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Storing bikes can take a lot of floor space. But if you’ve got an expansive garage, this might not be an issue for you.
However, if that’s not the case, here’s a guide on how to hang bikes in a garage. Plus, we’ve included tips on how to fit more bikes on your walls or ceiling!
How to Hang a Bicycle Using a Wall-Mounted Bike Rack
Hanging your bike on the wall is one of the most common and safest bike storage solutions, as it keeps your precious ride out of harm’s way.
First, measure the area where you want your bike rack. Find an appropriate place on your wall for hanging your bike storage rack. This will be determined chiefly by how many bikes you plan on storing at once.
How many inches per bicycle do you need? How many bicycles will be using this space? This information should help with determining which bike rack you should buy.
Next, find a stud using a stud-finder. If the area doesn’t have a stud, use anchors instead (with screws) to hang your bikes from drywall or plaster.
If the wall is sturdy enough for hanging your bike—as in it has both studs and isn’t crumbling apart at the seams—then you can skip the next step.
Then, using tape or chalk, mark where your holes are going to be drilled into. How far apart they should be is based on the size of your bike’s tires and where you want to place them. The placement guide or measurements on your bike storage rack should tell you where to put it.
After, use a drill with a bit that’s slightly smaller than your screws/bolts to drill your holes into the wall. How high or low you want them to be is based on how tall you are and where you plan on hanging your bikes from. The lower it hangs, the more wall space there will be between bikes if they’re side-by-side.
Finally, mount your bike rack on the wall. How you mount your bike rack will depend primarily on what kind of rack you have and how it’s designed. For most racks, all you need to do is slide them into the anchors you drilled and tighten.
How to Mount Bikes from Your Garage Ceiling
Simple bike hooks are an affordable option for those looking to keep their bicycles off the ground. Follow the steps below to help organize your garage and save floor space.
Make sure you have all of the necessary tools and equipment. You should have:
- A drill with an appropriate sized bit for your screws & anchors
- Appropriately sized screws and anchors
Next, decide where you want to place your hanging hooks. How high up you mount the bike hooks depends on how much space you need.
Then, mark the spot with a pencil and then use your level to make sure the spot is plumb (straight up and down).
Use #14 or bigger screws when hanging bikes from the ceiling since they are stronger and can hold more weight, use two screws per hook at least one to one and a half inches in length.
How big your screws are should depend on what is holding up your bike, so make sure you do some testing before hanging everything.
Next, drill in two or three screws about an inch above that location. Make sure they are long enough to go through the ceiling and be at least a couple of inches into the surface.
Try using plastic anchors if you have drywall rather than plaster or lath & plaster since they don’t require pre-drilling holes in your ceiling. This can just make it easier for hanging objects without dealing with screws not being able to hold the weight of heavier objects.
Once done, place the hook on top of the frame bar closest to where it comes out from under the seat and at an angle that directs the wheel into place over the hook when lowered down.
How far back or forward you put this hook is a matter of preference, but try experimenting with different locations.
Next, make sure the hook can support the weight of your bike by taking a test ride with it attached and making sure everything feels secure before you hang anything else.
Hanging a weight from one hook (e.g., sandbag) will help you determine if everything is working properly.
Finally, once you have tested that your ceiling hook can hold your bike’s weight, it’s time to hang the bike. Lower the front wheel and rotate down until you hear/feel a click; this means that the hanger has locked onto your frame.
Pro Tip: You can use one or two hooks for storing a single bike. If you prefer to hang your bike horizontally, use two hooks.
Essential Tips for Efficient Bike Storage
Proper bike storage is important for keeping your bike from rusting and making sure it is ready to use whenever you need it. Below are some tips on how to achieve this.
Mount Your Bike About Two Feet Away From the Wall
This allows for convenient access and gives enough room so that you can hang your bike without hurting yourself or damaging any paint, drywall, or other surfaces in your garage.
Use Proper Hardware
Only mount bikes using the proper hardware such as heavy steel hooks, brackets, or bolts that are designed to hold a lot of weight. Using less sturdy materials could result in serious injury or damage.
Consider a Vertical Bike Storage Rack
When hanging multiple bikes, using vertical bike storage options in addition to a horizontal bike storage system is a great way to free up floor space.
You can use wall-mounted bike racks that are designed for this specific purpose. Some bike racks even allow you to mount up to six bikes to save space.
Get Creative With Ceiling Storage
Horizontal bike storage is also a great way to store bicycles if you have a small garage. For starters, you can hang your bikes from rafters or beams using chains, rope, or even fishing lines attached through holes in their frames.
This suits lighter bicycles that are easy to lift, but you should use heavier-duty hardware if your bike is on the heavy side. Just make sure the hardware is strong enough to hold up your bike!
Just remember that although it is great for saving space in your garage, hanging bikes from rafters or beams is just a temporary storage solution. How long? Again it depends on how heavy your bicycle is and what kind of joists you’re using – use common sense when making this decision!
But if you’re looking for a more durable bike storage solution, you can opt for one of those gliding ceiling racks designed for storing more than two bikes. This is great if the only available garage bike storage space available is directly above your car or vehicle.
Always Use A Stabilizing Bar
When hanging two bikes or more in your garage, using stabilizing bars is also recommended. These will prevent the bikes from bumping into each other if they are attached too closely together on the wall or ceiling mount. Some people even use chains between two consecutive bikes to avoid damage.
Using stabilizing bars is also a good way to prevent your bike from swinging if the mount or hooks are not very sturdy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Way to Store Mountain Bikes in a Garage?
A mountain bike is typically larger, heavier, and more complex to handle than most other types of bicycles. How you store it depends on where they’re located in the garage.
If you have a wall that’s strong enough to hold your bike, the best way to store it is with a wall-mounted bike rack positioned a few inches off the garage floor. This can handle heavy bikes, which can weigh anywhere from 30 pounds up to 60 or 70 pounds, depending on their size and features.
I Don’t Have a Garage. Can I Store Bikes Outdoors?
If there aren’t any garage bike storage options available, you can store bikes outdoors, but doing so has its own set of challenges.
If your house has a spacious yard or garden, an outdoor bike rack attached to a wall or fence is the best way to keep your bike protected from weather and wildlife damage.
How you attach the rack depends on how sturdy the wall/fence is (you don’t want it falling over on your bike).
You can also keep it in an outdoor storage shed that’s large enough.
What’s the Best Bike Storage Option for a Road Bike?
Saturday jobs bring new bike hanging… pic.twitter.com/YJHtTfUs0K
— Matthew Walsh (@mattwalshNDQ) October 9, 2021
The best way is to store most bikes is to mount them using a garage bike storage rack. How you decide to mount your bike rack depends on what’s available in the garage area where you’d like your road bikes stored.
You can also store helmets and other accessories using hooks and wall-mounted racks and shelves for easy access.
What Screw Size Do I Need to Hang My Kids’ Bikes?
It should be easy to find the right screw size for hanging your kids’ bikes in your garage. If you can’t, try using screws around three inches long and two-thirds of an inch wide. They’ll work well with most wall mounts or hooks designed for mounting bicycles on garage walls.
Hang Your Bikes Securely
Now that you know how to hang bikes in a garage, keeping your cycling gear organized is easier. They are protected from bumps, dents, and other forms of damage while saving you precious garage floor space for your other vehicles and DIY and gardening tools.
If you found this article helpful, let us know in the comments. If you need help figuring out the best ways to store your gear, leave us feedback so we can help you!
