Tips and Products for Reorganizing Your Garage Bike Storage
Updated: Feb. 01, 2023Can't park your car in the garage because your family's bikes are in the way? Here's how to fix that!
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Choosing the Best Bike Storage Options for Your Garage
Functional bike storage is a must if you use your bikes regularly. For many, the garage is the logical place for it. However, the bikes usually share space with a car or two, other sports equipment, lawn and garden gear, the recycling, a workbench — there’s never enough room!
Solutions? Ingenious products and clever hacks can make bike storage less of a hassle. Keep these four things in mind when considering bike storage options:
- Available space: Estimate how much space you have and how much you need for your bikes and gear. Look up and see what storage space is open on the ceiling. Look at the walls and floor space. Determine where your bikes will be accessible and yet out of the way.
- Compatibility: Once you know where you’d like to put the bikes, check out what’s available in lifts, hooks, mounts and racks. Among the latter, the Steadyrack offers superior flexibility and ease of use. If you find one you like, make sure it will work with your equipment, garage configuration and ceiling height.
- Security: No matter where you live, it’s wise to lock up your bikes even if they’re in your garage. Better to be safe than sorry. Check if the bike storage rack or hook you’re considering has security features or if they can be added. With my standard bike hooks, I added heavy-duty eyelets into the studs, one for each bike. Then I threaded a heavy-duty cable through the openings and added a lock for extra security.
- Cost: Have a ballpark budget in mind when you start shopping for bike storage options. You can spend a lot, but even on a modest budget you can find many good choices.
Repurpose or Build a Bookshelf
To consolidate all biking wearables — helmets, shoes and other accessories — in one location, I use a cheap, catch-all bookshelf. Repurpose one you aren’t using, find one at a thrift store or neighborhood marketplace or build one yourself. Then screw it to the wall near the bike storage area, so it’s ultra-convenient and won’t tip over.
The shelves are the perfect height for everyday gear. Stuff that doesn’t easily fit, such as a hydration pack, can be hung on the outside of the bookshelf with a small hook. If you’ve got room, a simple, sturdy bench next to the shelf makes a perfect place to slip on your cycling shoes.
Create a Charging Station
After a ride, do you detach your lights, cameras and/or bike computer, bring them inside and plug them into whatever cords you could find? If so, here’s a better idea. Dedicate one of the bike gear shelves as a charging station!
Drill a hole in the side of the bookshelf and mount a charging strip along the back. If need be, extend a cord out of the area and charge electronics that are semi-permanently mounted to a bike. Just be sure the cord is out of the way and doesn’t become a tripping hazard.
Store Bike-Specific Tools on Pegboard
I find it’s best to separate my bike tools from my home improvement tools. I have one large piece of pegboard for my household tools and a separate smaller pegboard for my bike tools.
Near the bike tools, I also have a Feedback Sports portable bike repair work stand that quickly folds up and out of the way when not in use. I store it right by the tools, and everything is ready to go when I need it.
Fill a Tote With Bike Cleaning Supplies
I store all my bike wash, solvents, lubes, sealant and brushes in a portable, handheld tote I can easily carry outside. Having all of these items in one place means I’m not constantly searching for things I need, and can keep an eye on the dwindling levels of various supplies.
Another helpful tip: Cleaning bikes can be messy, so keep large pieces of cardboard on hand to catch any spilled lube and the residue of solvents and other chemicals.
Store Spare Parts and More in Clear Plastic Bins and Drawers
If you’re a serious cyclist, it doesn’t take long to accumulate a lot of spare parts and bike accessories. When you actually need one of these items, make sure you can find it by organizing all those things in clear plastic bins. I put spare tubes and inflators in one bin, drive-train components in another, and so on. I store the bins on a sturdy metal shelf.
For smaller items, such as bolts, cleats and the like, I took over the top two rows of a small parts organizer. I used a label maker for each drawer so I’m not constantly opening and closing drawers searching for a valve stem or cap.
Use Small Spring Clips To Dry Gear
Between unexpected rain showers and sweat, biking gloves and elbow pads often end up wet. I use small spring clamps to hang them from the gear shelf and studs in the garage. That allows them to dry out and be ready for the next ride.
