Adding a bike rack to the garage can help you keep things organized.
Family biking on a country lane.
Are you a fan of cycling? Whether you have a single bike, a couple of bikes, or several bikes for everyone in the family, all of those cycles need to be stored somewhere safe. It's no longer feasible to just leave them resting on the side of the garage like you might have when you were young. Even back then, this solution may not have been the best option.
Instead, you'll want to have a better way to store all of your bikes. And one of the best options is installing a bike rack in the garage.
This article will delve into what you need to do to get the garage ready for storing your bikes. We'll also share a few of the top ways to store the bikes appropriately.
Of course, we know that every garage is unique. That just means that you need to consider what is the most efficient and useful storage method for your specific situation.
This is the number one way to ensure your bicycles are safe. The good news is that many options are available. But before you decide which is right for you, a plan is going to be needed.
#1: Create a Plan
Without a plan, you might make mistakes in deciding on the right bike rack system. Your plan will need to take several things into account, including:
● How much space you have available
● How many bicycles will need to be stored
● How to best use the space in your garage
Consider each one of these things. Only then will you be able to consider the benefits of different kinds of bike racks. You can look at your options and determine which racks are right for your needs. Thinking about these things also gives you insight into what work you need to do.
#2: Get the Garage in Its Best Shape
With a plan in place, step two is all about cleaning out the garage and organizing the items inside. If you don't need or use something, get it out of the garage. Some things might be fit for the garbage, while others can be recycled, donated, or given to others. When the garage is clean, you'll have extra space for your bicycles.
#3: Make Sure Items Are Properly Stored
Are there items on the floor that shouldn't be? It's time to move them. Maybe you could store some items on shelves. Having the most possible storage on the floor will help keep your bikes safe. If you also keep a car or truck in the garage, you'll want to be sure you have room for it, too.
#4: Go Through All Your Options
After you have a plan and have cleaned up around the garage, it's time to move on to step three. This involves knowing which bike storage options you have available. Since you know how much space you have, making a decision will be easier. You have a ton of options, including the following:
● Bike lifts
● Bicycle storage racks on the wall
● Floor bicycle racks
● Hanging bike racks
● Ceiling racks
Bicycle Lifts
The main purpose of the bike lift is to hold a bike off the ground. These come in many styles for use with one or multiple bicycles. You might consider using a freestanding horizontal rack that has multiple tiers with space for several bikes. You can get an idea of what these racks are like in the image below from TwoWheelingTots.com.
Delta Cycle freestanding bike rack in a home office, holding two bikes
Bike Wall Storage
There are also many forms of bike storage for the walls. Clips and hooks can be purchased to add to walls to hold the bikes up. These come in horizontal and vertical varieties. Keep in mind that clips and hooks come in various sizes so that you can store bikes of all sizes and styles. There are versions for kids' bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, and others. Clips for the wall tend to be very minimalistic, so they aren't going to draw attention or take up much room in the garage.
CLUG, which you can see below, is one of the simplest wall clips that can be used to store bikes. This product comes in several different models.
CLUG, the World's Smallest Bike Rack.
Hanging Racks
Some people feel that a hanging bike rack is the best solution for their garage. Many options are available since a large number of companies create this kind of rack. A hoist system is a common choice that holds the bikes off the ground and suspends it from the ceiling; floor-to-ceiling tension racks also tend to be popular. In the photo below, you can see Rubbermaid's hanging rack designed for use in many garages.
Rubbermaid hanging bike rack for the garage.
Floor Bike Racks
Not ready to drill holes into the ceiling or walls of your garage? A floor bike rack is another solution that you should consider. With this rack, it can be positioned in various ways, moved around, and more. You'll find many floor bike racks on the market, some made for one bike and others to hold several at once. You can see some of the best options at RackMaven.com.
Floor bike rack will fit easily in the garage. This one is the Racor PBS-2R Tow-Bike Floor Bike Stand
Ceiling Racks
Woman loading bike onto saris cycle glide ceiling bike rack (TwoWheelingTots.com)
A ceiling rack can be a great choice for those with limited space. However, you need to consider where it will be installed and keep it away from the area where the garage door opens to let you inside.
This kind of bike rack frees up space, but it can also make it hard for younger and shorter people to bring down the bikes on their own. You'll also find that installation is more complicated for this type of rack.
You can see that you have several options to choose from to store your family's bicycles safely. It all comes down to how you want to utilize your garage space. Come up with an answer to that and you'll determine which rack system is right for you.
Make sure you are aware of how many bicycles you own. There should be enough racks available for all of them – and extras if you plan to buy other bikes in the future.
For those with lots of bikes, a model that holds several can be useful. You'll have room for extras if you have family or friends who come over to ride with you. This also handles where to store bikes if you decide to buy extras in the future. There will be no need to purchase an all-new storage system.
While bikes are stored, make sure the garage door is locked. Locking the bikes in the storage racks can also be a good idea. This makes it less likely that they will be stolen if someone gets inside.
Your bikes will be stored, organized, and protected when you use the right bike storage system.
Do You Need to Work on Your Garage?
Adding garage bike storage methods is a great way to make your space more useful. You'll also want to be sure the door is in the best possible shape. The door is the only thing keeping your bikes safe from potential thieves, the elements, and other issues. One option would be to add in a pedestrian door. This makes getting the bike in and out quick and easy without fussing with the main garage door.
Having a modern garage door opener installed also ensures you have a door with photo-cell safety beams. This is an essential safety feature that has been required on doors since the 1990s. If your door is older, it won't have them, and you should rectify that as soon as possible. The beams consist of two parts installed a few inches above the floor on each side of the door. One will send out an infrared beam to the other, which holds a reflector. If something prevents the beam from touching the reflector, the door will open up on its own.
Do you keep bikes and other items in a shed or small garage? If so, you may find that a sectional garage door is the best choice. It makes it practical to move bikes, tools, and other items out of the space.
Garage doors come in all shapes and sizes, like the gorgeous model below. It even comes with a pedestrian side door for added convenience.
Do you like contemporary looks? This garage door is a Moderno 2 Beads, 9' x 8', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony
Top garage doors will be insulated so that the garage can be used comfortably no matter what the weather is like outside. When choosing insulation, the R-value indicates a measurement of how much thermal resistance is present. It measures the resistance it offers to the flow of heat. The largest the R-value is, the better the insulation will be. In addition, insulation and weatherstripping help protect the garage from condensation.
Installing a new door can also make your garage look even better. If your current door is a bit battered and dirty, a new one is a great investment.
When selecting a garage door, do some research and consider your options. It should look good and meet your needs in terms of aesthetics. Check out the image below for an option you might consider.
You love timeless beauty? These garage doors are Shaker-Flat XL design, 9'x8', Ice White Color, 8 lite Orion windows
Are You Ready for a New Garage Door?
When you decide you need a new garage door, you'll want to contact a garage door dealer in the local area. These experts can help you choose a door that meets your budget while offering the style that you want. We'll ensure that you are happy with both our service and the door you select.
Mclaughlin Roof Trusses Ltd. is available to offer an email quotation. Not sure what style is right for your needs? Look at our 3 styles to learn more about your options.
Reach out to us at 506-375-4105.
We're available now and happy to help you choose the right options for your garage door needs.
Give Our Design Centre a Shot
Spend some time using our Design Centre. It shows you all sorts of garage doors in many styles and you can even upload a photo to see how each looks on your home.
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