Presented by Momentum Mag

The

BICYCLE STORAGE GUIDE

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY HILARY ANGUS & SAM CAWKELL + DESIGNED BY SAM CAWKELL

HOW TO STORE YOUR BIKE:A TOOLKIT OF SOLUTIONS

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to consider?Indoor storage

solutions

Outdoorstorage

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DIYstorageoptions

Feedback Sports:

Spotlight

Storage? You probably weren’t thinking about that when you bought your bicy-cle. But anyone who owns a bike will at

some point need to think about bicycle stor-age. As much as we’d love to, we unfortunately can’t be riding our bikes every minute of the day, so where do we put them when we’re not using them? Is proper storage even necessary? Absolutely. Properly storing your bike inside or outside doesn’t only keep your bike neat and tidy but it can prevent your most prized possession from getting dam-aged. One bad bump and the money you just spent getting your gears aligned goes down the drain. But with their dirty wheels, wide

handlebars, and the seemingly unprevent-able tendency to scuff up the walls, bicy-cles don’t exactly invite themselves inside – most especially in small apartments or at work. They’re also an attractive item for thieves and susceptible to the elements so you don’t want to simply leave them outside. Fortunately, there are numerous bike storage solutions for all manner of circum-stances and all different types of bikes – stor-ing your bicycle in a secure and convenient fashion has never been easier. This guide will show you how to store your bike inside, out-side, and in stylish ways so your rideable work of art gets the spotlight it deserves.

WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER

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It’s never as simple as it looks. That’s part of the reason we made this guide. Before you go out and purchase your

ideal storage setup there are few things to consider. First of all, remember that what you want, might not be what you need. You should also consider the space you will a be storing your bike in, the weight of the bicycle, the frame style and security. 1. The space you’re working with will ultimately determine what type of storage solution you seek. Ask yourself questions such as: How many bikes do I want to fit into the space? Do they need to be stacked vertically? Can I drill into the wall? Where are the studs located if I do? While the storage system might look best drilled into the stud near the corner of the room will you need to remove one of the wheels in order to fit the bike onto the storage system? Don’t forget to take into account the clearance space you need

to navigate around the bike or open doors. 2. The weight of the bicycle(s) should also be a consideration. The last thing you want is for your bicycle to come crashing down. If you’re looking for a system that keeps your bicycle off the floor are you prepared to lift your bike each time to get it into place? 3. The frame style of your bike may limit the type of storage system you can use. A road bike, mixte, step-through, and hybrid will have different contact points that need to be considered. Got large wheels? That could also affect your choice and which storage system your bike is compatible with. 4. Depending on where you are stor-ing your bike security might be an issue. Or perhaps you just like having the option for added security. Some storage systems such as the Feedback Sports Velo Wall Post have a lock port which allows you to lock the frame of the bike to the storage system.

INDOOR STORAGE SOLUTIONS

S toring your bike indoors can some-times feel like a tradeoff between the security of your bike and your

ability to open the bathroom door. Bicy-cles – for all their usefulness on the roads – do tend to get in the way in the home. Fortunately, there are space-saving bike storage solutions for everything from high-ceilinged living rooms to narrow hallways, and you really can’t get more secure than keeping your bike inside. Wall-mounted bike racks: These are permanently affixed to your wall and typically have extended arms to hang your bike from and help keep it lifted out the way. Typically they hold one or two bikes. These are great for small spaces, and also create a nice aesthetic by turning your bike into a wall adornment. The Velo Wall Rack

2D and Velo Wall Post from Feedback Sports are two options in this category. Bike Hooks: This option solves the frame-incompatibility problem by hang-ing the bike by its wheel. Wall-mounted bike hooks grab onto the front wheel and allow the back wheel to rest on the wall. The downside is that they leave the bike sticking out into the room by a distance of its height, so they are probably best for corners. The Velo Hinge from Feedback Sports is unique in that it folds, enabling the bike to tuck away along the wall. Vertical Storage Racks: This is a great option for those wanting to store their bike inside but don’t want to drill any holes in the wall or ceiling. They come in a range of material and design options to suit a variety of needs and decorating styles. They typically hold

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two bikes, and some can be adjusted to accommodate step-through and mixte frames. Feedback Sports’ Velo Cache is a vertical storage rack that can fit up to four bikes with the expansion pack. Bike Stands: Single-bike stands are a good option for those who only want their bike to stay upright without leaning it on the wall. They’re easy-to-use, affordable, and in some cases quite portable, so they’re also a good choice for people who are looking for ways to store their bike in their office. Feedback Sports offers the Rakk Bike Stand which accommodates all types of bikes from 20mm road tires to 2.4″ wide MTB tires. Bike Hoists: Sometimes also referred to as bike pulleys or bicycle lifts, are an excellent option for getting your bike completely out of the way by securing it up near the ceiling. The downside is they require a bit of effort to install, but once they’re in you have an easy pulley system to get your bicycle up in the air and out of your way as soon as you enter the house.

Garage Ideas: There is an obvious overlap between indoor bike storage and garage bike storage. Any of the above storage options could be used in the garage but going on the assumption that most people don’t have the space or the desire to keep 4-6 bikes in their living room or front hall, we’ve decided to relegate these bike storage ideas to the garage. Multi-bike stands and racks are basically organizing tools for retail spaces, restaurants, events or families with a lot of bikes and available floor space. They are typically in the style of an A-frame and allow you to rest the seat of 2-8 bikes on the cross beam. The A-Frame Storage Stand from Feedback Sports is a lightweight and easy to set up solution for storing multiple bikes. Multi-bike hoists are great for families or individuals with multiple bikes but also need to park a car or a canoe in the garage. The hoist allows the bikes to be stored near the ceiling. It’s more work to install than a floor rack, but the free space is worth it in the long run.

OUTDOOR STORAGE SOLUTIONS

If you’re lucky enough to have avail-able outdoor space, numerous options exist for outdoor bike storage that

range from high-security setups to meth-ods that simply protect your bike from the elements. Deciding which one to go with just requires assessing your needs from a security and aesthetic standpoint, then deciding how much you’re able to spend. Here are the best options for keep-ing your steed safe and sound in the yard. Bicycle Sheds: Bike sheds are one of the best choices for outdoor bike stor-age for families or individuals with multiple bikes who are looking for mid-high security storage. Because of their size, they’re best suited for people with large yards, lane-ways or unused parking spaces, and they do tend to be more expensive than other bike storage options. They range in size, from sheds that are a snug fit for two bikes up to ones that easily fit 10. They're avaia-

lble in wood, hard plastic, aluminum, and steel, depending on your needs and style. In general, their security rating is as strong as the padlock you opt to lock the shed with. Bike Tents: These are an affordable, easy-to-assemble and portable outdoor bike storage option for people who are looking to keep their bikes protected from the elements and out of plain sight. They aren’t incredibly durable and as such aren’t very secure, and also need to be used in tan-dem with a rack or stand to keep the bikes upright. They’re a good option for people in areas with minimal-to-no risk of bike theft who just want their bikes out the rain and don’t want a permanent fixture in the yard. Bike Covers: The cheapest bike storage option for outdoors, and for a good reason. They literally do nothing but keep the rain and snow off of your bike. But if that’s all you need, then they’re an excellent (small) investment.

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D I Y S T O R A G E O P T I O N S

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Or maybe you’d just rather make it yourself. Based off of a number of the

commercially available bike storage products, here are a few fun DIY bike storage ideas for the mechanically-inclined. This list is by no means comprehensive, as there are an end-less amount of ways to store a bike with the right tools, materials, and creative thinking. Build Your Own Bike Shed: If you know how to swing a hammer and have access to a few good tools, building your own bike shed is a fun, satisfying endeav-our, and the best way to get the bike shed of your dreams. Check out Pinterest for DIY bike shed design inspiration, and if you’re ready to go, you can purchase shed con-struction plans for around $5 USD from sites like cheapsheds.com or ryanshedplans.com, a small price to pay for an enormous time savings in working out the measure-ments and material requirements. Just be sure to check the zoning restrictions in

your neighborhood before you get started, and remember: measure twice, cut once! DIY Bike Racks: An old pair of drop bars gets new life with a this DIY handlebar bike rack from Kyle Wilson’s blog – all you need is a set of handlebars, and old tube, a piece of wood, and a few tools. Or check out this Instructables post by Dan from Monkey-Lectric for an incredibly straight-forward and inexpensive way to build a multi-bike rack with just a couple boards and some hooks. Pallet Rack: What can’t you build out of pallets? You can make a multi-bike floor rack literally as easily as placing one pallet on the floor and the other leaning towards the wall at an angle. Voila, a low-security bicycle stand. If you want to get a little more involved with it, 1001pallets has ideas for 14 more affordable recycled-wood bike racks. DIY Host: You can also make your own bike hoist with a board, a length of rope, some pulleys and hooks and a few other bits and bobs, instructions here.

F E E D BAC K S P O RT S

H aving been surrounded by bike culture all his life, Doug Hudson, had a pretty good idea of the equipment that cyclists were in need of but was still missing from the shelves of bike shops. With the same entrepreneurial

spirit that he co-founded Chrome Bags with, he created the first ever digital scale made specifically for bikes and bike parts. And so began Feedback Sports. The name originates from the founder’s concept of using feedback loops to continually improve their products and stands to be a priority for the company and their products. Feedback Sports has been dedicated to creating products that support cyclists and mechanics around the globe for over 10 years. With an unprecedented bike-geek-focus, they started with cycling specific digital scales, then ventured on to develop their award-winning portable bicycle repair stands, further complemented by an array of other helpful cycling-related product categories. Whether it’s bike maintenance, storage, or training, Feedback Sports has you covered. To check out their range of products or to learn more, visit feedbacksports.com.

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