Organize Your Garage with the Ideal Bike Rack

Make Storage Simpler with the Perfect Bike Rack System in Your Garage

Family biking on a country lane.

Passionate about cycling? Maybe you have one bike, two, or one for everyone in the family. Whatever the case, you know that storing those bikes can be more than a little challenging. It doesn’t take a lot for a couple of bikes to clutter up the usable space in your garage, and leaving them outside just isn’t practical these days. The good news is that bike storage is pretty simple and easy to come by today. A bike rack for your garage can offer organization, ensure that you free up space, and offer even more benefits.

Below, we’ll explore what you need to do to prepare your garage for bikes, as well as options to help you store the bikes properly.

While every garage shares similarities with others, they’re ultimately all different. So, you need to make sure you have the most efficient bike storage methods for your space.

Below, we’re going to walk you through what you need to know long before you start planning how to store your bikes.

#1: You Need a Game Plan

The first step is to create a game plan. This will guide your efforts through the rest of the steps. Your plan should include several different factors:

● How many bikes do you have?

● How much available space do you have?

● How can you make the best use of the space you have?

Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to begin thinking about how different bike racks will fit into your space. You’ll also be able to get an idea of what other steps you need to take.

#2: Declutter the Garage

Before you can do anything, you’ll need to declutter that garage. Any old items that aren’t used should be donated or thrown away. Now’s a great time to consider having a yard sale, or explore the various charities around that accept gently-used donations.

#3: Clear the Floor Space

You won’t be able to sell, donate, or trash everything in the garage. Some items will need to stay. What will you do with them? Storage shelves can be great solutions here, and help you free up the space you need for a bike rack in the garage.

#4: Explore Storage and Different Bike Racks for the Garage

With the garage clean, you can move on to the next step – deciding what bike racks are best suited for your needs. By this point, you should know how much free space you’ve got, what configuration that space is in, and more. You will also find a lot of different bike rack choices, including the following:

● Bike Lifts – These keep your bikes off the floor.

● Wall Storage – These racks can be vertical or horizontal and mount your bikes to the wall.

● Hanging Racks – These racks mount to the wall and allow your bikes to hang suspended until you need them.

● Floor Bike Racks – These install on the floor and keep your bikes organized standing up.

● Ceiling Mounted – Ceiling-mounted bike racks offer a lot of convenience, but you’ll need to make sure that your garage door can still open.

Bike Lifts

Bike lifts raise a bike off the ground, and many of them can handle more than one bike. You’ll discover many different lift types out there, too, from horizontal freestanding racks to those closer to the image below from TwoWheelingTots.com.

Delta Cycle freestanding bike rack in a home office, holding two bikes

Wall Storage

Wall storage can take the form of racks, but it can also be much simpler. For instance, some clips can be installed on the wall that you hook your bike into, or hooks that hang your bike without the need for bulky racks. Both are available in different sizes to suit your needs, whether you have mountain bikes, kids' bikes, cruisers, or something else. Because they are minimalistic, these are great options for tight garages with little space. Below, you’ll find an image of CLUG, a simple wall clip designed to offer a range of storage solutions.

CLUG, the World’s Smallest Bike Rack.

Hanging Racks

You can opt for hanging bike racks, as well, if you feel they will be a better solution. Again, there are multiple options available, as many companies today are making these types of racks. Hanging bike racks also come in several different configurations, including floor-to-ceiling tension racks. The system below is manufactured by Rubbermaid and provides ample space for multiple bikes. If you have fewer bikes, there are smaller systems on the market, too.

Rubbermaid hanging bike rack for the garage.

Floor Bike Racks

Don’t want to mount a bike rack to your walls? No problem. You’ll find freestanding choices out there that let you easily organize your bikes without any permanent installation required. That also means you can move the racks around as you need to. The image below highlights one such system from 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)

Ceiling racks can be very convenient, particularly if you have higher ceilings in your garage. Note that if your ceilings are lower, this may not be the right option for you. It’s also important that you plan carefully. You’ll need to measure traffic flow, study how doors open, and make sure that your garage door’s opening and closing aren’t affected by the rack or the hanging bikes. With that being said, if you have the space for them, ceiling bike racks are among the most convenient options and help you free up maximum space while organizing your bikes and making them easy to access.

There’s a lot to consider when shopping for a bike rack for your garage. Know your space, know your usage requirements, and plan around those. You should also plan with an eye toward the future. For instance, will you be buying more bikes soon? If so, your bike rack should be expandable.

Whether you’re looking for a freestanding bike rack for two bicycles, or a large model that can hold several different bikes, there’s an option out there for you.

Don’t neglect security, here, though. Keep your garage door locked at all times. It might be worth locking your bikes up individually with a cable and lock.

Is Your Garage Bike Rack Ready?

Creating new garage bike storage methods is important. With that being said, if your garage isn’t in shape, particularly the garage door, you could run into problems. A solid, reliable, weathertight garage door helps protect your bikes from prying eyes and the elements. In addition to your garage door, it’s important to think about other elements, like the pedestrian door, which makes it simple to get bikes in and out without having to open the main door.

Installing a new garage door is also the only way to ensure that you have photo-cell safety beams on the door. These are essential for the safety of your family and pets and will prevent the door from accidentally closing. Garage door accidents are surprisingly common and can be very dangerous. If your garage door opener dates back to the 1990s or earlier, it may not have modern safety features.

To check your garage door safety system, inspect the door tracks. You should see two black units installed about four inches above the floor on the right and left sides of the doorway. Each unit should have a lens and they should be pointed at one another. The photo beam bounces between these lenses and when it’s broken, the door stops its motion.

Sectional garage doors can also be installed on a shed or small garage if you store your bikes and gear there. It provides better security and easier access, and you might be surprised at the aesthetics they can offer.

Explore your options and you’ll be able to find something that’s both incredibly usable and beautiful like the one pictured below. Note the pedestrian door on the side of the garage here, too.

Do you like contemporary looks? This garage door is a Moderno 2 Beads, 9' x 8', Black, window layout: Left-side Harmony

Installing a high-quality garage door is about more than just good looks and usability. It also helps maintain temperature. A decent door will be fully insulated, which helps the garage maintain its temperature throughout the entire year. Insulation performance is measured by R-value, which indicates thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the more protection there is against temperature fluctuations. It’s also important to consider things like weatherstripping and insulation if you’re struggling with condensation.

With that being said, a new garage door certainly makes a visual statement, so if yours has seen better days, a replacement might be what you need.

Don’t rush your decision when it comes to a new garage door, either. You want something that ties into your home’s aesthetic and offers the durability and utility that you need, such as in the image below.

Do you love timeless beauty? These garage doors are Shaker-Flat XL design, 9'x8', Ice White Color, 8 lite Orion windows

Are You Ready to Replace Your Garage Door?

Is it time for a new garage door? Make sure to contact your local garage door expert. A specialist can help you find the right door for your budget and your home.

SGM Garage Doors will be happy to speak with you in person, or you can request a quotation via email. Not sure what style of garage door is right for you or how they tie into your home? Explore our 3 styles to help you make the best possible choice.

Call us at 902-624-8993.

We’re available to help you find the right garage door.

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