effective option for storing your bikes.

This can be done in many different ways and there are plenty of products that will help you do this. We’ve designated permanent bike storage by the orientation they hold the bikes: vertical or horizontal.

Vertical Bike Storage On The Wall

Ideal For: roomy garages, storing multiple bikes

Vertical bike rack is a cost-effective option for storing multiple bikes while taking up the least amount of wall space. This method is commonly used in many professional bike shops, because they can fit multiple bikes into their available room without having to worry about buying an expensive floor rack that will take up too much floor-space.

Since bikes are hung vertically, you need to make sure you have enough floor to ceiling space to accomodate the length of the bikes. Although vertical bike racks take up the least amount of wall space, they do take up more room space since the bikes stick off of the wall. If you have tight room space, then this type of wall mounted bike rack is not for you.

Another thing to keep in mind about vertical bike rack is that it can be difficult to lift your front wheel over to place it on a rack and moving your bikes into position can be tricky.

If you’re looking for a vertical bike storage solution, we highly recommend the SteadyRack.

Horizontal Bike Storage On The Wall

Ideal For: in-home storage, tight garages, display bikes as work of art

Horizontal bike racks are great if you have limited room space in your bike storage area because they take up less room than the vertical option.

Since the bikes are hung by the top tube along the wall parallel to the floor, this option does take up more wall space, which means you are limited to storing 2 bikes parallel to each other. But of course, granted you have the wall space, you can mount multiple horizontal bike racks to accomodate your bike storage needs.

Horizontal bike rack is ideal for apartment dwellers as you can display your bikes as part of interior decor while taking up very little room space. This type of bike rack can fit in most rooms in the house and is generally easier to get the bikes in and out than a vertical rack.

One thing to keep in mind is that some horizontal bike racks may be harder if not fit bikes with wider handlebars, so make sure you do your research before making a purchase or even before you mount it on the wall.

The biggest disadvantage of the horizontal bike rack is that you cannot store too many bikes this way. But if you plan to store 1 or 2 adult bikes in small room areas with plenty of empty wall space, then this type of wall mounted bike rack is for you!

If you’re looking for a horizontal bike storage solution, we highly recommend the Feedback Sports Velo 2D Wall Rack.

Ceiling Bike Storage – Overhead Ceiling Tracks

Ideal For: bikes with non-hydraulic disc brakes in tight storage spaces with little to no wall or floor space

Ceiling mounted bike tracks are great for tight spaces with little or no floor and wall space to store bikes since it only takes up the extra air space above your head. This type of storage solution is perfect if you want to securely store your bikes in a tight garage or above your cars without impacting the way you park your cars. The downside is that this system may be harder to install.

Many ceiling track systems hold the bikes upside down by the wheels using hooks, which means you will need to lift your bikes above your head to get the bikes on and off the hooks on the rack. For those of us who has difficulties lifting their bikes above their heads, then this type of rack is not for you!

Also, for those of us who have bikes with hydraulic disc brakes, you shouldn’t be storing your bikes upside down, so this type of rack is also not for you! However, there is another type of ceiling bike rack solution to store bikes with hydraulic disc brakes – the pulley system, which we will go into next.

For those who are looking to store multiple bikes using a ceiling bike rack system, we highly recommend the Saris Cycle Glide, which can hold up to six bikes.

Ceiling Bike Storage – Pulley / Hoist System

Ideal For: occasional riders with high-end bikes

Another great ceiling bike storage solution is the pulley system. Pulleys are a great option for bikes that you don’t ride too often because they require a little more time to get bikes on and off the rack. However, this is done with little to no effort since all you need to do is attach one hook to the handlebar and the other hook to the seat and hoist the bikes up by the cable.

And did we mention that this type of ceiling rack system is great for those who have bikes with hydraulic disc brakes? Since bikes are stored upright with the bike pulley system, this type of rack makes it particularly suited for high-end bikes.

The downside to this type of system is that each pulley system can only store 1 bike, but of course, you can always get more to store as many as you want, if your ceiling space permits (obviously).

If you’re looking for a bike hoist pulley system, we highly recommend the RAD Sports Bicycle Hoist or the Racor Bike Lift Pulley System.

Non-Permanent Indoor Storage Solutions For Bikes

Renting your home? Or just not the handy type who likes to drill into things. If so, fear not! These non-permanent rack solutions are for you!

Like it’s counterpart, there are plenty of products out there that will help you hold the bikes in either orientation: vertical or horizontal. We will cover them all below, so read on!

Ceiling-to-Floor Rack For Bikes

Ideal For: those who want a horizontal wall mounted bike racks but prefer not to mount hardwares on the wall

The most common type of non-permanent indoor bike storage system is the ceilng-to-floor column rack. It uses a spring-loaded aluminum tube with rubber ends that wedges between the ceiling and floor to create a snug fit. It is the most ideal choice for those who live in a rental property or you don’t want to mount anything to the wall and can be moved to another location with little effort.

This type of bike storage system is similar to the horizontal wall mounted bike rack system, which hangs the bikes by the top tube along the wall so expect it to take up the same amount of wall space as the wall mounted version. Another similarity is you are generally limited to storing 2 bikes on the column, though there are expansion kits that will allow you to store up to 4 bikes on the column.

One thing to keep in mind when considering a ceiling-to-floor rack is that it is adjustable to fit any ceiling height, so you can take the rack with you when you move and still be able to use it at your new place.

If the ceiling-to-floor rack is something you are looking for, we highly recommend the Swagman HANG IT Adjustable Bike Storage System.

Another ceiling-to-floor system we recommend is the RAD Cycle Aluminum Bike Storage System.

Wall-Leaning Racks For Bikes

Ideal For: small-apartments and those who want simplicity and the flexibility to move it anywhere

If you prefer your bikes to be stored horizontally and want the flexibility to easily move it from one area to another, the wall-leaning rack is a great option. The best thing about this type of rack is that it requires barely any installation. Simply attach the pieces together and lean it against the wall.

The adjustable frame cradles are so versatile that they can be adjusted to accomodate any bike size and frame design.

Similar to other non-permanent hanging bike racks, the downside to this system is that it limits you to storing only 2 bikes, which may not be realistic if you have more than 2 bicycles. But of course, you are not restricted to getting only 1 rack.

If the wall-leaning racks attracts you, the Delta Cycle Michelangelo is our recommendation.

If you prefer your bikes to be stored horizontally and want the flexibility to easily move it from one area to another, the wall-leaning rack is a great option. The best thing about this type of rack is that it requires barely any installation. Simply attach the pieces together and lean it against the wall.

The adjustable frame cradles are so versatile that they can be adjusted to accomodate any bike size and frame design.

Similar to other non-permanent hanging bike racks, the downside to this system is that it limits you to storing only 2 bikes, which may not be realistic if you have more than 2 bicycles. But of course, you are not restricted to getting only 1 rack.

If the wall-leaning racks attracts you, the Delta Cycle Michelangelo is our recommendation.

Free-Standing Racks For Bikes

Ideal For: small-apartments and those who wants to hang their bikes on a self-supported stand

Another type of way to store your bikes horizontally without permanently mounting it to the wall (or even touching the wall or ceiling) is the freestanding bike rack, also known as the bike rack tree.

Unlike the ceiling-to-floor or the wall-leaning bike racks, the freestanding racks hold bikes using a pole or column system that is self-supported by a floor stand or base.

This type of rack generally uses adjustable frame cradles or handlebars to hold the bikes, so you can adjust the height and angle to accomodate any frame design.

If the free-standing racks interests you, our recommendation is the RaxGo Bike Storage Rack.

Floor Bike Racks

Ideal For: those who have large garage or storage space

While most indoor bike storage systems we talked about earlier aim to save floor space, a type of rack called the floor bike rack or commonly known as bike parking rack hogs it right up!

These floor bike racks are similar to those you typically see permanently stationed at public places such as outside the local mall, grocery stores, and schools, except they are not permanently secured to the floor.

They are commonly used to store family of bikes that often get the most use and need the easiest access, which makes it a great option for families with young kids since its easy to use without the help of an adult.

So for those avid cyclists who has space to spare and needs easily accessible bike parking solution with a very affordable price tag then these floor bike racks are perfect for you!

Upright Bike Stands

Ideal For: those who wants to store their bikes upright without wall mounts

If you’re not a fan of hanging your bikes horizontally, there is always another way to hold them upright in a handstand position. This will allow you to save precious floor space while saving you the struggle of lifting and hanging the bikes.

These bike stand is similar to the vertical wall mount bike storage except that they are freestanding, which means there wouldn’t be any scratches or damages to the wall whatsoever.

If you’re looking for a freestanding vertical bike stand, we highly recommend the Bike Nook Bicycle Stand.

Bike Storage Security – How To Secure Your Bikes Indoors

Sadly, bike theft from home is all too common these days, so wherever you decide to store your bike, it is important that you don’t just store your bike without securing it in some fashion, as this will greatly increase the likelihood of theft.

So wherever and however you decide to store your bikes indoor, we recommend securing your bikes to something permanently mounted and/or immovable. This will make it a lot more difficult for thieves to steal them from their location.

Here are some useful tips and techniques to make sure your bike is secure as it can be when you keep your bike indoor.

Tip # 1 – keep your garage door closed as often as you can. This will deter passing traffic from eyeing your bike and seeing how your bike is stored and figuring out a potential way to steal them.

Tip #2 – heighten the privacy and security feature of fitness tracking apps. Apps like Strava are great for tracking your cycling activities but they also provide thieves with a resource to pinpoint on a map to where your bike lives.

Tip #3 – obscure the windows or put window security bars. Obscuring the windows is a simple technique to prevent thieves from looking into the windows and seeing what is in store. Putting up window security bars across the window is another possible way to stop someone from using the window as a means to break-in.

Tip #4 – install security alarms and cameras. Having a home security alarm system with camera surveillance is the biggest deterrent against burglaries. Remember, criminals are looking for the least resistance, so having a security alarm system will add more risk for them.

Tip #5 – install a solid wall anchor. Installing a wall anchor will allow you to have a secure point to lock the hanging bikes.

Tip #6 – get a top-end lock. Thieves often come prepared with tools and the idea of bike locks is to deter them for as long as possible, which is what they don’t want. Thieves want to be in and out with your bike as quickly as possible, so having a high lock grade will increase the degree of security and deterrence.

Since you are storing the bike at home, the weight of the lock shouldn’t be an issue. Unlike locking your bike at public places, thieves are more interested in getting the whole bike, so a D-Lock around the main frame tube will be sufficient. But if you want to beef up the security, you can get a heavy duty chain lock.

Tip #7 – take a photo of your locked up bike. Having a photo of your bike will be proof not only to the police when you report the crime but also to the insurance company showing the length that you went through to make sure your bike is secure as best as it can be using approved bike locks.

Tip #8 – register your bike on bikeindex.org, which is a registry or database used by individuals, bike shops, police departments, etc. to register their bicycles, search serial numbers, and recover their stolen bicycles.

Conclusion

The first step to storing your bike indoors is deciding where you want the bikes stored and making sure there’s enough space for the number of bikes you have and how easy it is to get them in and out of that area.

Next, choose the best bike storage solution that fits your needs and will work best with your space. Lastly, consider beefing up the security of your bike storage space to keep your bike from getting stolen.