Organize Your Bikes

With another beautiful week ahead, many people are hitting the trails with their bikes.  This begs the question, what is the best way to organize bicycles in your garage?  Given the size and frequency of use, bikes are not the easiest items in the garage to organize.  Depending on your space, there are several different options:

• For Narrow Spaces – consider horizontal wall-mounted racks that can hold bikes flush against the wall.  They often have shelves built in for helmets and/or other gear.

• Need Flexibility? – try a free-standing rack that stores two or four bicycles vertically. If you don’t like where it is located, you can just pick it up and move it.

• Kids – free-standing bike stands work well for kids on the go!  These are similar to bike racks that you see at schools or parks, but smaller.  While these might not be the most efficient use of space, they give kids a place to store their bikes.  They can get their bikes out without your help, and they are more likely to put it away if they have a designated “parking space” for their bike…priceless!

• For Off-Season Storage – give a ceiling-mounted hoist bike rack a try.  These are a great solution for seasonal storage when you are short on space.

• Keep it Simple – you can also use screw hooks to hang your bicycle upside down.  These steel hooks covered in vinyl are an inexpensive solution to store you bike when it is not in use.

Depending on your space, choose the best bike storage option for you.  You are now one step closer to an organized garage!

Donna Lindley, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Rochester Hills, MI-based Organize Your World, Inc.